A styled coffee table pulls a living room together. A cluttered one does the opposite. The good news is that you don't need a stylist's eye to get it right. Follow this five-step formula and your coffee table will look considered every time.
1. Clear everything off first
Start with an empty table. It's the only way to see the shape and size you're working with. Put back only what earns its place: things you use daily, and things you love looking at.
2. Anchor with a stack of books
A stack of coffee table books is the base of almost every styled table. Go large on the bottom and smaller on top: an XL book under an M book creates a natural, layered look. Linen covers in neutral tones such as sand, taupe and warm brown suit Japandi, coastal and minimalist rooms.
Make your stack work harder with a storage book. It looks like a real coffee table book, but opens to a hidden tray for the remote, coasters and chargers.
3. Add height
A flat table looks unfinished. Add one taller piece, such as a vase, a candle holder or a sculptural object, to lift the eye. On a round table, place it slightly off centre. On a long rectangular table, use it at one end to balance your book stack at the other.
4. Bring in something natural
Every styled table needs a natural element: a branch in a vase, a piece of coral, a bowl of stones or a small plant. It softens the hard edges of books and trays and adds texture.
5. Style in odd numbers
Groups of one or three feel relaxed and intentional; groups of two or four can feel stiff. A simple combination is a book stack, a vase and a candle.
Where to hide the everyday clutter
The biggest enemy of a styled coffee table is the little stuff: remotes, chargers, coasters, receipts. Give them one home so they never end up spread across the table. A Clay Tones XL storage book or Slow Spaces XL holds all of it and still looks like part of your styling.
Quick styling ideas by table shape
- Round coffee table: one book stack plus one tall object, placed in a loose triangle.
- Rectangular coffee table: divide the table into thirds: books at one end, a tray or bowl in the middle, a vase at the other end.
- Small side table: a single M storage book with a candle on top.
Ready to start? Shop the linen storage books.