How To Style a Stunning Coffee Table: Lara's 5 Easy Steps
Finish off your room design with a beautifully styled coffee table!
Does your coffee table need a styling lift? Typically the coffee table is located in the center of the action and room so it gets a lot of attention! So wouldn't it be nice for it to look great and bring a smile to your face whenever you walk into your room or have others over? Well fear not! Here are some expert tips on upgrading your coffee table game in a few easy steps :-)
1Gather a few nice accessories that look attractive that match the colors and style of your room. Start with between 5-10 objects and you can pair down from there if needed. Select them at various heights and widths to make it interesting. Some of my favorites are a decorative tray, a stack (or 2 stacks depending on size of coffee table) of beautiful cocktail table books, a decorative box, a pair of pretty candles, and interesting objects. I would avoid using picture frames on a coffee table because the back of the frames don't look nice. You want to use objects that are visually appealing from all sides since you'll see them as you move around the room. I would also avoid using objects that are not related to a living room or den on your coffee table, such as a tissue box or office supplies holders. These will look out of place and unattractive.
2Decide on how many objects you use according to the size, shape, & style of your coffee table. For example, a small, round table would look great with maybe a stack of 2-3 cocktail table books with a pretty object or candle on top and a small square tray next to it with a decorative box and vase in it. A large two-tiered coffee table would require larger or a few more items to place on the top and on the bottom shelves. If the style of your room is very modern, then 1 large decorative low bowl sitting in the center of the table may be all that's needed, you wouldn't want to add lots of accessories anywhere in a very modern room.
3Consider balance, symmetry, & functionality: play around with the accessories to find the most pleasing balance of heights and then stand back to look at the shape of the overall look of the accessories all together on the table. If it looks unbalanced, too cluttered, or needs more items, then rearrange until you like the placements. Consider varying the heights of objects next to each other. Using functional accessories like a box containing coasters, or coasters in a nice looking holder. Try books that look great but also may be interesting for guests to read, wonderfully scented candles, candy dish or container that looks great filled with wrapped candy, or a beautiful box filled with photos or trinkets you gathered from travels you like to show guests when entertaining.
4Play with textures, materials, and plants: mix and match textures and materials to add visual interest. Consider incorporating items made of wood, glass, metal, leather, or ceramic for variety. I always love to add a small vase with flowers or a small plant potted in a pretty container to match your decor. Succulent plants are great too. If you use a faux flower or plant, make sure it's of high quality and doesn't look too fake.
5Edit & simplify: avoid overcrowding the coffee table with too many items! Edit your arrangement to keep it visually appealing and clutter-free. You'll want to have some empty spaces around the accessories for breathing room and to also be able to have space for guests to place drinks or appetizers when entertaining. Also, make sure all the items you selected are not worn, dirty, or outdated. You may have attachments to certain objects and think they look great but in reality they are not visually appealing. Sometimes it helps to get a second opinion if you're not sure!
Edit accessories according to your room's colors and style.
Experiment and Have Fun! Don't be afraid to experiment with different arrangements until you find one that feels just right. Styling your coffee table is a creative process, so have fun with it and let your personal style shine through. Hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful! Let me know if you have any comments or questions in the comments section below.
happy decorating!
8 Comments
I love this post, it just gave me the inspiration and tools…I’m going to fix up my table right away! thanks!
Great post, thanks for the great tips Lara
Love this, great tips. I was thinking about putting out a photo album for people to browse through, what do you think?
Hi Marion, thanks for your comment! Putting out photo albums on a coffee table is a nice and easy way for guests to easily access and browse through them, I would just recommend they look nice and are in good condition if you’re going to display them on your coffee table. XO Lara
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Hi Eva, so glad to hear you find the site helpful XO Lara
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Thank you so much for your nice comment. We appreciate the kind words and will definitely keep posting informative articles! XO Lara