Your coffee table is the centerpiece of your living room and often one of the first places people will look when they come into your home. It’s a reflection of your personal style and even personality. You want it to be inviting at times a simple object displayed can spark some good conversation. But be careful, it’s a simple area that can quickly turn from designer worthy to a nesting ground for clutter. That’s why we have rounded up a few ideas to make your coffee table decor a simple task.
Here are our ideas from interior designers on how to decorate your coffee table:
A Vase of Fresh Blooms
By adding a vase of fresh flowers you add instant color and interest to any space. You can add seasonal flowers or even add flowers according to your decor theme eg. if your theme is farm country chic, hydrangeas will work beautifully. You can have a lot of fun experimenting with different flowers and they also add a lot of joy to a home. Make sure to change out the water regularly to keep your flowers looking their best.
A Tray
A tray is a great way to corral smaller items and keep them from looking cluttered. It also helps to define the space on your coffee table. You can use it to hold books, candles, coasters, or even remotes. I personally love using trays and my favorite are the wicker ones but there are truly so many trays available such as mirrored ones to suit any decor style. You can also play with shapes and sizes such as round trays vs rectangular ones. The tray pictured below is available from Amazon.
Add height
You can add height to your coffee table by adding stackable items such as books or boxes. this will create a visually appealing effect. You can also add vases or even lamps to achieve this look.
Books
Coffee table books help to create a focal point as well as add some visual interest. There are so many beautiful table books available that can easily serve as decor items on their own. If you have a lot of books, you can rotate them out every few months to keep your coffee table looking fresh. This is also a good way for you to page through books that you have rather than forgetting about them on the book shelf. Here is a great list of the coffee table books we recommend to suit any style.
Use Boxes and Containers
Embrace any item that serves to decorate and store at the same time. This is exactly why I love pretty boxes. You can stack them beautifully but also use them to hide all your knick-knacks.
Low Maintenance Plants
If the idea of fresh flowers is intimidating due to the maintenance then low-maintenance plants such as succulents will be best. You only have to water them twice a month and they add an element of greenery to your decor.
Candles
Candles are always a good idea when it comes to decor. They add a warm and inviting element to any space. You don’t necessarily have to go for the scented ones but if you do make sure they are not too fragrant as you don’t want your guests to feel like they are choking on fumes. Vanilla is a good option and candles in glass containers always look elegant.
Decorative items and statuettes
You can use any pretty trinket or statuette to add some personality to your coffee table. Just make sure it is something you love and that it fits in with the rest of your decor. I love scouring antique markets for objects such as old cameras or even pretty porcelain plates than can serve as decor items. A chess board is a great object to have on a coffee table.
Divide your table into equal parts
Imagine the surface of your coffee table in three parts – left, middle and right. Place the tallest items on the sides of the table with the shorter items in the middle. This will create a more balanced look. Sometimes nesting tables work really well and can achieve the same effect.
Personal items
You can add a personal touch to your coffee table by including some family photos or even mementos from your travels. Just make sure not to go overboard as you don’t want the table to look cluttered. A nice way to display these items is in a pretty frame or even in a photo album.
Use different textures and materials
To add some visual interest to your coffee table, mix and match different textures and materials. You can use a combination of wood, glass, metal, stone, or even fabric. Just make sure that the items you choose complement each other.
Group items together
When it comes to coffee table decor, less is more. So instead of scattering items all over the table, group them in twos or threes. This will create a more impactful look.
Conclusion
These are just some ideas to get you started on decorating your coffee table. The most important thing is to have fun with it and to use items that you love. After all, your coffee table should be a reflection of your style.