We spend most of waking hours at home lounging, watching TV or reading books behind our coffee tables, so it is important to make it look nice. Un-decorated or poorly decorated coffee tables are either boring or stressful to look at.
Here are some tips of how to decorate your coffee table, so you can create a stylish coffee table setting without hiring a professional.
Don’t overcrowd your coffee table
First and foremost, coffee tables should be functional. The idea is to put your feet up, to sit a cup of coffee or tea down. If you enjoy having pizza while watching TV, make sure you have room on your coffee table to put a plate too. Keep it clutter free. Get a couple of decorative boxes to keep your chargers, mail, bits and pieces away.
Create different heights
Like creating any vignettes, different heights make your eye travel fluently and more engaging on the objects. In this case, tall candles, flower vases, plants or sculptures can play the giants; books, serving trays will play the ground cover, lastly throw in a few pieces with medium heights to create a city landscape feel.
Remember scales
Keep size in mind. If you have a big coffee table, go with a large size flower vase to match the scale. When you have a small coffee table, keep your decorative items small and keep it simple.
Add texture
If you have a glass coffee table, introduce marbles, wood, metal to mix it up.
Consider your viewpoint
If your coffee table will be viewed from all angles, make sure your objects have more than just one face. In this sense, picture frames won’t work, because someone will be looking at the back of the frame.
Use the colours already in your room
Coffee table is a good place to tie your colour palette together. For example if you have a blue lamp, you also have an artwork with the same blue in it, why not pick a blue ornament and place on your coffee table. By doing this, you created a visual link to make your eye move fluidly.
Mix with lines and curves
If you have a round or oval coffee table, introduce some lines such as a rectangular serving tray or geometric patterns. If you have a rectangular table or squared one, put a plant or a bowl to add some architectural interest.
So, what do you need to have on your coffee table?
Must have: books / serving tray (low height) + flower vase / plant / sculpture/ candle (tall in height)
Nice to have: all the above + decorative bowl or other statement piece
Optional but practical items: tissue box, coasters
Last not least
If you use an ottoman to serve as a coffee table, use a large serving tray to hold drinks and protect the fabric.
I hope these tips can help you create an eye-catching coffee table arrangement.