Your coffee table decor can make a statement in your living room, or quietly serve a variety of functions. The choice is yours! Get all my best tips for coffee table styling in this quick and easy guide.
Today, we’ll take a look at some beautiful coffee table decor ideas to freshen your home for any season.
Learn the best ways to create a functional, beautiful display on this important piece of furniture in your living room!
As much as I enjoy the process of decorating a space, it doesn’t always come easy! As a bit of a minimalist, I don’t like a lot of clutter. That means bookshelves and coffee table decorating can feel too busy and complicated to me – I like things to feel effortless!
That’s where this simple guide comes in so handy! I’m sharing a few of my best tips and tricks for simple coffee table decor to make it easier on you. Learn from my mistakes and enjoy the results in your own home!
Along with answering a few of the most commonly asked questions, we’ve also curated list of a few wonderful coffee table decor items to purchase.
I hope it’s helpful, and we’ve really enjoyed putting these resources together! We have tried several different versions of coffee table decor between our St. Louis home and our lake cottage.
Use the drop down Table of Contents to navigate this post. Don’t forget to pin it and save for later, too!
Coffee Table Decor
Your coffee table is the center of your living room, and while you don’t need it to be a focal point, you do want it to be functional, welcoming and cozy.
Use your coffee table to help set the tone for your room and showcase your personal style!
Use unique objects that have a decorative element along with items that serve a function. Creating different heights and adding texture to your coffee table will create dimension and depth to your living room.
Love the look of our Neutral Living Room? Check out our Pottery Barn Sofas, as well as our Sisal Rug (that you can actually clean). Find the art and accessory sources in our shop.
Easy Step by Step
Consider these quick steps to get started. Your layout will be unique to your home, shape of your table, personal style and needs, of course.
- Use a tray to gather objects. It helps create a tidy, intentional look.
- Stack books! Use one group of books or try 3-4 stacks if your table is large.
- Use a stack topper. Try a candle, a small box or any decorative object for interest.
- Choose a vase of fresh flowers or a green plant for an instant touch of cozy. Greenery is one of my top tips for creating a cozy home!
- A candle adds warmth.
- Coasters can be both beautiful and functional – choose wisely!
Tips
- Find inspiration images that inspire you – check magazines, blogs and Pinterest! Look to your favorite interior designers and influencers for images that can inspire you.
- How do you choose the right size of coffee table? Don’t skip this Coffee Table Height Guide for all the answers!
- Do not overcrowd your coffee table. Leave space to allow pieces to stand out.
- Create layers- stack items or group them, spacing them slightly apart.
- Think in terms of odd numbers. Ideally, three items will to create the traditional “design triangle” can help you find the perfect layout. Tall, medium, low is a good rule of thumb but not a hard and fast rule!
- A monochromatic or minimal color scheme will help you immediately achieve a sophisticated look. Simplify your color palette if it feels like too much.
- I love to use fresh olive branches in my vases because they dry beautifully and I can leave them for a long time to come. However, don’t hesitate to use faux flowers or plants for a long-lasting pop of greenery!
Frequently Asked Questions
Any object that you’d like to place on your coffee table can go inside a tray! Think stacks of pretty coasters, books, decorative objects, vases and candles.
Try to stick to the design rule of “threes”. Choose three objects of varying sizes that can appropriately fill the space, no matter how small. For example, a vase of flowers, a stack of coffee table books, and perhaps a candle.
Coffee Table Decor Items
There are so many beautiful objects that can work for coffee table decor. Use this list to get a good start on your own!
- Vases
- Ginger Jars
- Trays
- Coasters
- Coffee Table Books
- Decorative Boxes (these are great for hiding remotes, etc)
- Floral Arrangements (see the best Artificial Flowers here and learn Where to Buy Flowers here.)
- Plants
- Candles (don’t forget decorative objects that can work alongside a candle, like pretty wick trimmers or matches.)
- Sculptural Elements and Decorative Shaped Objects
- Bowls
- Baskets
- Sea Shells
- Magnifying Glass
- Antiques or Collectibles
Gallery
Here are a few ways we’ve styled our coffee tables over the years! Which one is your favorite?
