When many people find the perfect coffee table for their living room, games room, or other lounge space they place it where they want and leave it at that. At the centre point of the room coffee table décor is easily overlooked, with this opportunity to be creative with your home slipping to the wayside. In our minds, more space = more fun in the decorating department.
And in the spirit of fun, we’ve collated the best tips and advice for coffee table settings and styling, so you can dress up the space and sprinkle in a bit of your personality. But first, let’s take a look at the key considerations that will set the groundwork for your coffee table décor.
Where to start: 5 considerations for choosing your coffee table
Your coffee table décor can incorporate practically anything into the design from showcasing trinkets and treasures from your various holidays to candles and small art pieces – even a stack of magazines can look purposeful when you arrange them thoughtfully. But to achieve an attractive display, you must first consider these 5 key elements.
1. Functionality
Coffee tables aren’t just for looks. As we mentioned, they’re mini social zones at the heart of the room where everyone can gather around for a good time whether that’s for a cuppa and a chinwag, a relaxed jigsaw sesh, drinks and nibbles, film nights and board games.
If you haven’t considered the purpose of your coffee table, you might run into trouble further down the line – you don’t want to run out of space when hosting your pals! So carefully consider how much surface space you’ll need and how the design will fit into your coffee table’s purpose.
2. Size
We just hinted at it: when it comes to coffee table décor ideas, size matters. Make sure that you’ve opted for the ideal height and size. A few inches could make all difference when little ones might want to use it to leave their toys and ample storage space is only a good thing. For those that work from home, you might even want to incorporate the coffee table into your overall work ecosystem.
3. Shape
Along with size comes shape. While it has to be functional, you can have some fun here. If you’re a minimalist décor aficionado opting for visually stimulating shapes with sweeping lines might take your fancy. Not interested in circular coffee tables? Then you could always look towards classic coffee table shapes; these will blend into practically any design, so need to worry about cohesion.
4. Colour
If you’re struggling with which type of coffee table to pick, a good place to start is looking at the colours at your disposal. Think of your coffee table as a central motif; you’ll want it to complement your existing colour scheme and add a bit of visual intrigue.
Would wooden furniture complete the look? Or are you going for something more distinct like an industrial or minimalist vibe that requires metallic textures? Each offers something unique that will set off your room in an interesting way.
5. Personality
A great way to approach the coffee table styling conundrum is to treat your coffee table like a reflection of you.
The surface can double up as a snapshot of your home – if you’re a bookworm, then opt for a coffee table with inbuilt storage to stack up those tomes. If you’re a colourful personality, search for quirky artwork and curiosities that have stories to tell. If you’re a budding plant mum, display your favourite plants. Really, there are no rules to what you can display.
10 coffee table décor ideas for a functional yet trendy space
1. Stay minimal
A well-arranged coffee table works with a healthy dose of negative space. This simple trick leaves the space functional with plenty of room for books, drinks and whatever else you might want to place there without the clutter piling up.
2. Try out trays
To mix style and substance, top your coffee table with a tray for your living room must-haves. Opt for one with handles and you can carry it from room to room, ideal if you want to move from the comfort of your sofa to the softness of your bed.
Besides this, you can use these handy accessories as an excuse to add a pop of colour or extra detailing to your interior’s aesthetic. A distressed finish works wonderfully if you’re looking to add a countryside twist and primary colours are always a welcome addition to a maximalist backdrop.
3. Add height
Whether your coffee table is a chunky statement piece like this acacia wood table or a simplistic, elegant design with thinner legs, there’s a strong argument for adding height, especially if you are working with a coffee table on the lower side. Adding intriguing objects of varying heights gives the eye multiple points to focus on and will build layers of depth into the space.
4. Try neutrality
This is a particularly sleek coffee table setting – keep things neutral as you dress the surface, opting for blacks, whites and neutrals. Tiny sculptures, a modern lamp and seashells come together perfectly to introduce an element of sophistication to the setup.
5. Stack em’ high
If one coffee table doesn’t feel like enough, why not go for a set of stackable nesting coffee tables? They look intriguing in their nesting position, but the best part is that you can move them to where they’re needed and tuck them out of the way when they’re not in use – ideal, if you’re hosting multiple guests or your kids want a temporary space to play games.
6. Bowl over guests
A fruit bowl is a popular classic, but this humble decoration can showcase anything you happen to collect. Be it pinecones, dried leaves or flowers, candles or something a little more sculptural, this technique is favoured by interior designers as it is versatile to the max. After all, you can switch out seasonal motifs as the year goes by.
7. Mix and match natural textures
It’s always fun to play with natural textures. You can do this by pairing a mango wood coffee table with an array of natural materials on top – paper books, a vase of pebbles, wooden bowls and organic textiles will all do the trick.
8. Be creative with storage
This ingenious storage hack doubles ups as a gorgeous focal point as well as hidden storage. Opt for a coffee table with an inbuilt storage nook and see your clutter disappear whether that’s pesky phone charger cables, extra throws and blankets or tabletop games.
9. Light up with a table lamp
Lamps make a beautiful addition if the room is starved of light and low ceilings prevent you from relying on traditional lighting techniques such as pendant fixtures. Place a classy table lamp at the centre and you have a stylish centre point and an abundance of soft ambient lighting.
10. Go green
A pop of vibrant green or more soothing shades can instantly breathe life back into a sterile space. Plants come in all shapes and sizes, so you can go as bold or as subtle as you like. Of course, bonus points if you opt for real plants.
It’s time to shake things up
I hope this whistle-stop tour of coffee table décor ideas has left you with food for thought. If there’s anything you should take away, it’s that anything can work as a decoration. So, if you have an interesting thought, don’t let anyone stop you.
