Next to a sofa and chairs, a coffee table is, arguably, the most important piece of furniture in a living room. As the centerpiece, it can completely change the look and feel of a space simply by the way it’s styled. I have spent a LOT of time accessorizing our own coffee table, changing things up often, depending on the season or my mood. And while I have not got every angle figured out, I have learned a thing or two that can make coffee table styling as easy as 1-2-3.
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Decorating ‘Ground’ Rules: Before You Begin
Before you begin, there are a few tips and tricks that can make your coffee table – or any flat surface in your home – look more pulled together:
The Rule of 3
Have you ever heard of the Rule of 3 in decorating? If not, here it is in a nutshell:
Arranging accessories in odd numbers – such as 3 – is more appealing than grouping them in even numbers. That’s because it is unexpected, visually interesting, and more memorable. For this reason, it is a basic design principle that many designers use.
While I am not a stickler for this rule (and break it often), I do find it to be a useful guideline that I use often when styling a surface, including coffee tables.
But to make this ‘Rule of 3’ work well, there are a few things to consider:
- Consistent Colour Palette
Having a consistent colour palette is key. Not only should your coffee table accessories match one another in some way, but they should also complement the rest of your living room. Whether you like an eclectic feel (using 3-5 colours) or a monochromatic aesthetic (using just 1-2 colours), a consistent colour palette will create a harmonious feeling in your space.
- Consider Scale
Depending on the size of your coffee table, you will want to consider the scale of your decor pieces. If they are too small, then they will be dwarfed by your table; if too big, then you won’t have room for much else.
- Consider Functionality
While I am all for layering a coffee table to make things pretty, when the surface is taken up by decor, it will no longer function as it’s supposed to. You should still have plenty of surface space to hold cups or magazines or to prop up your feet when staying in to watch your next binge-worthy Netflix show.
Okay! Now that we’ve got some ground rules laid down (pardon the pun 😉 ), it’s time to share my 3 steps to coffee table styling.
3 Steps To Easy-Breezy Coffee Table Styling
Step #1: Begin With A Base
Begin with your base/bottom layer. You’re going to want to build up from the base.
Whether you have a square or rectangular coffee table, designating zones – 3 works well – will provide visual guidelines for table top styling.
These zones can form a row – great for skinny coffee tables – or a cluster of 3, which may work better for square or square-ish coffee tables, like mine.
One of my favourite ways to designate zones is by using trays or books.
For this coffee table vignette, I first added a tray: Zone #1.
Next, I placed a large book beside the tray: Zone #2.
To complete the look, I placed a small storage box for our remotes: Zone #3.
Whether you have a tray or book for 1 zone, 2 zones, or for all 3, these are a great way to corral the accessories that you’ll be using to build up your coffee table vignette.
(For ideas on picking out the perfect books for table top decor, check out this post on the Best Design Coffee Table Books from Havenly’s interior designers).
Step #2: Add Height
Add a vase with flowers or greenery to add height. It will break up the horizontal plane of the vignette that you’re building up. And since it is the main feature of the vertical portion of your vignette, make sure it is substantial, shapely or sculptural – make it count!
Something substantial that takes up a lot of visual space will look and fit better than something small.
Step #3: Add In Smaller Accessories
Now it’s time to add in your smaller accessories.
Not only will these fill in gaps, but they are a valuable way of bridging the gap between the horizontal plane (trays & books) and the vertical plane (the vase).
Some of my favourite pretty & practical accessories include candles, a small tray or dish, and these coasters which I purchased on Amazon.
(For tips on coaster decor, check out this post on The 5 Best Coasters For Your Coffee Table).
So that’s how easy coffee table styling can be! Breaking it down into 3 steps is a simple way to guide you along as you create your own table top arrangement. By breaking up the arrangement into a cluster of 3 zones, this also makes it work from all sides of the table:
I hope you got some inspiration from today’s post. If you’re ever stuck on what to do, just remember that with these 3 steps to coffee table styling, you can create any arrangement that fits your personal style and taste.
Happy decorating 🙂
If you enjoyed this post, check out more of my best style tips and how-to guides on the blog:
- How To Style A Buffet Table in 3 Easy Steps
- How Throw Pillows & Blankets Can Make Your Space Look Better INSTANTLY
- 5 Stylish Ways To Add Extra Storage In Your Living Room
- 10 Tips For A Lovely Living Room Layout
- 3 Steps To Styling A Sofa
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