How to Style a Coffee Table

by Allan Wulff, MBA. Ph.D. 09/15/2019

A coffee table is a bit trickier to decorate than a dining table, but with some expert tips, your coffee table is just a few minutes from being perfect. Here are some styling tips for a coffee table to consider next time you are touching up the interior decor in your home:

Stack up your books 

Coffee tables and books go together like peanut butter and jelly. Stack up books of same sizes on your table, but be careful not to make a pile or mountain of books. Four or five books arranged together are just perfect. The key about book stacking is the color coordination - gather books in different shades of one color for a clean look. 

Add a tray 

Second only to books, trays are a designer's go-to when styling coffee tables. Trays help to corral tabletop items, but they also send a sense of organization to your guests and make mini-vignettes that beautify your home. You can fill the tray on your coffee table with a scented candle or a bouquet of flowers.

Decorate with plants 

You can make your living room clean and organic by decorating your coffee table with plants. Succulents and air plants are the perfect choices, but the key is to choose a plant that thrives in low light. 

Balance height 

To prevent your coffee table from looking weighted, it is best you put the tallest item in the center. If you have one short and two tall pieces, put the short in the middle and balance either side with any of the taller items.

Display different pages 

You can give you coffee table a different look every day by choosing to display different pages of a book. Consider contents of the page as well as the colors. Colorful magazines are an excellent choice as they are engaging to guests.

Simple right? Designing a coffee table is not as hard as you think. If you don't have it in your home, it is high time you think of getting one and using it to enhance your home style.

When prepping your home for sale, ask your selling agent for appropriate items to display on your coffee table.

About the Author
Author

Allan Wulff, MBA. Ph.D.

Hello and thank you for visiting! Selling or buying real estate is very serious business! I provide extraordinary results! Prior to real estate I was President/CEO of a number of area technology companies, Vice-Chairman of the INOVA Hospital Association and have been a long time member of the Association for Corporate Growth. With a broker’s training and experience, you get more than just a realtor agent. My negotiating skills and astute problem solving capabilities, honed by executive experience, have proved extremely effective for my clients in achieving their dreams and real estate goals in this current complex and fast paced market. As a long time Northern Virginia resident my experience will benefit you whether you are buying a home or selling a home or are a returning client checking out the many homeowner resources my associates and I offer. Buying a home? I look forward to helping you select the home of your dreams by taking time to listen to your needs and desires. Selling a home? My real estate expertise and many effective marketing programs will give you the exposure and edge you need to sell your home quickly for top dollar. Testimonials. I appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve you and hope you take advantage of the valuable resources I provide. Come back to visit often! I consider this community an excellent place to reside and would love to share with you my enthusiasm for the many neighborhoods in the area. I pride myself on providing unparalleled service and look forward to developing a long-term relationship with you. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss how I can best assist you with your real estate goals. Sincerely, Allan Wulff