In Vancouver's increasingly tight spaces, kitchen stools are trumping traditional dining-room sets and media consoles are skirted in favour of sleek wall-mounted setups. The multi-purpose coffee table, however, remains a staple in households big and small.

But with space coming at a premium, it pays to own a table that does double, triple, and even quadruple duty as needed. Below, a few compact choices to help in your coffee-table hunt.

Hide and sleek

There are two types of people in this world: those in desperate need of storage solutions and those lying about being in desperate need of storage solutions.

So you can imagine our excitement when we discovered BoConcept’s Chiva (from $1,919), a sleek coffee table with—count ’em—one, two, three integrated stowing compartments that will set the hearts of both staunch minimalists and neat freaks aflutter. Hide away remotes, charging cables, and other unsightly living-room clutter with ease or simply raise one of the three tabletops to assist with TV snacking.

Find it at BoConcept (1275 West 6th Avenue).

Heavy metal

If you’ve ever dreamed about inhabiting an industrial loft—complete with exposed wood beams, concrete floors, and an original brick wall or two—you’ll love Pallucci’s Luna ($249).

Crafted from a durable metal, the table boasts two levels on which you can store coffee-table books, candles, decorative sculptures, and other knickknacks. It even comes equipped with a set of working wheels, so you can roll it away to make room for unexpected guests, impromptu dance parties, and last-minute sleepovers.

Find it at Pallucci Furniture (32 East Broadway and 105–20551 Langley Bypass, Langley).

Triple threat

While the adage “the more the merrier” doesn’t necessarily hold up in every situation—especially for self-described introverts—it certainly fits the bill with the Cattelan Italia’s Kaos ($2,200).

The living-room set includes three small tables at varying heights, which can be nestled together or spread throughout a space to provide additional storage as needed. Each tabletop is decorated in complementary geometric graphics that offer an eye-catching punch of colour and pattern and is held up by a glossy white or graphite steel base.

Find it at Inspiration Furniture (1275 West 6th Avenue).

All natural

Call it Scandi-chic with a twist. Constructed from solid acacia, Moe’s Home Collection’s Hudson two-drawer coffee table ($639) shows off the wood’s natural grain and contrasts the light hue with black-metal accents that add a hard industrial edge.

Two large pull-out drawers make packing away remotes and books a cinch, while the round legs elevate the table enough to allow for extra storage underneath. Dwellers with kids and pets need not worry: packed with character, this is a piece that will only look better with time and wear.

Find it at Moe’s Home Collection (1728 Glen Drive and 1305 Welch Street, North Vancouver).