Coffee Table Styling: Creative Ways to Transform Your Coffee Table into a Centerpiece of Inspiration
We all know the style anchor in the living room is the coffee table. It's where your style can come to life to display your personality. And when planning to style your coffee table, it's best not to overthink it. Decorating is the best part. One of my absolute favorite home updates is decorating our family room coffee table seasonally. I always use a large tray, objects like a small bowl or figurine that reflects my interest, decorative candles holders, lush greenery, and a selection of books. Adding small decorative items like candles, nesting bowls, and a small flower vase can easily create a table canvas that speaks volumes. When in doubt, a minimalist approach with a small curated collection of coffee table books or a couple of magazines without any extra décor can spruce up your coffee table. From striking the right balance between functionality and aesthetics to infusing your unique personality into the arrangement, these tips will help you transform your coffee table into a work of art that truly reflects your home's character.
No.01
Start With A Focal Point
With coffee table decoration, let the focal pieces tell a story about your passions and memories. Style it by carefully arranging your favorite décor items that resonate with your style to allow your eye to naturally flow, as sometimes we thoughtlessly display objects that result in a cluttered or disorganized surface. It shouldn't be a put-everything-on-the-surface situation, as there are endless ways to create a nice visual flow with a collection of a few beloved pieces. Start with a large vase, jar, or sculptural object that will stand out the most on the table and break up sections using a tray to hold everything and create height by stacking books. Incorporate mirrored or metallic elements like a mirrored tray or metallic decorative bowls. They can create interesting visual effects and play with light in your living area. This approach encourages you to make unique selections that mirror your individuality and interests. Sometimes, a simple stylish vase and a few well-placed accessories are all you need to style your coffee table.
No.02
Bring In Coastal Elements
Enhance your coffee table's overall appeal and complement the room's style by infusing a subtle coastal touch with coastal inspired decor. Create a textured blend by combining coral accessories, glass trinkets, and wooden accents with small vases of blue hydrangeas along your coffee table. Position a woven basket and a porcelain vase alongside stacked books and other beach-inspired objects strategically to add ample dimension to the tabletop. This harmonious mix infuses warmth and lends a refreshing, clean finish to any coffee table in your space.
Select Statement Pieces: Instead of cluttering your table with numerous decorative objects, use three statement pieces that capture your style. It could be a delicate figurine with a decorative piece of art and a unique heirloom of sentimental value.
Bring Nature Indoors: Incorporate natural elements such as a small potted plant or a vase with fresh flowers to add a touch of elegance while connecting your space to the beauty of the outdoors.
Books with Purpose: Place a carefully chosen coffee table book of your interests or passions. It could be a favorite novel, a book of poetry, or even a travel guide to a place you dream of visiting.
Personalized Touches: Add personal touches that tell your story, a framed photograph, a handwritten letter, or a memento from a meaningful journey. These items can serve as conversation starters when guests visit.
Candlelight Ambiance: A simple, unscented candle in a sleek holder can add a cozy ambiance to your living space. Choose a color or design that complements your overall decor.
Artful Simplicity: Consider incorporating minimalistic, functional artistic accents like unique-designed clock or a large table sculpture like a faux barnacle statue.
No.03
Greenery Goes A Long Way
Botanical choices excel at anchoring when styling a coffee table. Whether it's a small, easy-to-care-for plant to brighten up your coffee table or a pair of concrete potted succulents or branches like eucalyptus or olive to elevate your décor, there are plenty of options. If you're not exactly a green thumb, you might choose artificial flowers and plants, which can be equally captivating. Lifelike faux plants or faux topiary balls placed in bowls or on a coffee table book can offer year-round freshness without the hassle.
No.04
Style With A Coffee Table Tray
Trays stylishly organize a tabletop while offering practicality and super chic aesthetics. Decorating with these trays to showcase your favorite small finds perfectly embodies the fusion of form and function. These platforms hold anything and everything, making them ideal for keeping all your essentials (remotes, coasters, small keepsakes) organized, giving your surface a dynamic feel. Trays are great additions to add more dimension and reduce clutter on the surface of the coffee table. Embrace the idea that your coffee table can be a work of art and anything placed upon it becomes a delightful addition.
For Shape and Dimension- Use decorative trinket trays or place a sculptural bowl on your table, either empty or filled. Incorporate a miniature Zen garden complete with raked sand and smooth stones.
For height -Showcase a stack of colorful, beautiful hardcover books or a sleek large terrarium housing miniature succulents.
For Texture -Adorn your table with a cluster of scented candles in mismatched artisan designs and colors and introduce metallic accents like brass coasters or copper-finished decorative objects.
Quick Takeaway:
Consider shape, height, texture, and dimension when pulling the design together. Alternate pieces out seasonally to keep your look fresh, up-to-date, and inspiring! By actively curating your coffee table accessories and periodically refreshing them, you'll keep your living space engaging and infuse it with the charm of each season. Read more tips and ideas on how to style a tray.
Dress Up Your Coffee Table Display with Stylish Items
Leopard Ceramic Planter Pot // Wise Monkeys Sculpture // Marble Decor Object // Trojan Horse Statue //Marble Noughts & Crosses // Monkeys Sculpture Gold // Decorative Trays // Greenery Topiary Balls // Mini Glass Bud Vase Set 3 // Coral Decor Objects // Monkey Tealight Holder // Decorative Bowls
If a curated collection of decorative objects doesn't appeal to you and your table makes a statement on its own, whatever you place on top of it is just a bonus! Sometimes negative space can be just as impactful as the objects you choose to display. Accent with a single coffee table item or without to welcome a minimalist approach. It's ok to lean into the simplicity of a neatly curated coffee table.
Photo credits: [Daria Minaeva]; [Jodie Johnson]; [Woodka Interiors]