I used to feel so out of my element when I styled a coffee table. After years and years of frustration, I was determined to find a way to style a great coffee table... EVERY TIME!
After lots and lots of research and practice I'm now a confident coffee table stylist!!! I've come up with 5 no-fail tips to style a coffee table like a pro!
We are talking coffee table styling 101! E-A-S-Y and simple to apply! I don't need to style a coffee table worthy of the Biltmore... just one that looks great at StoneGable...
What I found so so surprising is that a coffee table does not have to look like a work of art! It does need to be comfortable, pretty and easy to style!
I also was not going to spend a lot of money to style a coffee table ... so, I shopped my house for the decor!
With that in mind I came up with a simple 5 steps for coffee table styling.
Let's style my living room coffee table together! This is going to be fun!
Here's the coffee table...
1. USE A TRAY
One of the best design elements to use on a coffee table is a tray!
Trays can be square, rectangle, round, wood, baskets or even acrylic!
They are great to corral decorative items, keeping them neat and organized.
The tray I picked is a soft gold acrylic.
2. ADD LAYERS
Layering objects looks very interesting.
Books are great things to layer. We are going to layer them in the tray from largest to smallest. Keep them neat.
Great! But we're not done layering yet!
3. ADD SOMETHING ORGANIC
Plants and flowers are wonderful organic touches! Let's layer a small fern on top of the books in the upper left corner.
Now, let's layer a magnifying glass with a horn (organic) handle next to the fern.
Doesn't that make a nice little layered vignette?
4. VARY HEIGHTS
We want to fill the tray with objects that have differing heights.
We have a nicely layered vignette on the right side of the tray, so let's balance it with elements on the left.
Let's add a big piece of pottery.
The fern is tall, the pottery is medium height, the books are low and the sides of the tray are even lower. This let's our eyes move around the tray and take in all the interesting things in it.
It's very important to style a coffee table using things of varying height.
5. CANDLES
I think every coffee table should give off a little candlelight!
We have just enough space to tuck in a trio of small candles on a long tray in front of the piece of white pottery!
The candles fill up the tray, without it looking crowded!
The tray is done... styled simply and well balanced!
Such pretty ambiance!
But what do we do to the other side of the coffee table? Does that get styled too?
Great question!
Let's balance the tray with one showy piece! A white footed bowl filled with fun baubles.
The bowl and baubles adds another layer of height and it holds organic twig balls in it... reinforcing 3 of the 5 styling tips! Height, layering and organic elements!
And just for a fun touch, the clear baubles glow in the dark!
Here are a couple other things to keep in mind when styling a coffee table...
COLOR
Using repeated colors will help to make coffee table decor more cohesive.
I used lots of whites and neutrals styling my living room coffee table. These colors work well in my room.
TEXTURE
Using a combination of textures when styling a coffee table makes the design more interesting!
Can you find at least 4 textures on my coffee table?
USE WHAT YOU LOVE!
Only style a coffee table with what you love! Remember it's your creation, your home and you need to enjoy it!!!!
That was EASY wasn't it! This is coffee table styling 101. Practice and get comfortable using these 5 simple tips!
Styling a coffee table should be simple, easy and created with what you love!!!
What are your favorite things to use when you style a coffee table?
What are your favorite things to use when you style a coffee table?
You might like to pin this to your PINTEREST decor board...
Fabulous tips Yvonne. Styling a coffee table has always been frustrating to me. I move, move, move stuff, leave it, come back and move it again. Your trips will definitely help me get the "finished Pottery Barn" look I desire.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a lovely weekend.
Sam
I just need you in my room, to give me confidence.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Great styling tips! I love your tray not too obvious but it holds things together nicely!
ReplyDeleteHaving a tray on the coffee table is the biggest tip you can give Antone. But your layering tips are the magic. I'm looking at my tray right now - it has an orchid in a brass pot, a shallow pottery bowl and a rusty metal fleur de lys. I better run and get some books to complete it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI have an oval coffee table, what shape tray should I use?
ReplyDeleteHi Beth, I think any shape would work on an oval coffee table... it's all a matter of balancing the size. If you use a round tray or basket it needs to be on the small side for sure. Play around with different trays and you will find the one that works for you!
DeleteWhat to do with my coffee table has always been a problem. I'm off to use your suggestions. Next, any ideas on how to style a mantle that is approximately 12 feet long?? Another bane of my decorating abilities.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
In the process of changing out what is on a few tables. Like you, I like to use trays and something organic. Thanks for sharing your tips. Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeleteJust perfect, Yvonne! I love how your coffee table looks and the tips are awesome, pinning!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips, Yvonne. I just painted and changed out our living room coffee table for a round pedestal and tried my first vignette yesterday. I skipped the tray but next time I think I will add one. These tips will come in handy, so of course I pinned it for future reference.
ReplyDeleteLove this simple step-by-step! I struggle with my coffee table, maybe because it's square? I'll give it a go again :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful tips, Yvonne! Do you have any suggestions for decorating a round coffee table? I always struggle with mine. Can I use a square or rectangle tray on a round table? Just doesn't seem right to me. I have a round wicker tray coming....hoping that will work!!~~Ang
ReplyDeleteHi Angela, I think a rectangle tray on a round coffee table would look wonderful! Maybe it should be the only thing on the table with all you accents tucked inside!
DeletePerfect! Sharing w/ my facebook followers. :)
ReplyDeleteAngela @ Number Fifty-Three
Looks fabulous. I love how beautiful you table-setting is. Gorgeous. Great tutorial too.
ReplyDeleteLooks so lovely and I love how you've made it so simple. You made me smile when you said it doesn't need to be worthy of the Biltmore, just needs to look great at StoneGable. I love your heart!
ReplyDeleteAnd you're so right...we put way to much pressure on ourselves to have perfect looking homes...which is totally missing the point. Thanks so much for the lesson. :)
Well, that was such fun and I learned a lot! I think mine could probably use a "redo." Wish you could run over and do the "redo." Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. ..and love your step - by - step tutorial. ..thank you for your great ideas.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful table and you always style it "like a pro"....oh, you are a pro!!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to know where to purchase these items . Like the glow in the dark baubles :)
ReplyDeletelovely, just lovely. thanks for making sense of it. I'm in the process of re-doing an old coffee table right now, adding a shelf below for baskets. this was timely to give me an idea of what to do with the top as far as décor goes.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this post! I look forward to every post you do. Thank you. How can I style my end tables? I have recliner sofas so I cannot have a coffee table in my room. Also I second the request for pro tips on styling a fireplace mantle. I have 12 foot high ceilings but my mantle is only about 5 feet high.
ReplyDeleteYvonne, can you do a blog about where and how you store your decorative elements when rotating them seasonally? I tend to leave the same vignette out because I struggle with storage space for new items. Even though I have lots of opportunities to create interesting spaces with tabletops, consoles, a mantel, etc. I'd really appreciate your ideas.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely a pro at styling anything so I've pinned these tips so that I can refer to them. :)
ReplyDelete~Yvonne ~
ReplyDeleteLooks very nice.!! May I ask what the title of the top book is ? I notice Princess Diana on the bottom. I miss her :(
Paula
IN.
p.s.I love the Biltmore , but a tea at StoneGable would be just as delightful :)
The book is called, Eating Royally
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda!!
DeleteYou have coffee table styling panache Yvonne! I love your easy to follow formula too. Thanks for all your kind comments and shares, I've been busy with company this past week and trying to catch up :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I think it is so fun to style a coffee table. Your styling is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love your vision in decorating you put everything together so perfect. love it.
ReplyDeleteHi Yvonne,
ReplyDeleteAs with all your posts, this one is inspiring, lovely and informative! What a great idea to include the baubles in the pretty white dish. You're a delight!
Hope all is well at StoneGable! And...hope Chris is recovering well from surgery!
Take care,
Cyndee
Excellent ideas .. love your vignette designs .. !!
ReplyDelete