A coffee table is more than just a surface to rest your drink, it’s one of the first things your eye is drawn to when you walk into a living room. If you’re wondering how to style a coffee table that feels curated and effortlessly chic, this guide shares my personal tips from years of styling for clients, photoshoots, and my own home.
1. Start with Your Largest Piece
I always begin with my anchor, the biggest or tallest item on the table. This sets the tone for everything else. When thinking about how to style a coffee table, it might be a vase of seasonal flowers (I love hydrangeas or peonies in summer, and eucalyptus or berries in winter). For a lower profile, I often choose a wide bowl of orchids, moss, or succulents, which brings life and texture without blocking sightlines. Sometimes it’s a statement object that simply makes me happy every time I see it, or a beautiful vase – I have always loved blue and white china, and eBay is one of my favourite places to source these.
2. Balance and Proportion are Key
Once my anchor is in place, I focus on balance and proportion. A crucial part of how to style a coffee table is splitting your styling into groups so that the visual weight feels evenly distributed. If I have something tall on one side, I’ll offset it with medium or low-height pieces on the other. Breathing space is just as important as the objects themselves, negative space lets each piece shine. I’ll often step back and view from different angles to ensure it works from all viewpoints. The shape of your table will also influence your styling, I like to divide the styling into zones, and ground smaller objects on a tray, box, or books so they don’t feel lost. Our Addison Ross trays are perfect for this and they come in round and rectangular shapes, depending on the shape of your coffee table.
3. Layer Textures to Add Depth
Texture is a powerful styling tool when you’re thinking about how to style a coffee table. Even in a neutral palette, layering texture creates richness and interest. I love mixing smooth with rough, shiny with matte, and combining in natural elements like wood, leather, rattan, stone, glass, ceramic, or metal. The goal is to keep the eye moving, encouraging it to discover new details every time you glance over.
4. Keep to a Cohesive Colour Palette
When styling a coffee table, I always consider colour. A key part of how to style a coffee table is ensuring it feels connected to the rest of the room. I usually keep my larger upholstery items neutral, then layer in two accent colours that tie into cushions, artwork, rugs and accessories so the whole space feels harmonious.
5. Add Sentimental Touches
The most beautiful coffee tables, in my opinion, are the ones that tell a story. I love to mix in pieces I’ve collected over time, something from my travels, a market find, or an antique shop treasure. It could be as simple as a small ceramic bowl picked up in Italy or a vintage calligraphy brush from an antiques fair. These sentimental touches give the arrangement authenticity and make it uniquely yours.
6. Have Your Styling Staples to Hand
There are certain pieces I come back to again and again when styling a coffee table because they work in almost any setting. Coffee table books are a must, I like to colour-coordinate them with the room. This might seem excessive, but I think it shows attention to detail. I also like to keep a book open on an aesthetic page. Books add character, personality, and are a nice way to bring your interests and hobbies into the styling.
Beautiful boxes are invaluable for hiding away practical things like remote controls, nothing spoils a table more than tech clutter! Our Faux Shagreen Box from Addison Ross is a staple. We also have coasters on every table to make sure all surfaces are protected; scratches are something that will annoy you for years. Again, our Addison Ross Coasters are my go-to.
Candles or diffusers are another essential. Engaging all the senses is such a powerful tool and can create the perfect atmosphere, setting the tone in your home on a daily basis. Aromas have an immediate and powerful impact and can transform how you see a room as well as how you feel.
7. Edit and Refresh
One of my golden rules when considering how to style a coffee table is to edit, edit, and edit again. Once I’ve finished styling, I take a step back and remove anything that feels like “one too many.” Sometimes less is more, and by embracing a little negative space you can give the rest of your styling room to breathe. The goal is to achieve a curated look rather than a cluttered one.
Styling a coffee table is about creating a moment that feels beautiful, balanced, and personal. Start with your hero piece, build out with proportion and texture, mix in a few personal items, and let the space breathe. To see how all these coffee table styling tips come to life in a full-room setting, watch our recent townhouse project. You’ll notice how every coffee table is thoughtfully composed, and is proof that when you apply these principles to styling your own coffee table it will elevate the entire room.
For more inspiration, explore our portfolio to see how I translate timeless design principles into distinctive, character-filled homes. For exclusive behind-the-scenes content, including project reveals, product collaborations, and more insights into our design process, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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