Ever looked up from your latest Netflix binge and noticed your coffee table is littered with takeout containers and dirty glass tumblers? Take a look at our favorite photo shoots to score tips for turning a coffee table into a gorgeous capsule of your style
A tray is a classic coffee table save—it instantly makes the books, vase, and accessories on the coffee table look thoughtful, and it adds personality. Buy the largest tray you can fit on your coffee table so the items inside don’t look cramped.
Combine a tray with a stack of books and accessories and you’ve reached master coffee table styling status. Remember to vary the shapes (a round tray to contrast the square-edged books) and the height of what’s on the table for a loose look.
A coffee table is ideal testing ground for a new accent color. Add a tray, ceramic, or vase in whatever hue you want to try out. After a few weeks of living with it, you’ll know if you’re ready to commit to the color in a bigger way—or switch it out for something new.
A small table that serves a lot of seats can afford to be minimal. Two statuesque candlesticks are all this cocktail table needs. Bonus: The spare style leaves room for a game and namesake drinks.
Nestle a small houseplant in with your accessories and watch your living room come alive. Choose a low plant that won’t block the view of the TV or any chairs opposite the sofa.
Ottomans or low side tables used as coffee tables really don’t need much at all on top of them since they’re meant to move around the room freely. Use them in a den or playroom where fragile objects and precarious stacks might be at risk of being knocked over.
When your coffee table is one of the most exciting pieces in the room, it needs minimal dressing. Even so, place at least two items on top. Just one vase or object in the center of the table looks staged.
Break away from a conventional flowers-in-vase situation by resting dried grasses in a low bowl. The greenery still brings life and texture to the table, but without the maintenance.
Don’t forget the floor space beneath the coffee table. Stash a pouf, low stools, or books beneath for secret storage ideas. Up top, the classic stack of books plus flower arrangement formula covers a lot of ground on this large coffee table.
Drape a textile or light throw blanket over a large ottoman and it feels like an entirely new piece. You can try this on a traditional (read: unupholstered) coffee table, too, but be aware that it might slip a little bit, so don’t stack anything fragile on top.
If fresh flowers are too temporary and a houseplant too much work, try a low-maintenance terrarium to bring some green to your table. Fill it with succulents and you can virtually forget it.
A coffee table should be pretty personal—the items on top often act as conversation starters. So use that real estate to show off your style, the way these crocks used as vases underline the rustic qualities of this living room.
Art doesn’t have to be limited to the wall. Open up a photography book and lay it on a coffee table to bring visual interest down to seated level. Regardless of what’s on top, if you have a knockout colorful rug, try a glass top coffee table so you can get more impact from the floor.
Dinner party coming up with no bar cart in sight? No problem. Put all your favorite cocktail fixings on a tray and turn your coffee table into a self-serve bar. Afterward, slip the stocked tray into your pantry to pull out for the next bash.