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Simple coffee table styling


45 Coffee Table Decor Ideas

Introduction

By

Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon is a freelance writer and home decor enthusiast, who enjoys sharing good finds on home items. Since 2018, she has contributed to a variety of lifestyle publications, including Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/21/22

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You've finally found the perfect coffee table for your living room, family room, or primary en suite lounge space. Now, all you have to do is make it pop with the right mix of accessories that suit both your lifestyle and aesthetic.

Whether you prefer a minimalist or a maximalist approach, check out these stylish and wide-ranging coffee table decor ideas will help you add those finishing touches that will turn this functional piece of furniture into a showstopping focal point.

The 8 Best Lift Top Coffee Tables of 2023

how to style a coffee table |

Coffee table styling is the finishing touch a living room. Often the last piece of furniture to be bought – after seating and storage – coffee tables are often, even unintentionally, the focal point of a living room, so getting the styling just right is a must.  

These are the coffee table styling ideas and tips our decorating editors – and key interiors experts – want you to know about. Unsurprisingly, there are some key rules to follow that will ensure your coffee table will look fabulous on top and be functional to boot – adding it to your list of living room ideas will make your space shine.

Coffee table styling – ideas and expert tips

Of course, coffee table styling will have to be able to flex. After all, it might be a space that hosts everything from coffee cups to paperwork. These interior design tips take all this into account.

1. Pare back coffee table styling

(Image credit: Kit Kemp/Firmdale Hotels)

It may seem counterintuitive in an article about coffee table styling to tell you not to put too much on a surface, but let's be practical – even the most formal of living rooms, like this beautiful space by Kit Kemp , needs to be functional. This means making any coffee table styling impactful, but leaving plenty of space on the table top for you to put everything on it that you need to during the course of a day.

Plus, as Kit Kemp says, 'It is the surfaces of these generously proportioned coffee tables that make them interesting.' In other words, if your coffee table has a beautiful surface material, you will want to show it off.

Consider incorporating the coffee table book trend for a refined decor option that doesn't take away from the table itself. 

2. Use curves to create a contrast

(Image credit: Cortney Bishop)

Cortney Bishop's living room styling tips focus on making spaces feel comfortable – and one way to do that is to incorporate a seating plan that centers around a coffee table. Choosing a round coffee table is a clever styling trick – just as with a circular dining table, it encourages sociability in a space.

To boost character, go vintage: 'Vintage is gold. Give the people something to talk about and incorporate something unique that no one else will have,' advises Cortney.

3. Style up a coffee table tray

(Image credit: K&H Design)

If your coffee table doubles up as a footstool, as in this room by K&H Design – or if you use it regularly for work and need to spread out paperwork, limiting coffee table styling to a tray that you can easily move on and off is practical – it's a great way to focus the styling at one end or centrally on the coffee table, which boosts its impact.

4. Keep coffee table styling simple

(Image credit: Katie Charlotte Photography/Cortney Bishop)

With any room styling, always remember that simplicity is best. We also think better when a coffee table is clutter-free, it helps clear the mind and makes it easier for us to relax. 

Use your living room’s look or theme to guide or contrast with your coffee table styling – if the feel is busy then keep your table minimalist, or, if the rest of the scheme is pared back in style then use the coffee table to pack a punch – this can still be done on a minimal basis; for example, keep books on a shelf underneath and keepsakes and ornaments on the top, that way you have a clear separation between pieces.  

5. Play with levels

(Image credit: Elicyon/Patrick Williamson)

Coffee table styling can help with a room's proportions. So if your living space has low ceilings, it makes sense to pick a coffee table that's purposefully low, too. However, you can boost interest by picking a two-level coffee table design, as in this room designed by Elicyon , where the impact is maximized by a tall floral display on the taller table. 

6. Get scale and proportion right

(Image credit: OKA)

Whether your living room scheme is colorful or oh-so-white, you can still play with scale in interior design on your coffee table. One top tip is to only place pieces on it that won’t exceed a third of the height of the actual table, this way you’ll get the proportions right. We asked Sue Jones, co-founder and creative director at OKA for her coffee table styling advice:

‘This table is so visually interesting that it really doesn’t need much styling – just a couple of books or decorative objects do the trick. You don’t want to take attention away from the oyster shells underneath the glass top, so stick to the table’s palette of neutral colors – we've chosen a pair of curved off-white stoneware vases to add to the organic feel.’

7. Maximize texture and shape

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

If you love a cohesive scheme then incorporate your coffee table into it seamlessly. Clara Ewart, head of design at London-based interior studio, Kitesgrove explains why:

‘Coffee tables work most effectively when they coordinate with the room scheme so they do not appear too dominant within the space. We often choose coffee tables with more neutral tones made from natural materials such as marble and timber. Coffee tables need to be durable as well as providing space for more decorative elements such as books, trays and objets.’

The more minimal you keep the styling in this instance the better – a tray and two different sized bowls that pick up the colors from the cushions and side table are all you need.  

8. Use the coffee table to introduce an accent color

(Image credit: Interior Fox)

We often mention accent color ideas in the form of accessories, but you can also use smaller pieces of furniture in this way too. It’s a way of making a style statement and it works particularly well in a modern setting that has a minimalist feel, as Jen and Mar from London based design studio, Interior Fox explain:

‘Black finishes work especially well against a neutral background, working as an accent color while acting as an anchor to the overall scheme. From the coffee table taking center stage, through to the lighting and accessories. 

'Play around with the height and shape of the items you choose to display, this will help the surface feel more dynamic. Our top tip: keep it simple. Introduce greenery, a favorite scented candle and a small stack of coffee table magazines for a look that feels both stylish and relaxed.’

(Image credit: Jonathan Adler)

Two coffee table styling tips in one here – starting with the rule of three. Visually divide up your coffee table into three sections, now, you can either place items into each section, or only use two and leave one end free. 

Coffee table styling tip number two: have one bold statement piece in one of your sections – this could be a striking vase full of blooms, an ornament or a stack of books, but it needs to be the largest and tallest item. Then, have a smaller display of something else – a stack of books with a paperweight or a scented candle on for example – it’s lovely to use something that has meaning or brings back happy memories. 

10. Introduce fabric, color and pattern

(Image credit: Mark Bolton/Future PLC)

Coffee table styling needn't stop at the pieces you display on top – it can extend to the materials used to make it. This might be a marble top – or perhaps you want to use a footstool to soften a space. Choose a curvaceous shape, a pretty fabric and an unusual texture, such as this buttoned top, and you have an eye-catching centerpiece for your room.

How can I make my coffee table look nice?

'Coffee table styling is the finishing touch a living room,' says Camilla Clarke of interior design agency Albion Nord . She shares her top four tricks when styling a coffee table:

How to style a coffee table with a shelf

How you style a coffee table with a shelf will largely come down to how busy your room is – but, as a general rule, you want to avoid having a very cluttered shelf and top for your coffee table as it will make your living room feel messy. Instead, opt to keep clutter below the table top on the shelf, and keep a neat grouping of items on the top.

How to style a round coffee table

Styling a round coffee table is a little trickier than styling a square or rectangular coffee table. One way to do so is by placing the items you want to display on a tray – round or square – and placing those on to the center of the coffee table. Another is to group three items into a triangle – often called the 'stylist's triangle'. Pick on taller item, one smaller item and one that sits around the middle of the two in height. This will help create a natural arrangement. 

What is the number 1 coffee maker?

The best coffee maker, according to our team of reviewers, is the Breville BES990BSS The Oracle Touch.

Coffee table - modern novelties of 2017 (100 photos)

The coffee table is rightfully the most versatile and necessary element of the interior. No guest room is complete without it.

Often these tables are found in bedrooms, where it is used instead of bedside tables. Also, a modern coffee table is installed even on the balcony, where it acts as a computer desk, unless, of course, the balcony is insulated.

With such a simple piece of furniture, any room can be given coziness.

In this article we will talk about what coffee tables are and what they are made of, there will also be a photo of each type of coffee table.

Table of contents of the article

Made of wood

Perhaps this is the most common option, it looks organic in absolutely any interior, except for high-tech.

All you have to do is choose the right shade to match the rest of the furniture in the room.

It will not be superfluous if the design of the coffee table is made in the same style as the rest of the furniture.

Made of glass

If you want to give your room a more modern touch, then you need a glass coffee table.

This design looks airy and weightless, largely due to the transparency of the material.

However, this does not necessarily mean that the legs of the table will be made of glass, there may be a variety of materials, it all depends on your imagination.

Metal

The material is not the easiest to work with, so it's no surprise that these tables cost the most.

In addition, they weigh a lot, so moving them is not so easy. However, they are very durable and not afraid of mechanical damage.

Coffee table in the interior: style variations

Before starting the repair, carefully study the interior design catalogs, and if there is a coffee table, then by different styles you can understand that such a simple object can differ not only in material, but also in design, purpose and decorative elements.

Classic

For a classic style, the most ordinary small table, made of glass or wood, is best suited, it is also called a coffee table.

If you chose the first option, you can decorate the legs or find an option with an unusual design.

The main thing is that they match the rest of the decoration. If you have chosen a tree, then look at the tone of the wood, it will look ridiculous if the table stands out from the rest of the furniture.

Provence

The key feature of this style is soft, pastel colors of furniture, as well as naturalness, however, artificially aged items are often used.

For example, for a voluminous living room it is better to choose a massive, artificially aged coffee table, and for a small room, a model with several tiers is better suited.

Country

Most of the ethnic style rooms (yes, country is also ethno) surprise people with unusual ideas, and besides that, with unconventional use of even the most familiar things.

For example, it can be either bamboo furniture or a hand-made mosaic made of river shells.

Therefore, a country style coffee table should be made in an unusual style, for example, from rough wood or simply from untreated logs.

Modern

Perhaps, this is the very style where the designer's fantasies have room to roam. Therefore, the material for the table can be even the most non-trivial, for example, stone or PVC (plastic).

The trick is in the simplicity of lines and shapes. With a little creativity, you'll have a table that's guaranteed to impress your guests.

Pop Art

The key task of style is to transform an ordinary thing into something unusual.

That's why these "works of modern art" help to turn an ordinary coffee table into a key element of the room's decor.

So don't be surprised, you can see anything.

We use the coffee table for its intended purpose

Do not forget about the direct purpose of the table, because its name already indicates that it is necessary for storing books, magazines and other household items (chargers, remote controls, telephones, etc. ) .

Therefore, it is not surprising that many modern models are equipped with cabinets and drawers.

Moreover, they are not always installed inside the table, they are both visible and hidden, which only the owner knows about.

Photo of coffee tables

Modern coffee table design | 30 best photos in the interior

Today's market has a huge variety of coffee tables of different designs, so there will be no problem with choosing. However, there is something in common that unites them. For example, the height is usually in the range from 40 to 50 cm, while the higher it is, the smaller the table itself, meaning the table top, and vice versa, the lower the height, the larger the table. Although, undoubtedly, there are exceptions to the rule - very low models, barely rising above the floor.

Which table to choose?

The answer to this question depends primarily on the function that it will have to perform. Accordingly, the place of its location will be determined. Usually, coffee tables can be placed in the living room, and in the bedroom, and in the nursery, in principle, in any room, especially if you make it the center of the whole composition or the finishing touch in the interior. To date, the most popular and fashionable are tables in the "Italian" style with curved legs and interesting carvings, the top of which is inlaid. Although, again, it still depends on the style in which the interior is made. Because such tables are luxury items and will not fit into any interior.

Varieties of design of coffee tables depending on the style

For each specific interior, a specific model of a coffee table is selected in accordance with the style in which the room is decorated.
A very effective technique used by decorators, based on the principle of pairing. It can be both lamps, rugs or vases located nearby, as well as coffee tables. At the same time, they must be from the same collection or exactly the same. This technique contributes to a quick change of interior, as well as convenience, especially in small living rooms (tables can be moved close to form a large surface for receiving guests), and a spectacular appearance.

And in rooms with large areas, there can be many more of these tables at the same time.


Low tables come to us from the Japanese style and have a height much less than the traditional one (15 - 30 cm). Such tables have a fairly concise shape and clear corners. Also, they may not have legs at all, but if they are, then they are even. Also, tables can differ in an interesting texture (leather or wood), although they are very restrained in terms of color. Perfectly in harmony with any modern style, where environmental friendliness and minimalism are valued.


There are coffee tables in the form of chests, and in some cases, the role of such tables is performed by real chests, which makes it convenient to store things inside them, for example, books, magazines, as well as small dishes, and everything you want. And you can use such a chest as a home bar - also an option. It is believed that such a table can decorate any living room, no matter what style it is (for example, the Swedes think so). However, we still believe that such a table design is most appropriate for styles such as country or classic.


Coffee tables can also be wicker. Naturally, such models are most relevant for eco-style, creating an atmosphere of a terrace, and they look like baskets.


The banquette can also function as a coffee table if it is provided with enough horizontal flat surface. The convenience lies in the fact that one item can carry two functions at once - as a table, and as a banquette-pouffe. Moreover, the shapes can be completely different, both rectangular and round.

For a classic interior, of course, an ideal option would be a wooden table, which can have a different design: it can be a functional module with a section, it can resemble an unusual bench, or it can simply look like a big stump.

But if you prefer the traditional form, then you should opt for a model with a rectangular or oval top, equipped with four legs, a pedestal base or a plinth.

Materials from which coffee tables are made

The most common classic option is a table made of wood, which can be decorated with stone. However, other combined types are no less interesting, for example, glass and wood or glass and metal - the most harmonious combinations. Or pure glass models - a very effective option, suitable for any style of interior. Among other things, such tables do not overload the space, they visually look absolutely light and airy, almost weightless. For their manufacture, tempered glass is used, which is shock-resistant and capable of withstanding heavy loads


The material from which the coffee table is made also depends primarily on the style. In general, countertops can be made from a wide variety of materials, both from natural wood or semi-precious stone (expensive models), and from simple plastic, chipboard, MDF. veneer, glass, metal, etc. (cheap options). On top of that, tables can be made from any one material or combine two or more types at once. A durable option is a table made of natural wood and natural stone, although expensive. Perfectly fit into a classic interior, country or even retro.

Among other things, there are very convenient models of coffee tables equipped with wheels - ideal in cases where it is necessary to move one table to different rooms.


Glass tops are perhaps the most favorite among designers. Especially if completely unexpected things serve as a support-base for such tables: deer antlers, wooden bears, bronze dolphins or bizarre plants.

In addition, tables with a glass top are very versatile, it must be admitted, and therefore look great in almost any interior.

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