4 Coffee Table Decor Aesthetics To Kick Off Your Inspiration

Dozens of elements contribute to the living room's overall design direction, with the coffee table sitting smack dab in the center of the action. Style or no style, its impact is always felt, either boosting the aesthetics to new heights or dragging them down no matter how you decorate elsewhere. It can feel like a lot of pressure to get the decor right. Fortunately, there's more than one way to "get it right", and with coffee tables supplying substantial surface area, you have plenty of opportunity to define your style. All it takes is a little inspiration.

A sensible starting point to find that inspiration is tending to tried-and-true rules you can imbue with personal charm. Focus on maintaining balance. The arrangement should be visually engaging, but you need to find ways to add coffee table decor without making it look cluttered. At the same time, the looks mustn't sacrifice function. While the decor can be bold, it shouldn't block the view of the TV, hamper conversations with guests, or create cleaning challenges.

Variations in scale and texture will enhance the appeal while allowing for negative space and giving the decor room to breathe. Divide the space into two to four sections, depending on the size and shape of the table. You can kick off your inspiration by laying out various decor possibilities. Play around with each coffee table section, combining essential elements like trays, plants in vases, or stacks of books while layering in meaningful objects. Staying true to basic principles will keep you grounded and provide a base from which you can create something uniquely stunning.

Plants are a central detail among almost any coffee table decor, imparting height, color, and organic shapes while relieving stress and supplying a slew of other health benefits. The vase, meanwhile, provides an opportunity for an architectural form and complementing tones, textures, and styles to pull it into the rest of the table's design. With a decorative vase, you can opt for a more low-key plant to promote balance and keep the space open. Even some branches from the backyard could supply the necessary height and natural essence when paired with a weighty vase.

Flowers and greenery liven up the space. Seasonal plants maintain a dynamic and ever-intriguing layout. But this is also a great place to put fake plants to make them worth their while. After all, minimal maintenance and effortlessly dependable coffee table decor are always a bonus. You don't have to rely on the tall centerpiece plants, either. Alongside your vases of fresh-cut flowers, compact potted succulents and cacti can be a hardy, low-maintenance part of those decor clusters or stand upon a stack of books like the cherry on top.

Books can accomplish a lot for a coffee table and the other decor it contains. Need a stand for small accessories, candles, plants, or bowls? Want to add some unique flavor and give your coffee tabletop decor tonal direction? A few well-curated and colorful books can solve all those needs, bringing your personality out and keeping the complete coffee table cohesive. Thrift a collection of books to cycle out with the seasons (or when you get bored) or use a fake coffee book trick for budget-friendly luxe home decor.

Stacks of two to five books are a safe standard. Travel, fashion, art history, food, sports, and nature books are all excellent options, as long as they boast interesting pictures and have personal meaning. Experiment with the look. Try hardcovers with the jackets on or off, face them in different directions, or open a book to an interesting two-page picture to break up the monotony of closed stacks.

Choose books with balance in mind. Aside from the book's standalone aesthetics, consider how it vibes with the coffee table and the decor sitting on top of the stack. If they're supporting a unique accessory, use subtle book designs to keep the attention on the curio. Interesting book covers, on the other hand, can shine on their own. The book's tone can also help with the scale of any accessories atop the stack and accentuate them. For instance, a black figurine on a dark coffee table might disappear into it. But when you support it on a stack of light-colored books, the contrast puts a spotlight on it for clear definition.

While books can hold an item or two, trays are a place to consolidate a cluster of ornaments in a tidy display. Large trays create a foundation. Just as an area rug harmonizes disparate living room elements, a tray anchors the coffee table accessories. Plus, it serves significant functional benefits.

A coffee table isn't just a display space. It's an ideal spot for managing remotes, storing light party games, and handling food and drinks. Trays provide that storage, making it easy to clear up clutter at the drop of a hat and focus everything into a cohesive grouping. You can create a model moment bearing a couple coffee table books, candles, games, plants, or bowls, with enough negative space to avoid a messy appearance. The protective surface will also prevent undue damage to the coffee table. A tray is a no-brainer when you're integrating candles, vases, or anything else that drips.

Now, the tray is a coffee table decor essential, but you can be flexible with what you use. A wicker basket may be more appropriate for a cool coastal approach, while a large breadboard can fit the base for rustic or country coffee table stylings. There's more than one right answer if they suit the scale of the table and the items you layer on top. Using a box instead of a tray can even offer a few extra storage benefits, keeping devices and other items hidden away to avoid dragging down the design. They are also taller than trays and, as a platform, can give smaller decor pieces a chance to stand out.

Most designers will tell you candles are critical coffee table decor, and you'd be wise to follow that direction! Candles deliver a warm, atmospheric, and intimate glow, their flickering flames creating dynamic interest and life within a coffee table vignette. Balance with other decor. A pair of tall candlesticks can complement low-lying decor in a tray, while a shorter candle can top a stack of books to layer in color and texture. Add in your favorite scent, and it becomes a sensory benefit few other items can match.

Get creative with your lighting effects. A standalone candle can gain scale with the right holder, like a vintage lantern to offset smaller decor. Or, you can think outside the box and find quirky alternatives. Maybe a battery-operated tabletop lantern can hold some Edison bulbs in an industrial setup, or a small LED accent lamp could work as an offbeat section lending height and color.

Texture can also move light across the display, an important consideration for an interesting aesthetic. Varying textures are essential, but if they all trap light, the overall look can come across as plain. Integrate lustrous elements to break up the monotony. Consider smooth ceramic bowls, polished brass candlesticks, mirrored frames, or glass vases. Shiny accents like these will elevate the surrounding coffee table decor with sophistication and style.