The uncontested hero of any living room setup has to be your coffee table. It's one of the few items that almost all your guests will interact with. It sits center stage in your living room and serves as a spot for your favorite design books, maybe a candle, not to mention your morning coffee and evening cocktails. A workhorse piece of furniture, this essential component can completely change how a room functions. But that's not to say it needs to be utilitarian.

In fact, the coolest coffee tables today are not simple, low-slung surfaces. They're sculptural and architectural. They stand proudly in the middle of your living room and make a statement. Crafted from a combination of marble, carved wood and metal, these tables can serve as a functional piece of art, adding interesting shapes and colors to a room while still providing a place to set down your stuff.

To help you find this new breed of coffee table—one that works within your living room (and your budget), we scoured the web for options that are stylish, sturdy and ready to be shipped right to your door. So whether you want a table to be a conversation piece or simply serve as a place to kick your feet up, we've got the best ones to upgrade your home. The real question is which table speaks to your sensibilities?