Which furniture accessory should be aligned with the arm height of the sofa to create visual balance in a living room?

• A. Coffee tables
• B. End tables
• C. Desks
• D. Ottomans

Answer: (B)

Aligning furniture heights to create a steady horizontal line is key to visual balance in a living room. End tables placed beside the sofa are designed to be about the same height as the sofa arm, which makes the edges of the seating feel grounded and proportional. This height alignment also supports practical use, letting you rest a drink or a lamp at an easy reach without breaking the eye line along the sides of the sofa. A coffee table sits in front of the sofa and is typically lower than arm height, producing a different vertical rhythm that can draw attention away from the arms. A desk is taller and heavier in presence, which can overwhelm the seating and disrupt balance. An ottoman can be similar in height to the seat or slightly lower and is more about extra seating or a footrest, not the same side-by-side balance the end table height provides.