Tavolino

Tavolino is an Italian noun meaning a small table. It is the diminutive form of tavolo (table) and refers to a compact, low surface used for serving, display, or light tasks. In furniture terminology, tavolino typically designates a coffee table or end table placed in a living area, usually low enough to be reached from a sofa. Tavolini can be freestanding or integrated into a larger furniture arrangement and are produced in a wide range of materials, including wood, glass, metal, or stone. Common shapes include rectangular, circular, or oval, and many designs include features such as a lower shelf or a secondary surface.

In domestic and commercial spaces, the tavolino serves both functional and decorative roles: it holds beverages, books, lamps, or decorative objects and can act as a focal point in a seating area or a reception space. The term appears in compound forms, for example tavolino da caffè (coffee table), tavolino da soggiorno (living-room table), and tavolino pieghevole (folding table).

Etymology and usage notes: the word comes from tavolo and is used throughout Italian-speaking contexts. In English-language writing on Italian design, "tavolino" is sometimes used to convey an Italian-style small table, though translations like coffee table or side table are more common. See also tavolo, mensa.