7 Secrets to Styling a Coffee Table
Keep your coffee table curated and simple.
Styling a coffee table is exciting and challenging. It's a great way to show off inspiring books and transitional pieces of decor, but it's also a small surface area. If you need a little advice for decorating a tray on a coffee table or just the basics for how to style a coffee table, keep reading below for our seven coffee table styling secrets.
1. Start with a Large Tray
The key to creating an organized and artful coffee table is starting with a good foundation. A large decorative tray will neatly keep everything together. A tray also makes it easy to quickly move everything off the table to make room for Thai takeout or family game night. Choose a tray that's big enough for your decorative objects and trinkets, but not so big that it takes up the whole table (you still want to be able to prop up your feet).
Pro Tip:
If you choose a rattan tray for your coffee table tray ideas, stick felt pads to the bottom so it won't scratch the coffee table.
Whether you're decorating a tray on a coffee table or simply styling a coffee table, the next step is to add a natural element. We love switching things up frequently by picking up fresh flowers at the farmers market. For a more long-term decor option to spruce up a living room, choose an orchid or succulent. You can also gather pinecones, sea glass, or pieces of driftwood and put them in a vase for more textured home decor.
Books are the best coffee table styling secret because they're great for layering. Choose hardcover books with bold cover art. Designers will often display books based on where they live or their favorite vacation destinations. If you have tons of photos taking up space on your phone, get a photo book printed and leave it on the coffee table.
Choose something to place on top of books that will anchor them to your coffee table or tray. We love a magnifying glass for making a bold book cover pop. Beads and brass animals are both trending right now. Either object will make styling a coffee table easy while defining your books.
Decorative boxes aren't just for creating a statement – they're also the best way to stay on top of living room organization. Keep a large decorative box on your living room coffee table or in the decorative tray to store remotes and chargers. Opt for a small box to corral loose coasters.
Round out your coffee table by including one thing you love. It could be a unique accessory like a betta fish in a pretty vase or something tall like a wood candlestick. Feel free to vary the height while decorating a tray on a coffee table with this final object, but don't choose something so tall that it blocks the TV.
Once you've found all the pieces you need for styling a coffee table, make sure to go back and edit. If your tray or table is too crowded, it will seem off balance. Keep the color palette tight to create a cohesive vignette and eye-catching coffee table decor. As seasons change, work in seasonal decor. Think: a small fir garland for the holidays or white coral for summertime.
Ready to upgrade your living room with these coffee table styling ideas?
