Coffee Table Styling Guide: 12 Tips for Aesthetic Coffee Tables

Styling a coffee table can be a daunting task, especially when you want to strike the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality. Today, we bring you 12 helpful tips that will make the process as easy as possible. However, something to keep in mind with this topic is that different coffee table shapes will all be styled differently. They have to be because the table top will have different parameters you have to work within.

That’s why the tips we’re sharing today are general rules you can follow to style any coffee table effectively. Whether you’re working with a round coastal coffee table or a square rattan coffee table, these tips will guide your hand and help you improve the aesthetics of any space.

 

12 Tips to Style Aesthetic and Functional Coffee Tables

1. Make Sure Your Personality Shines Through

While buying brand-new decor items is good and they can look incredible, your coffee table should also be a reflection of you. So embrace your personality when shopping for coffee tables and coffee table decor. That’s one of the easiest ways to make sure your coffee table will be interesting. Buy that weird decor item you liked, showcase wacky keepsakes and mementos, etc. The sky’s the limit.

 

2. Use Decor Items of Different Heights

There should be several objects at different heights on your coffee table. You want the eye to go on a visual journey; up and down the ornaments on the table to create a sense of interest. Don’t place them so high that they obstruct your view when you’re seating on your sofa, but do play with heights in a fun way.

 

3. Showcase Different Textures

Texture is super important when it comes to decor. All too often you’ll see coffee tables with objects of the same material. For example, a rustic vase next to a rustic ornament on a rustic tray is too much of one type of finish. Ideally, you shouldn’t repeat the same finish at all. Instead, explore materials that look different and complement each other.

4. Explore Depth of Field

In other words, don’t place all your decor items in a line. Instead, have the tall decor items at the back of the coffee table arrangement, and keep the shorter ones in the front. You want all the decor items to be seen, but a row is too boring and it takes more space than necessary. Creating a nice cluster of decor items will look much better and leave room for other things.

 

5. Adding a Flower or Plant Is Essential

A flower arrangement or plant is an essential item when styling a coffee table. If you don’t want to take care of a living plant or don’t want to be wasteful by replacing flowers every few days, you can go with fake flowers or plants. Either way, they will look great and add some softness to the coffee table arrangement.

 

6. Consider Large Items Instead of Trinkets

You want to have just the right amount of pieces on your coffee table. As a general rule, larger items look better than a bunch of little trinkets. Lots of small items can make the coffee table look messy and cluttered, while larger items can help you create a better visual balance.

7. Use a Tray

If you have a larger coffee table and want to showcase many items, a tray is a great way to contain all of the pieces. This will leave you enough space for other things you’d like to showcase. Just make sure that the tray is not made of the same material as your coffee table top to make things more visually interesting.

 

8. Take Advantage of the Classic Book Stack

Stack like you’ve never stacked before when it comes to books on your coffee table. Earlier, we mentioned that having decor items of different sizes will make things a lot more attractive to the eye. Well, book stacks are a great way to do that. You can stack books of different sizes and then add an interesting ornament to top it off. Just make sure that the books make sense in the space. For example, you don’t want a recipe book on your living room coffee table. Keep the book topics inspiring; something you can pick up and flick through.

 

9. Create a Nice Color Scheme

Your coffee table is a smaller reflection of what’s going on in the room overall. While the style of the objects is important, so is color. You don’t want a color on your tray that’s nowhere else in the room because it will look out of place. Instead, pull color inspiration from places like cushions, rugs, and artwork. It’ll make the whole scene feel cohesive and elegant.

10. Think About What’s Under the Table

Depending on the design of your coffee table, you might have the opportunity to decorate under the table. For example, you can use furniture pieces like a pouf or an ottoman to make use of that space. You can also explore storage baskets under the table, which can hold remote controls and other essentials. A Hamptons style coffee table can benefit a lot from something like this if the design allows it.

 

11. Create Contrast with Your Coffee Table

You want to avoid styling your coffee table with items in the same finish as your tabletop. So avoid marble pieces on a marble table, black timber pieces on a black timber table, and so on. You want contrast in color, yes, but contrast in material is also very important. With a Hamptons coffee table, you’ll have a lot of freedom to do this, so make the most of it.

 

12. Include Items with Odd Shapes

Last but not least, don’t be afraid to style your coffee table with odd or abstract shapes. Too many circle-shaped or square-shaped objects will make the coffee table look boring. To add interest and make the coffee table more eye-catching, use objects that look a little strange. For example, coral, branches, oddly-shaped vases, etc., are good options and they will make a difference.

 

If you don’t have a coffee table yet and you’re looking for options, browse our store to find the perfect Hamptons coffee table or any other style you have in mind. Then, take these tips into consideration and elevate the coffee table even further.