The right coffee table decor will give your living room a polished designer look. Whether you're looking to create a cohesive arrangement or add a touch of warmth and personality, our 15 coffee table styling tips will help you achieve the perfect look.
Remember to vary the heights of your ornaments. This will add interest to your scene and help it look balanced from all angles.
How Tall Should Your Coffee Table Be?
A coffee table should be at a height that allows for comfortable seating and doesn't require anyone to strain when reaching to place a drink or snack on top. It should also be proportional to the rest of your living room's furniture pieces, which helps maintain a smooth flow of visual lines.
While most design experts agree that a coffee table should be at least two-thirds the length of your sofa, some prefer to keep it even closer to the ground. Others may prefer a higher piece that provides more surface space to work with and can accommodate larger books or decorative accessories like an eye-catching vase.
The right balance of decor items is critical when styling a coffee table. A table filled with too many trinkets can look cluttered, while one large object on its own can feel cumbersome. To avoid either extreme, it's helpful to focus on a style aesthetic and add objects that support that theme.
If your coffee table has an open glass or lucite top, opt for something bold and opaque on top, such as a bright throw pillow or patterned vase. These items will stand out visually and are a great way to make your coffee table the focal point of your living room.
Stacking decorative objects like books or vases at varying heights can add depth to a display and take your eye on a visual journey. Try adding a few taller ornaments, such as a fun disco ball or a stack of framed prints, to elevate the look of your coffee table.
Another great way to add texture to a coffee table is by adding a blanket or pillow. These items add a soft element that can be used for relaxing on the sofa or as a decorative accent when folded neatly on top of a coffee table book. Alternatively, you can pair a blanket with a decorative urn or bowl to create a cohesive look that serves as a functional centerpiece for the living room.
Decorative Objects
The best coffee table decor is functional as well as pretty. This might be as simple as a decorative box that holds remote controls or charging cables, or as practical as a basket for to-go cups and snacks. Coffee table storage like this is not only practical, it also helps avoid clutter and keeps the space clean and stylish.
If you do decide to add decorative objects to your table, it's important to think about their height. Varying the heights of your items creates visual interest and balance to a vignette. Mixing taller objects like vases and candlesticks with shorter items like books or bowls is a great place to start.
Decorative objects are not only a great way to showcase your style, but they can be conversation starters and mood enhancers. Whether it's a stack of coffee table books or a collection of small curiosities, the objects you choose communicate a lot about your personality and interests. Whether it's the sculptural sphere that tops this coffee table, or the black and white books that fill the stack, the book choices communicate that the owners love design, travel and food.
For a truly polished look, consider mixing textures within your decorative objects. Smooth ceramics, rough wood and shiny metal can all work together to create a rich, eye-catching display.
You can also bring in natural elements to your coffee table through greenery, or even a piece of driftwood. Bringing nature to your coffee table can help offset any hard materials in the room and give the space some much needed texture.
Trays
Trays are a coffee table decor staple that help you build stylish vignettes with ease. They also add visual interest by coming in a variety of shapes and styles. Choose a tray that suits your living room’s palette and matches the shape of your table. For example, a bold marble or patterned tray complements a sleek modern space while a rattan style works well in a transitional setting.
A textured tray can be used to highlight decorative objects and serve as an anchor for the rest of your vignette. For example, a tray with a wooden handle or a woven pattern lends a relaxed look to the tabletop. If your living room has an accent color, try incorporating it into the tray’s design. For instance, a turquoise tray with three glass jars in flowers pulls the color from the sofa pillows and serves as a focal point for your coffee table design.
The use of odd numbers in a tray or basket arrangement is visually pleasing and establishes balance and proportion. This is especially important when decorating a coffee table, as it helps prevent the arrangement from feeling top-heavy or overcrowded.
Varying the heights of the items in your vignette is another design trick that adds depth to the arrangement. Start with a tall object like a vase and then select a medium-height item such as a bowl or lidded box. Finally, add a short item to the tray such as stacked books or a candle.
If your coffee table is large enough, consider displaying a stack of books to create a centerpiece for your living room. Choose volumes with visually appealing covers that are in a neutral shade that coordinates with your space and stack them neatly or artfully fan them out for a more dynamic silhouette.
Books
Books are a coffee table staple, combining aesthetic allure with meaningful content. They can act as conversation starters, provide a visual cue for a design theme, or showcase your interests and travels. You can even use them to display a favorite collection of objects, such as matchbooks from your favorite restaurants.
When selecting coffee table books, it’s important to look for thick ones that feel substantial. Also, choose titles that relate to the room, such as Georgia O’Keeffe: Watercolors or Amber Lewis: Made for Living. The spine and cover colors should also complement the room’s color palette. For an aesthetic that looks balanced and proportional, stack them evenly in a grid pattern. Occasionally, decorators will add a pop of contrasting color to one book in the stack to draw attention to it.
Stacking books in different heights creates a nice landing spot for other decorative accessories, like small planters, catch-all bowls, candles, and trays. They’re also the perfect base for a pretty box to hold remotes, a set of decorative beads, or a sculptural decor item like a glass bottle.
If you want to add some whimsy or playfulness to your coffee table, consider using a vintage dictionary as part of your stack. Its unique shape and textured pages add an interesting focal point to the surface. Alternatively, you could use a beautiful antique-style book that features striking photos or a captivating story for an eye-catching centerpiece.
When decorating with coffee table books, keep in mind that the scene is viewed from all sides and directions. Avoid having all of the book spines face the same direction, or it will feel too neat and tidy.
Plants
Adding greenery to your coffee table is a stylish and healthy way to decorate. Plants can add color and texture to your tablescape, and if you're a plant parent, you can keep it alive for years to come. If you're not quite ready to commit to a living plant, there are plenty of other green decor options that can add flair to your coffee table.
Use the color palette of your home to guide your coffee table selections. For example, if your room's accent color is turquoise, you can bring that hue into your vignette through the decor items you choose. A stack of black books and a dark grey vase can easily complement your table and help you tie the look together.
The height of your coffee table may also influence which plants you can place on it. Avoid tall, trailing plants that could block sightlines or make it difficult to get around the table while entertaining. Instead, choose shorter, compact plants that don't droop or fall too close to the ground. A pair of succulent terrariums, for instance, look beautiful on a coffee table and can serve as conversation pieces that draw the eye.
Incorporate texture into your vignette through decor items like a woven basket or faux fruit bowl. Texture not only adds visual interest, but it can also help your wares stay secure on the table and prevent spills and stains.
If you have a modern style, incorporate an elegant touch into your coffee table with a snazzy glass box of feather collection or a decorative bust. These not-so-touchable curiosities showcase your personality and can be a great conversation starter with guests.