A coffee table left bare is a missed opportunity for decorating. It cannot be easy to know how to style a coffee table. What do you put on it exactly? What amount do you place on it? What’s the balance between clutter and well-curated? Ultimately, choosing what is practical for your home and what you enjoy rather than what’s fashionable is necessary is essential. It’s helpful to see how decorators and designers zhuzh their coffee tables. We’ve rounded up our favorite coffee-table decor ideas to give you some tips and inspiration.
Please keep it simple with a small plant
It may seem obvious, but people overlook this idea because it is simple. Make a small, potted plant the centerpiece of your coffee table. This simple approach is easy-to-maintain and can bring more life to your space. As you can see above, this look is a natural fit for a minimalist aesthetic. However, consider it if you are a maximalist. A coffee table with a simple focal point can give the eye a rest in a busy space.
Get Big with an Oversized Bouquet
You can make a stunning statement with many flowers instead of a leafy arrangement. Julie Vickers from JLV Creative gave this coffee table a simple but glamorous treatment in This sitting room. While the bouquet may be complete, you shouldn’t need to bend over to see your neighbor. It’s unrealistic to replace the flowers every few days to make a fake arrangement more appealing.
Fill a Vase With Branches
Thirdly, you can place some branches into an oversized vase. Julia Marcum, Chris loves Julia; put some leafy branches into a large jug. This added height and airiness in the middle of the reading room. This arrangement is tall and doesn’t block anyone or any views. Silver dollar eucalyptus, olive branches, and dried grasses are excellent options for this arrangement.
Stack Piles of Books
Stacking coffee table books in neat piles is an excellent way for bibliophiles to show off their treasured possessions. You can use any book you like, whether it’s a book that will be placed on your coffee table or a novel with a colorful front cover. Your selections will add a bit of personality to your room. Brittni M. Mehlhoff is the founder of Paper & Stitch. She did this in her living room studio and incorporated a couple of Monstera leaf cuts to break things up. This is an excellent solution for people with many books on their shelves.
Use a Pretty Tray
Do you have an ottoman that doubles as a coffee table? That doesn’t mean you can’t decorate it! In this case, a tray would be the best option because you could place things on it instead of soft upholstery that will likely fall over. In this example, designer Orlando Soria placed a copper tray on the boucle to serve breakfast. You can put anything you want on the tray. A bud vase, sprigs of flowers, a bowl of candy, or a stack of small books are all possibilities. A tray is a great way to keep clutter contained and can be easily moved out of the path when you need to stretch your legs.
Prepare a board game
Read McKendree is the photographer—designed by Katie Rosenfeld of Katie Rosenfield & Co.
Filling up large coffee tables with a board game for family or friends to play can be a great way to save space. The game is also very inviting. It’s also beautiful.
Install two “clusters” of accessories
Jenny Komenda from Juniper Print Shop placed a stack on one side and a tray filled with decor on the other of her living room. This pair creates a balanced, symmetrical look (Jenny’s example mirrors her art on the wall).
Set Up a Triptych Display
The rule of threes states that decorating in odd numbers is more appealing to the eyes and can have the same result. Try arranging your items in three neat stacks or “clusters.” Liz Bachman, Grey & Scout, did this in her living area and kept things tidy by keeping each cluster the same size. The books on either side are similar in size to the tray at the center.
Group multiple Vases together
You can make the most of your random vases by displaying them in different shapes and styles, like the architect Mikel irastoza in this eclectic, funky room. This collection will add character to your room and give it a personal touch. Bonus: You can easily swap the vases out for a new look. Place an odd number of vases, such as five or seven, to make the display look abundant. This is in keeping with the rule of threes.
Candles Bundled Together
Place them on a tray or bowl to prevent melting wax from ruining the table surface. Use a bowl or tray to keep the wax from melting and destroying your table. This is what Kara Haren, designer at Along Came Lennox, did. Bonus: Scented candle can be used as a room deodorizer. You can also opt for battery-operated candles, long-lasting options that don’t create a mess.
Grab a bunch of glass orbs
A collection of glass orbs can be used as the centerpiece for your coffee table. This will add an unexpected and unique element to any space. These spheres add sophistication to the colorful and bright area of the Rath Project. They are translucent and don’t compete against the bold colors in the room.
