Coffee Table Styling: Tips, Tricks & Roundup Décor

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What makes a space feel cozy? Is it the paint color or furniture or accessories? Or maybe it’s not one singular item but instead is a collection of sights, sounds and feelings? While there are so many ways to think of making a space cozy, I recently have discovered that it’s the little things. As we have been slowly making our new apartment feel homey, I have realized that it is the little touches – a bud vase with flowers, a familiar book, a new candle, the smell of dinner, a piece of art, a cup of coffee… these are the things that make a space feel more than just a room with furniture. In this, I finally have styled a variety of “little things” on our coffee table and it is amazing how much a coffee table arrangement can change the tone of a living room. So, while I know there are a million “coffee table styling hacks” out there, here are a few that I keep in mind when arranging coffee table décor.

Be Consistent With Color

Before you have determined your layout, it is important to know what to work with. At this point, it is helpful to gather around any pieces (candles, books, plants, decorative bowls, vases, picture frames, coasters, accessories etc.) that you have that are varying textures, sizes and colors to play around during the arranging phase. When selecting though, be sure that you include at least one item that pulls from the colors of the remaining furniture, pillows or general décor of your living room. Every piece does not have to match perfectly (and actually shouldn’t to create a more collected look), but at least one element should tie with your colors to give a cohesive design to your space.

For example, in the first living room scheme below, this Marble Pedestal Bowl on the coffee table perfectly pulls in the colors of the Velvet Swivel Chair and Sebastian Sofa. Similarly, in the second living room scheme, the Journeys Of A Lifetime Coffee Table Book highlights the color accents shown in the tiger upholstery of this Rue Swivel Chair. Finally, the soft neutrals of the last living room scheme are balanced with coffee table books, Yellowstone and Beautifully Organized. Each of these schemes seem distinct from one another but still their coffee table accents combine seamlessly with the color palettes demonstrated.

Coffee Table Styling: Tips, Tricks & Roundup Décor

Scheme 1

Scheme 2

Scheme 3

Keep To Groupings Of Three

The first concept to work with when arranging is to keep to groupings of three. Three of something is naturally more pleasing to the eye, so regardless of your coffee table shape (round, rectangular or square), try to make three groupings that are then laid out in triangular form. For example, in the round coffee table example, a large vase could count as one grouping point, a candle could count as a second and finally a stack of books with a decorative dish could count as a third grouping point. Each point can vary from being a singular item (ex. A candle, vase, picture frame etc.) or be a cluster of items (ex. A stack of books, or books with a candle or dish on top).

If dealing with a square coffee table, you have a couple of options. First, you can handle it just like a round or rectangular table and use the same triangle effect. OR, you also can combine the triangle effect while giving the overall display a square/rectangular shape. To do this, simply create small triangle groupings within the larger square grouping. For example, within the square coffee table, there is one large display that is split between two groupings of items that form triangles. The first triangle is formed between a book, a small plant and match holder / candle while the second triangle is between a grouping of three stacks of books.

Make It Personal

Lastly, but certainly not least, make your coffee table personal to you! My favorite combination includes a few good books (the ones on the roundup below seem particularly interesting!), something fresh (normally a plant, but also stems of fresh greenery or flowers) and a candle. You can add in funny family elements or heirloom décor or branch out and go modern! But I would challenge you to integrate one or two pieces that are special, so you don’t feel as if you are simply living in a showroom. Find (or use!) books in a subject you are interested in or a candle that reminds you of a memory. It is the little things that make a space distinct to us, so when “styling” just keep in mind that creating something beautiful does not have to be entirely separate from something meaningful.

If you need help thinking of a few items to start try your styling skills, I have included a variety of pieces below that would make for wonderful coffee table additions!

Final Thoughts

While my own coffee table gets moved around quite frequently for living room workouts, game nights or get togethers, having a few key pieces that I know will work well once arranged (in a triangular method!) makes my space feel infinitely more settled. So, do you have any favorite tips for coffee table styling? If so, I would love to know in the comment section below or shoot me a DM on Instagram and tell me all about it!

Happy styling!