A nice-looking coffee table in the center of the living room doesn’t automatically make it a centerpiece, but it certainly has the potential to be one.
All it takes is some careful consideration for the way you go about choosing and arranging items to display on this hardworking piece of furniture, and you’re well on your way to styling your coffee table like a pro.
Get ready for 14 decor ideas that will take any coffee table from drab to fab in a flash!
Leave out some books
Have you ever wondered why interior designers always seem to reach for books when styling a space, whether it’s the bedroom dresser or the kitchen counter?
It’s because a stack of well-chosen hardcover books never fails to create heaps of visual impact.
Or, use one book as a foundation for other decor! By well-chosen we mean the right color and size to suit the coffee table, and always go with books that reveal your interests and inspirations for a great talking point during social gatherings.
Throw a terrarium into the mix
If you love geometric shapes and you have a habit of filling objects with other interesting stuff, look no further than the terrarium.
These tend to be used as vessels for miniature gardens but you can fill them with whatever your imagination desires, and the end result will be a striking addition to your coffee tablescape.
Add a vase or two
You can be absolutely certain that nothing says strict and formal quite like a vase, so if your living room doesn’t currently have the respect it deserves, letting one or two vases take center stage on the coffee table will shift the mood in a flash.
You get extra points for good placement – consider putting your vase on some stacked books to create a space that looks like it’s straight out of a home magazine.
Display your favorite ornaments
It’s your coffee table that you paid for, so you owe it to yourself to decorate in a manner that suits your personality and lifestyle. Is there a particular thing you’re obsessed with?
Now’s your chance to celebrate it in the form of an eye-catching coffee table accent.
For example, you could showcase an obsession with cycling using a miniature bicycle ornament – sure to put you in a good mood each time you glance at it.
Spark conversation with artsy sculptures
Maybe you’ve chosen to go down the minimalist route and so you’re searching high and low for a centerpiece that can hold its own on a bare-looking piece of furniture.
In which case, consider styling your coffee table as if it were an art installation by letting an actual work of art take the stage.
Like all art, a handcrafted miniature sculpture will get people talking for hours about the interesting shapes, colors and of course the underlying meaning.
Get cozy with candles
The mesmerizing glow and warm ambience of candlelight is just one reason why a candle would make an endearing companion on your coffee table.
Even flameless candles will make you feel right at home with their smooth and innocent appearance.
And not to mention, a scented candle will fill the air with a rich fragrance that helps you to feel calm and relaxed as you wind down after a long day.
Bring home a seashell
You’d be surprised at how well natural elements take to the role of home decor, and the same goes for remnants of the ocean.
Indeed, seashells will shine in any part of the home for being the beautifully naturalistic yet unexpected accent pieces that they are. Better still, you’re repurposing something that already exists, making it a great way to expand your styling repertoire.
Create a sense of the wilderness
If you’re dealing with a low-profile coffee table and want a luxury accent piece that will make it stand out and look complete, you can’t go wrong with a horn ornament – what better way to evoke the romantic wilderness?
They are usually made from textured resin to appear authentic and usually come with a stem and base for the best possible visibility from all angles.
Fill a bowl with pine cones
There are undoubtedly some very attractive bowls to be found, but if you place an empty bowl on your coffee table and call it a day, you run the risk of looking as though you forgot to tidy up!
The trick is to make it look intentional – fill it with faux fruit for year-round appeal or go with pine cones to create that seasonal touch. The options are limitless, so don’t be afraid to change things up from month to month.
Stay on-trend with moss balls
Decorating and styling with moss is very trendy right now, so if you want your coffee table to look and feel current, this is the path to go down.
Simply grab a tray or bowl and fill it with moss balls in a care-free manner, and aim for diversity in terms of size and color tone for that added visual interest, and just like that you have a super trendy coffee tablescape.
Set out a game
If you think board games don’t possess the aesthetic qualities needed for that prime spot on the coffee table, think again.
Made of everything from glass to marble to wood, chess sets are taking over coffee tables up and down the land thanks to the chequered pattern of the board and the ornamental chess pieces to go with it.
If chess is too cerebral for your liking, tic-tac-toe has the same ability to turn heads when presented like art.
Embrace some greenery
If the color palette from the rest of the living room isn’t energizing the space as much as you hoped, the right coffee table accessories can change that in an instant.
Plants are particularly good at ushering in a much-needed pop of color as well as some lush, organic texture, and so they never really look or feel out of place on any surface let alone a coffee table.
Break out the beads
Understanding what role beads can play in the decorating of a coffee table becomes a whole lot easier when you realize they are simply jewelry for your home. In other words, you can use beads to accessorize your home like you would an outfit.
They’re best used to complement and enhance other coffee table accessories, so consider placing them in bowls and trays, on top of books and even wrapped around glass bottles.
Remember to let your beads fall into place organically to pull off that casual look.
Corral clutter with a leaf tray
With the living room being one of the busiest spaces in the home, keeping clutter at bay is a real challenge.
No doubt you’ve deployed all kinds of living room storage so that you stand the best possible chance of minimizing unnecessary clutter, but coffee table decor is often overlooked in this never-ending battle.
Leaf trays are incredibly useful for corralling any miscellaneous items, and they even look good when left empty – it’s a win-win either way.