Styling your coffee table is an easy opportunity to dress up your living room, infuse personality into your space and give your home an upscale, “finished” look.
It’s not uncommon for people to feel intimidated by adding décor, but the good news is, styling your coffee table is easy if you keep a few basic tips in mind.
Functionality is always the starting place for good design, so think about how you use your coffee table. If you have young children, you might want to avoid using fragile items; if you often eat or drink on the couch – or just like to put your feet up – you’ll want to avoid over-styling and make sure to leave plenty of space for plates or weary feet.
Balance is the other essential concept of design. A mix of star players and a supporting cast in your décor will look much better than if everything is shouting for attention. This advice is true for both your coffee table and your room as a whole. A simple, quiet coffee table is a nice complement to a busy room, but a minimal room might benefit from a coffee table that makes a statement. Either way, you can use pops of color, a mix of textures, and sculptural shapes to add interest without being overwhelming.
Strive for a mix of heights and sizes – too many large items will look heavy and cramped, while too many small items will look cluttered and random. Stacks and groupings help items look curated rather than random, so if you do find that you have a lot of small décor items, grouping them on a pretty tray can add visual weight and make them look more intentional.
Your coffee table will be viewed from all angles, so avoid items that have a specific orientation, such as picture frames.
If after that you still aren’t sure how to style your coffee table, try mixing and matching any three of the classic choices below:
Large vase holding branches or flowers (real, dried, and faux are all good options) · Live plants · Books · Decorative storage boxes for remotes · Candles or even empty candlesticks · A bowl filled with seasonal items (for instance, moss balls for spring, lemons for summer, pine cones for fall, Christmas tree ornaments for winter) or a favorite collection (such as seashells from every beach you visit) · Small sculptures or decorative objects
However you decide to decorate, remember: have fun with it! This is your home, and it should bring you joy.
After a lifetime of practicing interior decorating, Ashley Newman founded Bluestocking Interiors in 2022. Her mission is to transform her clients’ homes into their haven by creating designs that reflect their personal style preferences rather than any particular trend.
1. Pale wood, casual pottery, and simple-lined, matte metal items keep things beachy or farmhouse-fresh. All items pictured from Home at Last.
2. Blue and green décor echoes the colors in the rest of the room. A vintage bottle and live plant make for a casual, homey feel. All items pictured from 37 Pine.
3. Black elements and large-scale greenery (rather than flowers) create a more modern or contemporary vibe, while vintage books add warmth. Vase, candle, and boxes from Home at Last. Vintage books from 37 Pine.
4. Marble, shiny metals, and expensive flowers like orchids combine for a more glam look; natural elements keep it from being too formal. Footed metal bowl, trough and moss balls from 37 Pine. Lenses from Home at Last.
Tables courtesy of Home at Last.
Décor from Home at Last and 37 Pine.