IN THIS ARTICLE
- Bohemian Inspired Coffee Table|
- Modern Minimalist Coffee Table|
- Relaxed Scandinavian Coffee Table|
- Transitional Coffee Table|
- Cozy Cottage Coffee Table|
- Glam Inspired Coffee Table|
- Perfectly Eclectic Coffee Table|
- Inviting Farmhouse Coffee Table|
- Mid Mod Dream Coffee Table|
- Coastal Charm Coffee Table|
- Get The Look: Shop Our Favorite Coffee Table Decor By Style
Coffee tables are the heart of a gathering space if you entertain in your living room or family room. It is easy to find images with perfectly curated décor, but sometimes styling our own coffee table can be a challenge.
Especially if you have kids or maybe even large pets that tend to knock things over.
I believe that coffee table décor should be practical and thoughtfully collected. Personally, I am more of a minimalist and gravitate towards a cozy, uncluttered look that feels right for everyday living. I have an easy formula you can use to achieve this in your home as well, no matter what your style is.
How to Style a Coffee Table in 3 Steps
The Formula:
- Tray
- Books
- Vase (0r some sort of sculpture/figure)
- Candles
- Greenery
Using odd numbers to decorate is one of the easiest ways to make any shelf, side table or coffee table feel complete. Of course this rule of thumb can be broken, but if you are struggling or just starting out I encourage you to stick to one, three or five items of varying heights and sizes when decorating your coffee table. Use the formula above to mix and match an odd number of decorative items for your coffee table, and make sure to leave space on the table for people to place drinks or other items if needed.
Source: McGee and Co
Step One: Add an Anchor Piece
Start with a tray or a large book to serve as the anchor of your décor. You should be able to place other small décor items onto this as you add to your table. A stack of books is a great way to help vary the height of items, which adds visual interest.
Step Two: Add a Large Focal Piece
The next decorative object you add should be the focal point or the statement piece of your coffee table. It could be anything, but should be a bit larger than other items. You can use a vase (with or without lush greenery) , candle sticks with tapers in them or even a larger sized plant.
Remember, large items should be kept to the scale of the table and your room. You do not want an item so large that it blocks your view of the room or other people in your space while sitting on the sofa. You may see this done in magazines because it looks good for the photo, but it is not always practical.
Step Three: Add Smaller Décor Items
Complete your look with one - three other small decorative pieces. How many pieces that you end up adding is completely up to you and may depend on the size of the coffee table you have or the size of your living area. A small space can feel cluttered easily so you would want to stick to less.
Examples of objects you could use here are smaller candles (even if you never burn them- it adds a cozy, more intimate element to the area), cute mini vases or jars (I love thrifting for these kinds of items), little plants like succulents, decorative items like wooden beads or clay knots. You could even use smaller personal objects that have meaning to you.
Just keep in mind that there is beauty in simplicity and you do not have to fill the entire surface of your coffee table in order for it to look styled.
10 Coffee Table Décor Ideas That Will Impress Your Guests
The items you place on your coffee table should complement the style of the rest of your living space. Not sure what your style is yet? Here are 10 different coffee tables to inspire you! Don't be afraid to mix and match elements from different styles.
Bohemian Inspired Coffee Table
Source: Pinterest
Boho uses a lot of natural elements and should be a bit colorful and moody. Key elements for creating a bohemian look would be rattan, jute or cane textures. A plant or two. Candles or maybe even a diffuser and fun elements like brass animal statues or poms/tassels in fun colors.
Modern Minimalist Coffee Table
Source: @tthese_beautiful_thingss
Modern minimalism is all about calm, clean lines and a simple color pallet. Books and a candle or an abstract clay knot are all you need to pull this look off.
Relaxed Scandinavian Coffee Table
Source: Avenue Lifestyle
Scandinavian style is known for being a pared back style that is warm and cozy. Everything on a Scandi coffee table should be intentional. Recreate this look with a reed diffuser and an interesting vase. If you are entertaining you could also add a unique water pitcher and glasses for your guests to enjoy.
Transitional Coffee Table
Source: West of Main
Transitional style is a blend of traditional décor elements with newer modern elements. It's a classic style that can feel a bit grand and uses warm neutral colors for a soothing, inviting space. Key elements for recreating a transitional coffee table are a marble tray, books, a large vase with either faux flowers or fresh flowers, and wood chain links.
SHOP SOZY
Cozy Cottage Coffee Table
Source: Cottage Fix
Cottage style décor is another style that is all about the natural elements. The furniture should look (and be) comfortable and the space should instantly feel like home. The coffee table décor should also stick to that theme. Try using flowers, magazines and candles to create cottage vibes. The photo above even uses a bench as their coffee table.
Glam Inspired Coffee Table
Source: Sunset
Glam is easily recognized by luxurious materials like silk or velvet, marble, shiny metals and other sparkly accents. Combined, these elements create an upscale and sophisticated space. When decorating a glam coffee table make sure to use lots of metals and shiny décor. A common trend is to use a glass topped coffee table that has a metal frame and is styled with designer books, mirrors and crystals. I love that the image above puts a glam spin on traditional boho. They used a tufted, velvet ottoman as a coffee table for some added texture and luxury. Alternatively, the ottoman can be used for extra seating if needed.
Perfectly Eclectic Coffee Table
Source: Root Adorned
'Eclectic' is a term coined by interior designer to describe when someone's space is a mixture of a number of styles, trends, textures and colors etc. Embracing an eclectic look is one sure way to add big style to your space. You can achieve this look by choosing decorative accessories that you love, regardless of what category they fall into. It can be neutral and calming or it can be a bit more eccentric with fun, bold details.
Inviting Farmhouse Coffee Table
Source: @charlotteshappyhome
There are a lot of different takes on farmhouse décor, but one thing that's for certain is that farmhouse spaces feel warm and inviting. Similar to cottage décor, farmhouse uses a lot of natural elements and can play heavily on the rustic side. You usually see a lot of older antiques (0r pieces made to look old) used to achieve this style. You can create your own farmhouse inspired coffee table by using a rustic box in place of a tray, a lantern and a pitcher filled with flowers or greenery.
Mid Mod Dream Coffee Table
Source: @the.hoss.homestead
Mid century modern design uses a lot of geometric shapes with bold colors and patterns. Spaces themselves are usually sleek and simple, letting the bold patterns and colors speak for themselves. You may think of the term 'retro' when you see a mcm space. You can master your own mid century coffee table décor by using a sleek, wood coffee table and a simple stack of books or a vase.
Coastal Charm Coffee Table
Source: Four Generations One Roof
Coastal décor is inspired by the beach. It is light and airy, with lots of natural light. You will typically see a lot of white with natural wood tones just like in cottage or farmhouse décor. But what sets coastal apart is that there are usually little bits of blue or green mixed in and items related to the sea on display. To create your own coastal inspired coffee table find a piece of driftwood, a candle and bowl of shells. If you have a two tiered table, opt for a seagrass basket for storage on the bottom surface.
Get The Look: Shop Our Favorite Coffee Table Décor By Style
Whether you're looking for a glass coffee table or candle holders, we've got you covered! Shop our favorite décor picks for your living room.
A. Bohemian
- Carved Wood Coffee Table
- 10oz Glass Jar Metal Lid Teal Tropic Oasis Candle - Opalhouse™ designed with Jungalow™
- Philodendron Brasil
- The Sun and Her Flowers Book
- The Little Book of Affirmations
- The New Bohemians: Cool and Collected Homes Book
B. Modern
- We Cooper (Storage Display) Burnt Wax/Antique Bronze Storage Coffee Table
- Plantopedia: The Definitive Guide To Houseplants Book
- Large Abstract Knot
C. Scandinavian
- Ria Coffee Table
- Exposed Wood Barrel Handled Rectangular Tray
- 3.4 fl oz Oil Diffuser Amber - Bergamot & Patchouli - Project 62™
- Ripple Carafe Set
D. Transitional
- Maricopa Coffee Table
- Full Moon Clay Vase
- 4" x 10" Decorative Marble Rectangle Tray White - Project 62™
- 13oz Wood Lidded Ribbed Glass 3-Wick Mandarin Orange Blossom Candle - Threshold™ designed with Studio McGee
- Candle Snuffer. Brass
E. Glam
- Jemma Tufted Round Velvet Ottoman Blue- Abbyson Living
- Marble and Gold Serving Tray
- Gilded Vase
- House of Glam by Gestalten
F. Cottage
- Live Edge Wood Sansur Coffee Table
- Round Dough Bowl Candle- Black
- Sunburst Taper Holder
- Spotted Ceramic Vase
- Mid Century Modern Minimalist Abstract Art Brush Strokes Black & White Ink Art Spiral Circles Serving Tray
- The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide to Ancient Self-Care
- Moon Bath: Bathing Rituals and Recipes for Relaxation and Vitality
H. Farmhouse
- Castalia Round Natural Wood Coffee Table - Threshhold
- Black Band Round Basket 14”
- Bailey Rustic Large Black Wood Round Serving Tray-Large
- White Decor Beads
- Ceramic Chambray Vase
- Supla 3 Pcs Artificial Silver Dollar Eucalyptus Leaf Spray in Green 25.5" Tall Artificial Greenery Holiday Greens Christmas Greenery
I. Mid Century Modern
- Jensen Coffee Table- Glass
- Theology of Home: Finding the Eternal in the Everyday
- Painted Elza Vase
- Mai 7.5” Blue Floral Bowl
J. Coastal
- Lubek Coffee Table
- Beaches by Gray Malin
- Ann Lee Design Round Serving Seagrass Trays (White with Recessed Open Handle)
- Zumthor Sea Glass Beads
- Small Clam Shell
Let us know below what your style is and if you plan to give this formula a try in your own living space!
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