Hello, and welcome to Project Design: How To Style Your Coffee Table! We have regulars, Cindy from Rough Luxe Lifestyle, Annie from Most Lovely Things and four other super stylish bloggers, Sherry from Design Indulgence, Kris from Driven by Decor, Kim from Northern California Style and Pam from Simple Details. These ladies give us the advice to get the best look for your coffee table! Their links are at the end of this post.
This is my coffee table in San Francisco and…
Here are my five basic steps to style coffee tables (mixing high and low-end accessories):
- Tray
- Books
- Fresh
- Interesting
- Candle
But first, I recommend that you totally clear off your coffee table and put accessories that you are considering in one place like on your dining room table or floor. That’s what I did and it allowed me to come up with two different looks. In my case, I can’t have anything too high that blocks the television view.
Black and White Coffee Table Version
Tray
The top tray came from HomeGoods (I always check for trays when I am there) and the large bottom tray came from West Elm.
Books
Art, Design, photo and Travel books are great.
Fresh
Here we have Trader Joe’s tulips in a Pottery Barn Jug with a bowl of pistachio nuts.
Interesting
The faux alligator skin box was a gift and I recently bought the cloth cocktail napkins in fun fabrics from Tancredi and Morgan. The African beads from a local flea market also add a bit of interest.
Blue, White, and Fresh Fruit Coffee Table Version
Here’s my second example after I cleared the table again…
Tray
The Astier de Villate French white platter was a birthday gift from two sweet friends. So many uses for it! The bamboo tray was another HomeGoods find from several years ago. It moves all around our house.
Books
This time I pulled out books with more blue. The Curated Home from Amazon is new. I like the fresh take on tradition. And the Valentino book is a favorite.
Fresh
I brought in hydrangeas and fresh oranges…a healthy snack.
Interesting
Funny that the black box made it into both renditions. I also added a marble tray that I love from HomeGoods.
Candle
I put a smaller scented candle in a blue bowl to give it more weight.
To Recap: Five Basic Steps To Style Your Coffee Table
Tray: from places like West Elm or HomeGoods
Books: Your favorite pretty books or photo books like from Shutterfly
Fresh: flowers, plants, branches, fruit or nuts
Interesting: something collected like a box, plate or bowl
Candle: fragrant or unscented but something to add ambiance
Now check out what these experts recommend:
Great tips! Thanks for sharing this post.
You very wisely didn’t compete with the OCEAN! It became part of your room. YOU DID GOOD!
I love your design and was impressed by the views. Then I saw the note about your getting something at Tancredi and Morgan – though maybe they had another store up your way and didn’t realize they had a website (the things you learn). Hope you had a lovely visit here. It’s such a great store.
I visited Tancredi and Morgan with Cindy while staying at the Carmel Valley Ranch. Love that store!
Did you get new leather chairs? Love the light color. I seem to remember you having darker leather chairs that you had some wonderful fabric pieces made to cover/protect from oily hair transfers????
Yes. They are new chairs. Our son was happy to get the other ones!
Hi, Mary Ann. I was blog surfing this morning and came across your blog and as Classic and Casual is also my aesthetic, thought I would take a look. OMG, that is my coffee table! haha. Mine is a reproduction, doesn’t have the casters and yours has that lovely inlaid banding and burled wood, mine ins plain, but the shape, size, and tone, the same. So all I have to do is copy what you did, and there you go! My coffee table has been a dumping ground all winter.. remotes, receipts, mailers, magazines, etc. Time to clean it off and get is restyled for spring. Thanks for the beautiful inspiration.
That’s great, Donna. I actually have a version that’s a cross between the two and has a wicker box for the remote. Have fun. It’s just decorating!
MARY ANN, I LOVE HOW YOU USE TRAYS. YOUR TABLES HAVE FUNCTION, BUT LOOK SO PRETTY. I LOVE THE TRADER JOES FLOWERS FOR A LITTLE COLOR. I NEED TO POP BY THERE TODAY! LOVE DOING THIS AND SEEING ALL YOU LADIES DID. YOUR HOME IS LOVELY. XO
Thanks, Kim…yours was great!
Great tips Mary Ann! Fresh flowers or greens are a must, and the oranges with the touches of blue are such a pretty combination. I always love your styling tips!
Everything is perfect except that if I leave any food on mine…..Cami will get after it….haha! She is such a booger! I had thought of a bowl of nuts because they always give it an organic feel. Thanks for the inspiration….and I always buy good trays and boxes when I see them at HG’s also….which is why my guest bedroom has turned into a “collectors” room!
Mary Ann, this latest edition of Styling A Perfect Coffee Table has really given me so much inspiration to get to work and change mine up! I love all the table from all the bloggers and each of you has your own wonderful styling talents. I thank you for sharing them with your followers. xo
I love this series, I always leave with some great inspiration and ideas in my pocket! I’m ready to see spring in the house.
xo,
Karen
Love this post and all the great ideas! Now I’m feeling inspired to redo my coffee table. btw…won “best dessert” at a coffee this morning with your Carmelitas recipe – yum!
ALL LOVELY and I think I have THAT VALENTINO BOOK but where is it?ADORE the BEADS on the table……….every guest will definitely grab those and pick them up!YOU really have NO NEED to DECORATE your TABLE when YOU have that VIEW!HOW ON EARTH DO YOU GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED????
XX
Both versions are so pretty! Great tips!
Shelley
Thanks, Shelley!!
Lovely style tips and I’ve pinned to remind me. Mary Ann, I noticed that you remove dust covers from books like I do!
I LOVE these! You are the queen of tray styling. I am trying to channel you and do a better job with trays. I can’t decide which is my favorite. I like them all. I have been meaning to pick up that Grant Gibson book. I love his style. I think he lives very near you! I want to have you style my coffee table for fun sometime. The game room one needs help!!
Then you can style my coffee table, Cindy!!
Great tips and beautiful styling. Love both looks. I also love the blush colored kilim pillow on your sofa. Where did you find it? Thanks.
I got it on Ebay, Hayley.
Love your tablescapes. I would like to see some round tables/side table styling. I’m guessing I can use the same theory used here, but my side table has a lamp on it as well. I’m going to give it a go. PS. where’s all the remotes go? (BTW, I bought my husband a single universal remote and he hates it and won’t use it so I’m back to a minimum of 4, sometimes 5 remotes on my coffee table).
We have three remotes and reading glasses in an oval wicker basket that’s not shown. But to be honest, the remotes only make it into the box about half the time–but if they aren’t out, we know where they are.
Beautifully done! What suggestions do you have for styling a round coffee table? Thank you.
Yes, Laurie. Depending on how large the circle is, you can start with a large round tray with THREE objects inside like a plant, books, and candle. If it’s smaller, then the same three elements without the tray.
I was wondering the same thing, Laurie.
It’s the same theory but in elements of three (like a triangle). Check out how Simple Details does it 🙂
I added a small lions footed foot stool that is upholstered in RED VELVET!You can than do your tray on that although much smaller…….I think I have candies in it and its actually an old silver wine coaster!Which than I added an old ice cream silver plated round stemmed vessel.THe top of the table is a mirror which I love as it reflects a lot of the objects around!
MY two cents but I’m NO DECORATOR !!!
SO listen the THESE GALS!!!!!
Beautiful styling tips! I love the table with the pop of orange and blue! A wonderful touch of spring.
They both look great. I would never be able to choose between them and would end up switching back and forth!
Right now we have a silver tray with about six fat candles of various heights. It’s so cozy to light them all in the evenings. Soon it will be light later and they’ll get put away in favor of something more summery.