Coffee Table Styling & The Books We Love
A naked coffee table pains the maximalist in me. Keep in mind, the same woman speaking is usually cleaning off play-doh and muffin crumbs from the space she preaches on. But I see this small table as a centric force within your living compound. Much of your life hovers around the coffee table. Furniture is arranged, people gather, children play - making it the perfect location to display items that illustrate and chronicle your lives.
The formula for creating a styled vignette is actually really quite simple. Ours is ever-changing to meet the needs of our family, and it should for you as well. If you’ve spent time perusing your favorite magazines, Pinterest or social media accounts, you’ll begin to notice echoing elements. So, what concoction is the magical key to creating a beautiful vignette? Below are our 5 building blocks to composing a styled coffee table, as well as a list of our favorite styling elements & books.
1. BOOKS
Books are the foundation for just about everything decorative. They’re always my first recommendation when styling a coffee table, shelf or nightstand. Why? Think of it as a base - not only are they beautiful and provide entertainment, but they add height, texture, color, and anchor the smaller decorative elements to the table.
Tip 1: I tend to gravitate toward substantial, thicker books. The girth is more attractive, it adds a three-dimensional quality, and they look much more expensive.
Tip 2: Consider your spines & colors. This sounds a bit loony, but unless there is a book/topic that you’re very passionate about and can’t live without - purchase books that coincide with the color theme of your home. You want the space to feel cohesive (i.e. one item isn’t battling another for attention).
Tip 3: In all things design, go with groups of 3. This may be the number of books in a stack or the number of stacks on a table. Odd groupings, specifically units of 3, are appealing to the eye.
Tip 4: If you’ve spent large sums of money having family photos taken, consider investing in a beautifully bound book to display. My absolute favorite place to recommend is Artifact Uprising. Their hardback books are covered (customizable), the pages are thick and hearty and they’re truly works of art.
2. TRAYS
A handful of items can very quickly resemble clutter. Corralling them together on a tray composes an artfully-styled and purposeful place for items such as coasters, remotes, trinkets, matches, etc. The same can be said for a really lovely bowl or decorative box. If you create a space for stray items, they no longer feel erratic.
3. TRINKETS
If you’re a minimalist or a parent to young children, this one may cause an eye-roll. And rightfully so (then just proceed to #4). But should you want to add a little extra pizzazz we recommend small decorative objects. We love seeing them stacked on top of books or laid out elegantly along a tray. They can be beautiful, but also functional. Our favorites include: a pretty deck of cards, geodes, paperweights, smalls sculptures, a vintage vase or dish, picture box, & coasters.
Tip 1: Keep trinkets to a minimum. We recommend no more than 4 and to use objects of various sizing and heights.
4. GREENERY
I recently visited my sister-in-law who has acquired quite the green thumb. Her space, now dotted with just the right amount of foliage, gives off a totally different vibe. I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it - greenery enlivens a room. Bring in fresh flowers, tall twisty stems or lush foliage and your space perks up. Should a rotation fresh foliage not be economical for you (or you just weren’t handed the green thumb), there are tons of really lovely faux options out there today. Consider West Elm, Target, Crate & Barrel, or even Abigail Ahern.
5. CANDLELIGHT
Want to make your space instantly cozy: light a candle. These little lights do wonders for the ambiance of your space. It doubles as both decor and freshens the scent of your home.
Tip 1: Establish your own seasonal scents. My pantry has stacks of candles based on seasons. Are most of them half used? Yep. But I totally don’t care and continue to rotate them. Spring and summer bring about Capri Blue and fresh herbal scents, whereas fall and winter aromas are almost always apple-cinnamon and musky wooded fragrances.
Prefer Simplicity? Does too much “stuff” create chaos in your dwelling? Considering a simple stack of books with one decorative item on top, and a small plant for some added height.
Here are some of our favorite objects & books to get you started. Links to all items (& more) for purchase: Coffee Table Styling
OUR GO-TO COFFEE TABLE BOOKS
Our Go-To Styling Objects
Some of our favorite coffee table styling, based on table shape.
SQUARE TABLE DESIGN
ROUND TABLE DESIGN
