How to Make a Statement with Your Coffee Table

Your coffee table may serve as the anchor of your living room. It’s where conversations happen, mugs are parked, and remotes mysteriously disappear. Such an important piece is often forgotten, so styling it can boost the vibe of your entire room. No need to overcomplicate. Here are tips to get it just right—stylish, personal and functional.

Tips To Style Your Coffee Table Like a Designer

1. Start Fresh

Clear everything off the table first. This not only gives you a blank canvas but also lets you see the table’s size and finish, which may be buried under a bunch of stuff and crying out to be featured.

2. Follow the Rule of Thirds

A fun, flexible rule of thumb is to divide the table visually into three. Style each with a different element:
- Something tall (e.g., a vase, candlesticks)
- Something low (e.g., short stack of books)
- Something with texture (e.g., a bowl, woven basket, sculptural piece)

Balanced, never boring, and easy to adjust when you feel it needs a change.

3. Play with Height and Texture

Mixing heights keeps the eye moving. Pair tall pieces with low ones, and combine materials like wood, glass, metal, and ceramic for depth and interest. You can still apply the Rule of Thirds if you like that approach, and experiment with adjustments while sticking to the main three-part rule.

4. Add Something Alive

Greenery or fresh flowers bring instant warmth. It doesn’t take much to create a significant impact. And if you’re not a plant person, there’s no shame in using a quality faux plant or organic object to represent the feeling of life in the space.

5. Anchor with a Tray

A tray keeps small items looking intentional, adds structure, and makes it easy to clear the table for movie night or an epic puzzle session.

Pro Tip: Step back and snap a photo when you’re done—imbalances show up faster in a picture than in person.

Your Turn

Look at your coffee table with fresh eyes and try the rule of thirds, a tray, and something alive. You might be surprised how much a little styling changes the way you love where you live.

Now, what will you do next to love where you live?

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