How to Style a Coffee Table
How to Style Your Coffee Table :: Porche & Co. Tips & Tricks
We are so glad that you are enjoying our “How To” blog series! We strive to provide you with helpful tips to create a welcoming, Modern Classic aesthetic within your own home. Feel free to comment below with a “How To” topic you'd like us to cover next! We have so much fun putting these together for you all to take back into your own home. A frequently requested topic that we get asked to cover is coffee table styling tips and tricks. We have shared some of our favorite tips on this topic before, but we wanted to give you an updated version with even more detail and share the tried and true methods that we use within our own clients’ homes.
Below we will go into detail with different examples and suggestions to help give your coffee table the perfect look while also adding some of your own personality. We will also show you how to easily style a coffee table three different ways. Never be afraid to add some of your own personal touched too! It’s easy to add unique touches while following our fool proof tips.
3 Ways to Style a Coffee Table
Styling Example One: THIS EXAMPLE IS SIMILAR TO THE FIRST ONE WITH A FEW CHANGES AND ADDED ELEMENTS. ONCE AGAIN, WE STARTED WITH A VASE TO ADD TEXTURE AND HEIGHT. WE ADDED REALISTIC FAUX OLIVE BRANCH STEMS. PLACED NEXT TO THE VASE, WE ADDED ONE OF OUR FAVORITE candles. THIS CREATES A NICE AMBIANCE IN THE SPACE AND IS A GREAT WAY TO FILL YOUR HOME WITH A WELCOMING SCENTS. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COFFEE TABLE, WE PLACED A LARGE BOWL DRAPED WITH DECORATIVE GLASS OR BONE BEADS. THIS GROUNDS THE CENTER OF THE TABLE WHILE ADDING LAYERED VISUAL INTEREST TO THE BOWL. WE ALSO STACKED SOME OF OUR FAVORITE COFFEE TABLE BOOKS AND ADDED A PICTURE FRAME FOR A LAYERED PERSONAL TOUCH. THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO DISPLAY ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY PICTURES IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA.
STYLING EXAMPLE TWO: ANOTHER CLASSIC WAY TO STYLE YOUR COFFEE TABLE IS TO ADD A DECORATIVE TRAY AND LAYER YOUR FAVORITE DECOR ATOP. THIS CREATES A BEAUTIFUL WELL PUT TOGETHER VIGNETTE ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE. IN THIS EXAMPLE, WE SELECTED A CLASSIC BLACK TRAY AND LAYERED A SMALLER VASE, A CANDLE, AND DECORATIVE BEADS ON TOP. THE TRAY PROVIDES STRUCTURE AND HELPS ANCHOR THESE TABLETOP ITEMS. ONCE AGAIN, WE PLACED SOME OF OUR FAVORITE COFFEE TABLE BOOKS STACKED ON ONE ANOTHER BESIDE THE TRAY TO ADD BALANCE AND COHESION. THE HANDMADE STONEWARE KNOT ATOP ADDS ORGANIC TEXTURE AND DIMENSION TO THE VIGNETTE.
STYLING EXAMPLE THREE: Start with a ceramic vase that you love. This will add texture, height, and interest. We love adding realistic faux stems to vases to add warmth and additional height. We shared some of our favorite stems to use in our clients’ homes below. This helps create visual interest and breathes life into the space. We also love to stack some of our favorite coffee table books (linked below) and place a decor object atop for an eye catching vignette.
When decorating a coffee table, we often start with the basics. Depending on the size, shape and style of the coffee table, we will decide may omit a few of these items (like a tray for example), but often times, we use most of these items in some form. We love to display our favorite coffee table books. If you already have some books you wish to display, you can start with those. Next, we select one of our favorite decor objects. Usually, we will stack an object atop of the stacked books or layer it in front of a vase. We almost always suggest choosing a vase and adding realistic faux stems or branches. It’s a great way to add height and visual interest to your coffee table. If you choose to use a tray, it’s a beautiful way to anchor the layered tabletop objects. We have linked our some of our favorite items below to make it easy for you to style your own coffee table.
Tip 1: Use Coffee Table Books
Books are great to stack on your coffee table as a simple way to add functional height and dimension. If you are needing additional height on top of the books, try a picture frame or decor piece (beads, links, a knot object etc) laid across the top book!
Tip 2: Decorative Objects
Decorative Objects will add further dimension & layers. Choose objects of varying heights to create depth and interest. Candles, smaller frames & beads will provide loads of added texture.
Tip 3: Faux Greenery
We love adding realistic faux stems to vases. These create such a nice warm focal point in the room. Greenery and florals always help create an inviting and welcoming feel in a space so we love to use them in main living areas! If you are going faux, be sure to get stems that are as realistic as possible. Some of the inexpensive ones can look very fake which will take away from the upscale styled look you are trying to achieve on your coffee table. Our favorite lifelike olive stems are linked below :) Live branches are always a nice natural touch as well.
Tip 4: Decorative Trays
Decorative trays can be used as a solid anchor to layer decor atop. Adding a tray can help frame your coffee table- if you have a round coffee table go with a round tray. With a square coffee table, go with a square tray. There are plenty textures and styles of trays to choose from depending on the style of your coffee table an surrounding space. We linked our favorites below!
Tip 5: Vases & Bowls
We love mixing in vases and bowls when styling coffee tables! These are such nice soft focal points that can easily add texture, color and dimension to your arrangement. Don’t be afraid to keep styling until it looks right. Try layering items and shifting around until it is aesthetically pleasing to your eye. Some of our favorite bowls and vases to layer in are below!
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