Ditch Picture-Perfect Coffee Table Decor For Something More Practical (But Still Beautiful)

There's one crucial thing that many homeowners forget about coffee tables: their purpose is to provide a surface to put down cups of coffee. Likewise, they're also the perfect place to put down cups of tea, which is how this piece of furniture came to be in 18th-century England, or any other drink one might enjoy in a living room. Nowadays, however, they've evolved into miniature showplaces of interior design in the home, as any homeowners use their coffee tables to display vases, candles, decorative books, and other items. While this can create a well-designed look, it's not very practical. Instead, ditch the picture-perfect aesthetic when decorating your coffee table and make room for your functional items using a technique that's gone viral on social media. The trick is to separate the coffee table into four sections, devoting two for practical purposes and two for decorative items.

For this reimagining, decorative items will still have a home on the coffee table, but they will be placed in strategic areas and limited. This will clear space for coffee mugs, wine glasses, remote controls, and other things you'll want by your side in the living room. This could become an elegant coffee table hack that adds interest to your living space while also making room for the stuff you need to feel comfortable — whether you're watching a game or entertaining guests.

Start by clearing the coffee table. Then, use painters tape to divide the tabletop into four sections, as TikToker kivabrent suggests. This is for visualization only, as the tape will be removed once the coffee table is styled. Two of the spaces should be devoted to items you use every day, such as remotes, coasters, playing cards, chargers, or books you're reading. Trays can help keep everything contained. For balance on the tabletop, try to use the sections that are opposite to one another for these utilitarian pieces. Devote the third section to all the pretty stuff: oversized art books, small sculptures, plants, vases, and anything else with high-design appeal. For the final section, bring in scents such as a candle, diffuser, sage brush sticks, an incense holder, or a bowl of cinnamon-scented pinecones, dried lavender, potpourri, or sachets. Using groups of three or five will make everything look appealing to the eye.

Some might embrace this bold approach, but for others, the thought of covering the surface with so many items may be overwhelming. That may be because your tabletop is small. If so, you might want to create just two sections with one for decorative items and the other for functional ones. Homebodies with a disdain for clutter can also place fewer items on the table — after all, this is a versatile coffee table trend that goes well with any style, whether you're more minimalist or maximalist. If you mostly use your living room to watch TV, you may also want to avoid using tall items so no one's view is blocked.