How to Style a Coffee Table

The role that a coffee table plays in a living room is not to be underestimated. Acting as a pivotal point around which our sofas and chairs are styled, our eye will naturally be drawn there first, so it’s important that it makes a good impression.

It’s not hard to make a list of items that could, or should, sit here – large hardback books, flowers, a candle, coasters – but when it comes to putting them all together, it can be hard to decide what goes where.

With this in mind, we’ve pulled out a few of our top tips below.

Image: The Glitter Guide

Align Your Books

Use books to add structure and height to your look. Choose three or four that feature pretty covers and align the spines with the edge of the table. Pick your sizes carefully; too big and they’ll dominate, too small and they’ll look a bit random. If you need to add extra height, a few decorative objects placed on top can make for an interesting display.

Image: The Every Girl

Choose Your Flowers

Nothing beats the splash of life that a bunch of fresh flowers can add to a space and if our budgets permitted, we’d have them in every room all year round. For those looking for something a little lower maintenance, a pot plant or even faux flowers will look just as lovely. Proportion is key here.

Image: Life on The Squares

Use a Tray

A tray is one of the most useful items when it comes to organising a coffee table. Apart from the fact that it greatly reduces the area that needs ‘styling’, it provides a perfect spot for ornaments and can also be swiftly removed should you need to use the table for something else, such as dinner or work. Pop your vase of flowers on here along with a candle and a couple of fun decorative pieces and you’ll be good to go.

Image: Pop Sugar

Keep It Simple

If – like the beautiful circular design above – your coffee table is very decorative, don’t overdo the accessories. A small vase of flowers and a candle can be all you need to prevent it from looking stark.