Do you wonder how professional designers make coffee table decor look so flawless? I did too so I did my research and found 21 tips that interior designers use to style coffee tables. Check them out in this post and I’ll also show you where you can get the best decorations for your table.
Read to the end to find out an easy coffee table decorating hack that works every time.
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What do you decorate a coffee table with?
Here are some of my favorite ideas:
Books
Trays
Candles
Small Statues or Pottery
Plants or Flowers
Decorative Vases
I’ll cover all of these and more in this post.
Now let’s take a look at the 21 tips for styling your coffee table like an interior designer.
1 | Start with Books
Most designers agree that when styling your coffee table, you need to start with books. The best coffee table books are large and have a beautifully aesthetic. Check out some inspiration below to style your table with books.
When choosing your coffee table books look for books, you’re interested in that also have covers with matching color schemes for a cohesive look.
What to Look for in a Coffee Table Book
The perfect book will have an interesting topic that will hopefully spark a conversation with your guests. It’ll also have an aesthetic that matches your style.
Is your style boho, farmhouse or minimal? Then go for a neutral-colored book. If your style is modern, then a book with a black and white cover would look chic.
My Top Picks for Coffee Table Books
Check out my favorite books for every style below.
To add a little more interest to your table design trying turning books in different directions. This works well whether your table is round, square or rectangular. Check out some inspiration below.
On a round table changing the directional of the books adds character to your design.
3 | Layer Objects on Books
Designers agree that books alone look a little too flat. So be sure to add objects on top of some of them. Try shopping your home for small decor that you have and experiment with it. Check out what I mean below.
If you have the room for it consider adding a tray to your table decor. Trays are a great way to contain small items and instantly give your table a pulled together look. This helps layer your design and adds texture to your table.
If you’re using your ottoman as a table than a tray will convert this to useable space. It’s now the perfect spot to place a cup of coffee or glass of wine.
My Top Picks for Coffee Table Trays
Below check out my absolute favorite trays and where you can get them.
Vary the heights of your decor for a designer look. For taller items try a vase with stems. Pots work great for medium sized objects and a candle for a small item.
6 | Add Plants
Designers agree that your table decor should incorporate life. Plants add a freshness and a beauty to any space. They instantly liven up your decor.
Check out some examples of table decor with plants below.
An alternative to adding plants to your decor is to add fresh flowers. Choose a beautiful vase that goes with your decor to take your style up a notch. Get some inspiration from the stunning tables with flowers below.
Designers often use fresh flowers as that finishing touch to liven up a space.
8 | Add Stems
Here’s even another alternative to adding plants or flowers. You can also add some stems or branches either faux or real. Adding stems to a vase will not only add a little nature but also height to your coffee table display.
Get inspired by the beautiful designer tables below that have incorporated stems into their design.
Adding a little extra light to your table is an easy way to create ambience in your living room. You can do this by adding a table lamp or simply a candle or two. Check out some inspiration below.
To add interest to your design, choose at least one item with height to it. You don’t want it too tall though because you want to be able to see and visit with your guests. A tall vase or a candlestick holder would do the trick.
Check out some examples to add a little height to your decor below.
Now, that you have one tall object choose other objects of varying heights. Interior designers know that objects that are the same height will compete with each other visually. Our eyes want relief from this and prefer items of different heights.
This is why it looks great to have at least one tall, one medium and one small object. Below check out interior designer inspiration to see how to pull this off in your home.
If you want to copy the look of this beautifully styled table, then think about your decor in three groups of sizes. A cluster of small items, medium and then at least one tall object will give you that designer look every time.
Adding elements of nature to your decor will instantly warm up your space. Consider adding pinecones, shells, or a beautiful natural wooden bowl. See what I mean below.
This is an optional choice but if you have more room on your table consider adding a beautiful bowl. You can fill it with candy, nuts, natural items or seasonal decor to add another layer of depth to your design. Check out a little inspiration below to pull it off in your home.
If you have an empty bowl, or free space in your tray consider adding a little filler. To be on trend right now try adding a wooden chain link or a wood bead garland. Check them out below.
A filler like a wooden beaded garland organically draped over a tray helps break up a styled table. This will help to give your home that cozy lived in feel that we all love.
Lining up your books and decor in straight rows is a little boring. Stagger books or other large objects to add interest to your table decor. Check out what I’m talking about below.
The objects on this table are staggered instead of placed in even rows which as you can keeps the decor from looking too rigid.
16 | Hide Your Remotes
I personally don’t like the look of all the extra remotes on my beautifully styled coffee table. An easy solution for this is to find a beautiful box or a hollow book to hide them. Check out some ideas below.
Set of Natural Cane Wicker Boxes for Remote Storage
When choosing your books or decor items for your living room table consider the color scheme of your living room. For a neutral room find books and decor that are natural colors. If you have bright pink throw pillows add a bright pink coffee table book.
If you have color in your living room, then add colorful books and accessories to your table for a cohesive feel throughout your room.
18 | Add Your Personality
I believe that every home should reflect the people that live there. Decorating your home is a chance to add a glimpse of your personality.
You can do this by choosing books about your interests, adding a unique souvenir from your last trip, or a beautiful shell from your beach visit. See what I mean below.
Adding souvenirs, you’ve collected from travel destinations or small sculptures that you love are a great way to add your personality to your space.
19 | Anchor Large Items
If you have one large item, put another large item on the other side of your table to balance out the proportions. This may apply to a large tray, lamp, book, or a bowl. I’ll show you a couple of examples below.
In this illustration the large bowls offset each other visually as do the large books and the vases. If one of the large items was missing the decor would feel a little off.
Here’s another example of large bowls offsetting each other to give this coffee table balance. You do not need to use the same object just shoot for object that are similar sizes to pull off this designer trick.
20 | Create Clusters of Three
Another tried and true designer tip is to clump items in small groupings. If you’re not sure how to do this start with a set of three small items. Groups of three always work in design.
Here’s a beautiful example of small clusters of three times that gives this coffee table that designer feel.
21 | Change up Your Decor for the Season
An easy way to keep your table decor looking fresh is to make small changes for the season. At fall time add little white pumpkins or add porcelain trees in the Winter. Check out some inspiration below.
Switch a couple of pumpkins out for white trees during the winter to keep the decor fresh.
Coffee Table Decoration Ideas
Now that I’ve shown you the basic steps to decorate your table let’s take a look at some more specific decorating ideas depending on the type of table you have or the style of your home.
Round Coffee Table Decor
An easy way to decorate a round table is in groups of three. You don’t have to have exactly three items but three groups with varying height works every time. Check out what I mean below.
Another technique that works great on a round table is to center your decor in the middle of the table and shape it in a circular design.
Rectangle Coffee Table Decor Ideas
Large rectangular tables are fun to style because you have a lot of space to work with and more design possibilities. I’ll show you a couple ideas below to either go simple with your decor or to go for a detailed layered look.
This table decor mimics the shape of the table itself with the edges left upon to place beverages. To copy this style visualize a smaller rectangle on your table and place decorative items in that space.
Another simple idea for styling a large rectangular table is to add a round tray with three items of varying height to the center.
Small Coffee Table Decor Ideas
First of all, a coffee table is never too small to decorate. But you may have to scale down your design, so your table doesn’t look too cluttered. Check out a little inspiration below.
Here’s a little inspiration of how to style a small table and still leave room to set your morning coffee.
Modern Coffee Table Decor
If your table is modern, then you’ll want some modern décor pieces to accentuate it. Think monochromatic colors and clean lines. Get some inspiration below.
Books and modern pottery are the perfect accent for this round white table.
Glass Coffee Table Decorating Ideas
Glass tables have a modern look to them. When left undecorated they may come off as a little too cold. If you want to warm up your living room then add wooden accents, plants or fresh flowers to your glass table.
Steal the style ideas below if you have a glass table.
Adding a vase of fresh flowers is an easy way to brighten up your glass table decor.
Boho Coffee Table Decor
If you love boho style, then you should definitely consider this when styling your living room table. Some ideas are to add a neutral vase with pampas grass, adding a wicker tray or a boho style bowl. Steal the style of these beautiful boho tables below.
If you have farmhouse style throughout your house, then why not add this style to your living room table decor as well? To do this add natural elements like plants, weathered wood, or metals. Get a little inspiration to pull off the look below.
If you’re style is minimal then congrats your table decor will be easy. Consider adding a tray with one small item like a candle or a pot or even one interesting vase. Check out some inspiration below.
If your coffee table is a showstopper like this one, then you can easily get away with a minimal display.
Decorative Coffee Table Decoration Ideas
If your coffee table is a work of art itself, then consider simple decorations. One large vase with flowers or stems would look amazing or a stack of books with a small item on top.
When the table is the star of the show then sometimes less is more when it comes to your decor choices.
Simple Coffee Table Decor
If you want a simple idea to decorate your coffee table, then listen to this easy hack. Think of a triangle when arranging your decor. Adding one tall, one medium and one small item to a round tray and arranging your items in a triangle formation works every time.
See some examples of this easy triangle decorating hack below.
Add a book or two under your three items to elevate them.
Now you have 21 designer tips to style your coffee table like a pro. Plus, I showed you where to get the latest coffee table decor and decorating ideas for all of the different styles. Hope you got inspired to try something new to pull of that interior designer look.
A big thanks to all the talented designers that helped contribute to this post. Please click on the link under the pictures to follow them on Instagram.
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