9 coffee table decor ideas for every home

The coffee table is the center of the living room, and it’s more than a spot to keep your remote controls. Coffee table decor can bring your space to life, and styling an eye-catching tablescape isn’t as hard as it may sound. With the right decor ideas, your coffee table can fit your tastes while improving the overall feel of your living room.

In this guide, we’ll demystify coffee table styling while highlighting some of our favorite coffee table decor ideas. These ideas can work in any home, from minimalist to boho to glam style and everything in between. Whether you’re doing a total makeover for your living room design or you just want to revamp your space with new table decorations, get ready to explore some stylish options.

Start with the right coffee table

Before you dive into coffee table decorating and design ideas, make sure you’re happy with your coffee table. Your table should do more than go well with the rest of your living room decor — it should add to it. Consider these elements when choosing your coffee table:

Shape: Pick a shape that complements your existing furniture and decor. Round coffee tables usually look nice underneath round chandeliers, for example.
Color: The wood stain or paint color of your coffee table should complement or match the color palette in the room.
Material: The living room coffee table should use similar materials to the rest of the space. For example, if your sofa has a chrome frame, try a chrome coffee table.

Together, the shape, color, and material also add to the style of your piece. Above all else, you want your coffee table to match your style before you add decorating ideas. You’ll also want it to provide functionality that will improve your life or the styling in the room.

For example, in a modern minimalist family room, you might opt for a glossy white coffee table with hidden drawers to tuck away clutter. On the other hand, a chrome coffee table with a glass tabletop could be perfect for a glam space. And for a farmhouse chic room, a rustic wood coffee table might be the right fit.

9 coffee table decor ideas and guidelines

When a professional interior designer approaches coffee table decor, they start with some general guidelines and build from there. By exploring the possibilities within these recommendations for each space, you can create pleasing coffee table decor for any room. If you like to switch things up seasonally, you can revisit them each time you’re ready for a change!

1. Match your theme

While you don’t want your living or family room to feel overly themed, it needs a cohesive atmosphere. The decorations and knick-knacks on your coffee table should tap into the interior design theme in the space to create a unified appeal.

For instance, are you decorating a coastal-inspired boho space? Add some seashells. Or, if your home decor is more glam, you might pick a mirrored tabletop.

2. Stick to your color palette

Stick to the color palette in the room when choosing your coffee table decor. This helps the coffee table arrangement feel thoughtful and cohesive. This rule can apply to any interior design style. If it helps, keep a list or a photo of your living room’s color scheme on your phone, so it’s always handy while you’re shopping.

Alternatively, you could use a color palette generator and take a screenshot of your room’s colors for quick reference.

3. Play with heights

The decorative items on your coffee table should ideally use different heights to take the eye on a visual journey across the tabletop. You want to guide the eye up and down to give it a sense of interest — just avoid picking objects so tall that you can’t see over them when you’re on the sofa!

Stacks of books, candle holders, floral arrangements, figurines, and natural elements like driftwood are examples of objects you might use to play with heights.

4. Showcase a variety of textures

Texture variance is easy to overlook in homes, but interior designers know that it’s crucial. You’ll commonly see coffee tables with no variety in texture — a glossy decorative tray holding glossy decorative objects, for example. This limits the look because it’s too much of one finish. Ideally, you don’t want to repeat the same finish with any of the decor pieces.

Instead, create a tactile, textural adventure. For example, you might add three concrete planters of succulents (bonus points if they’re different heights), a vintage brass magnifying glass, and a stack of interesting coffee table books.

5. Add flowers or plants

Adding greenery, a flower arrangement, or a plant is essential when styling your coffee table. Don’t worry — you can use faux greenery if you don’t have a green thumb (it won’t ruin the look, we promise). Houseplants add greenery that brings softness and life to your living space, breaking up the monotony.

A vase of flowers or a favorite plant can even make a great table centerpiece. Eye-catching plants tend to become a focal point on a tablescape, so take advantage of this effect.

6. Include personal objects

Adding personal objects as part of your coffee table decor can make your space more inviting. Consider including a piece of DIY artwork you created, a bowl of trinkets that you’ve collected while traveling, or just a few favorite personal objects. A vase of your favorite fresh flowers, as we mentioned above, can also add a personal touch.

Whether you’re working with a large coffee table or a modest table in a small space, personal decorative accents will always enhance your coffee table decor.

7. Consider your guests

People playing Jenga

If you entertain frequently, give your guests a way to engage and break the ice right on your coffee table. Some playful options might include a Rubik’s cube, a deck of cards, a vintage board game, or Jenga. Anything fun and interactive will add a sense of whimsy to your coffee table while adding functionality for your guests.

For minimalist spaces, consider keeping any games in one of the drawers and setting out an object before guests arrive. Alternatively, you could use a framed notecard instructing guests to check the drawers for games.

8. Use larger items instead of small trinkets

The goal is to have the ideal number of objects on your table. You want to explore your style without making the scene look messy. As a general rule, a few large or oversized items will always look better than lots of tiny knick-knacks. Larger items have more visual impact and are also easier to clean.

Bowls and trays work well for containing trinkets and smaller items. A bowl or tray of fun things can have the impact of a larger object and avoid a cluttered look.

9. Style underneath the table

If your coffee table has lower shelves to decorate, this idea is for you. Avoid adding small objects to the bottom shelves and opt for more oversized items. A storage basket for your remote controls, a stack of books in a small bookshelf, or even a low pouf are all examples of things you might include beneath your table.

A low-light (or artificial) plant can also look beautiful on a lower shelf, especially if it’s a glass coffee table. With glass tabletops, the lower shelf is always visible, so you’ll want something aesthetically pleasing.

It’s time to put it all together

To achieve excellent coffee table styling, you don’t need to use every guideline and tip we’ve included. Instead, choose your favorite coffee table decor ideas to create something you love. After all, what matters most is that you love the space you live in.

These same tips can also help you design your bookcase, side table, dining room table, and even entryway cabinet if you know them well.

If you’d like to replace your coffee table before you begin, don’t miss our full selection of coffee tables. You can also find ideas for coffee table arrangements while browsing products you might want to add to your home. When you’re ready to buy, our store locator will point you in the right direction.