Besides pillows on a couch, the coffee table is one of the best places to express design creativity in a room. It’s like adding lipstick at the end of your makeup routine: it can be quick and easy, yet it makes all the difference. However, coffee table décor ideas can be a point of stress for many people (AKA, me). I always appreciate a good coffee table layout, so I reached out to talented interior designers to get coffee table décor ideas directly from them. Ro Miller Rynd of RM Rynd Interiors puts it best:
“The coffee table is often the centerpiece of the space, so we need to treat it with great respect.”
One common thread in the coffee table décor ideas from our expert panel was to fill it with things that make sense to you. Whether that be a functional design meant to hold remotes and other small items, a stack of colorful books, or fresh flowers—the goal is to make it your own. According to Penelope Bianchi of McCormick Interiors, decorating your house should be like writing your autobiography; nothing should be fake or contrived. Amen!
Read on for 12 coffee table décor ideas from the following interior designers to create a coffee table that speaks to your style:
12 Coffee Table Décor Ideas:
1. A strong foundation is key.
When styling a coffee table, Sarah Peddicord starts with the foundation. A ceramic, leather or textured tray will both ground the coffee table and give the foundation for layering opportunities on the table. Next, she suggests playing around with adding different ceramic vases that can hold flowers, giving the coffee table height. This can also be achieved by adding unique sculptural elements, matchstick holders, and other treasured elements, all of which give the table a lived-in look.
2. Appeal to all of the senses.
Shazalynn Cavin Winfrey believes that the best coffee tables appeal to all of our senses. They are tactile and include items we can touch; they include things that smell wonderful like candles or scented wax sculptures; they have a small vessel for your favorite candies, and they are also visually interesting. Pro tip: Look for pieces that double as conversation starters.
Photo by Lesley Unruh; Design by Shazalynn Cavin Winfrey for SCW Interiors.
3. Think in odd numbers.
This is a common rule of design but Peddicord encourages anyone who’s arranging coffee table décor to consider it in the preliminary stages. Depending on the size of the table, she recommends having three or five different elements. It’s also important to note that every part of the table should be the same. Remember juxtaposition creates tension that engages the eye and is much more visually appealing than a table that’s one-note.
4. Showcase your books and arrange bindings in different directions.
While Cindy Witmer Olrik agrees with the odd numbers rule, she makes an exception with square coffee tables. She loves using beautiful books and wants to showcase them on every corner. Arranging the bindings in different directions, usually facing the seat closest to that side, topped with “the prettiest little objet d’art that I can get my hands on” makes a perfect setting. Check out some of our favorite coffee table books here.
Photo by Kerry Kirk Photo; Design by Cindy Witmer Designs; Prop Styling by WWW Abodes.
5. Divide the table into balanced quadrants.
Once you’ve divided your table into quadrants, Ro Miller Rynd suggests placing items in each of them to achieve visual balance. They do not need to match each other, but you’ll want to use things that take up similar space. For example, if you use a stack of books in one quadrant, you will want to use a plant or bowl of similar size in the quadrant diagonal from it.
6. Your table is your autobiography.
This is Penelope Bianchi’s decorating philosophy. Her entryway table is full of antiques she’s collected throughout her travels—they’re both beautiful and great conversation starters. Similarly, Winfrey suggests using trays and glass boxes to hold collections that evoke an emotional response for the owner. She once designed a coffee table for a family with enclosed specimen trays to house items they collected on nature walks nearby. Never be afraid to use non-traditional, personal elements.
Photo by Caydee Jennings (assistant for RM Rynd Interiors); Design by Ro Miller Rynd for RM Rynd Interiors.
7. Curate your décor items to the space.
Another one of Rynd’s tried and true coffee table décor ideas is to use items that relate to the space. For example, use design or art books in a common area, but use sports or travel books in a men’s library. She also suggests layering books from largest to smallest on the top. Select favorite accessories such as bowls, candlesticks, plants, or succulents for the other quadrants, and finish off with small accessories placed on top of books.
Photo by Emily Hart; Design by Abbe Fenimore for Studio Ten 25.
8. Use the Rule of Threes.
Abbe Fenimore likes to style coffee tables using the rule of threes. This entails arranging items in odd numbers for a visually interesting aesthetic. This is perfect for adding interest to a large square coffee table, plus it leaves a little space to kick your feet up. Don’t feel like you need to fill up every inch of the coffee table, either.
Photo by Emily Hart; Design by Abbe Fenimore for Studio Ten 25.
9. Fresh flowers are your friend.
This is the number one thing I heard from designers when it comes to coffee tables. According to Abbe Fenimore, an age-old styling trick (and still a favorite of hers) is to add fresh flowers. “They will instantly add life and soften up the area,” she notes. Fresh flowers also appeal to all five senses (a tip we mentioned earlier!) and can be changed with the seasons. Peddicord suggests decorative branches to create a foraged look for fall.
Photo by Cary Hazlegrove; Design by Holly Lydick for H. H. Lydick Interiors.
10. Employ the triangle method.
Holly Lydick styles her coffee tables in the shape of a triangle. This is different from the rule of threes, as it applies to height. Start with a taller accessory, such as a box or a plant, and tier down to a lower height accessory, such as a small tray, and then a final, third-tier even lower. This helps to maintain balance and consistently draws the eye downward.
Photo by John Bessler; Design by Shazalynn Cavin Winfrey for SCW Interiors.
11. Try two.
If you’re looking for an option with maximum functionality but also want to showcase your style, try out a two-tiered coffee table. Lydick recommends using one with a glass top. Here you can curate a collection of antique tortoise boxes on a tray or stack your favorite books detailing their beautiful bindings on the open end, while still leaving open space up top.
12. Don’t be afraid to change it up.
Rynd reminds us that we’re not married to one look. Feel free to add new items as you like from your travels or as the season’s change. When you’re entertaining, subtract items as you need for extra space. Your coffee table can be always evolving which makes it a favorite and reasonable spot to modify. Lydick similarly advises making sure that any groupings still allow room for entertaining—create space for coffee, wine, appetizers, etc.
Now, Get the Look at Home With Our Favorite Coffee Table Décor Under $100:
Threshold Designed with Studio McGee Wicker Tray
This wicker tray brings both texture and functionality. It will hold a stack of pretty books along with decorative objects and necessary items like your TV remote. Plus, the gray stripes add a little more interest than just a simple wicker tray.
If you’re thinking about dividing your coffee table into quadrants, then this would look great balanced on the other side with a rounded vase full of fresh flowers. I think I’ve found the ideal home for my coasters and a scented candle.
