The flowers on this coffee table are baby blue, matching perfectly with the blue and white china in the room.
You should never underestimate the impact that a coffee table has on the rest of the room. Coffee tables are important because they’re usually the centerpieces of the living room or the den, so they have an effect on a visitor’s first impression. Fortunately, they’re also pretty easy to style once you know the tried-and-true methods for decorating them.
An antique dog statue adds interest and character to this contemporary Dallas living room.
How you decorate your coffee table depends largely on what shape it is. The six basic coffee table shapes are: round, oval, square, rectangular, hexagonal/octagonal, and “amorphous.” Rectangular coffee tables tend to be easier to decorate because they have more surface area than a similarly sized round or oval table. If you have a round table, try arranging items in a triangular shape, and make sure to include at least one round object on the table.
The classic go-to accessories for a coffee table are stacks of books, something tall (such as a plant or a candle), a storage tray or dish, and one unusual accessory. Don’t push any of the objects out to the corners of the table; it looks better if everything is loosely centered.
Books:
Coffee table books look best when stacked in groups of two to four each. Photography, art, fashion, or interior design books are all great choices. Whenever possible, try to select books with covers that complement the color scheme of the rest of the room.
We filled the decorative bowl on this coffee table with Shiva Lingams, which are egg-shaped river stones polished by hand and originally from India.
Plants:
A coffee table without a single plant (whether faux or live) can feel a little staged. Plants add an organic touch and some texture to the tablespace. As with everything else, the plant needs to be the correct proportion for the table. For example, you wouldn’t want an oversized plant that overwhelms the table, but a tiny potted succulent in the middle of a large table wouldn’t work either. Plants should not be so large that they get in the way of conversation or watching television. For special occasions, you may enjoy swapping out your potted plants with some fresh flowers.
The flowers spilling out of a shallow bowl over this glass-top coffee table add color to the otherwise neutral space.
Trays and Bowls:
Trays can help organize functional items, such as coasters. Make sure to pick one that doesn’t occupy more than half of the tabletop space, and don’t place it right in the center either. Clear trays and flower vases fade into the background, making your table look a little more spacious. Although many homeowners use their coffee table tray to store remotes, I recommend storing those out-of-sight in drawers or a decorative box instead.
Decorative Objects:
Coffee tables are also a great place to show your personality, since they’re an appropriate spot for unusual collectibles and antiques. Examples can include pretty jewel boxes, antique tea caddies, glass orbs, or small sculptures. To vary the heights of your objects, place decorative objects or plants on top of your stacked books.
Although not every coffee table has to have each of these elements (books, trays, plants, and small accessories), these are usually what you’ll see on a professionally styled coffee table. If your table is smaller, you may want to restrict yourself to just three objects of interest.
The best coffee tables are artfully designed, but functional too: leaving plenty of space for homeowners to set down a magazine or a drink with a coaster. By following these tips, you can design a coffee table that’s not only useable, but also adds some serious style to your Dallas home.
Seen here is a round coffee table from the foyer in SMU’s Kappa Alpha Theta house, which we designed in 2016.
If you need help finding charming accessories for the coffee tables in your home, you may want to consult a professional interior designer. At Chambers Interiors, we know the best places to find antique tea caddies, statues, porcelain plates, and other great accessories for coffee tables. Call our Dallas office at 214-651-7665 or send an email to info@chambersinteriors.com for more information.