41 Tips to Style a Coffee Table Like a Designer
A stack of books, some florals, and one weird piece will turn your coffee table into an art installation.
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
The coffee table is the center of the living room. While it can be landing space for remote controls and magazines, it’s also a place where your style can come to life. There is some science to creating a stunning tablescape, such as using objects in varying heights, but the magic mainly comes from an artful mix of flowers, books, trays, and unexpected objects. Here, we highlight 41 chic ways to style your coffee table like the pros.
Organic Modernism
Place two treelike stools side by side in a formal seating area with upholstered furniture to add texture. Leave the tabletop bare except for one small object. Small gray tables break up a vibrant color palette in this Paris apartment.
Jewel-Box Ottomans
In this Eileen Gray–inspired living room, designer Alexandra Loew used three small ottomans upholstered in Pierre Frey fabrics in place of a traditional cocktail table. While the ottomans are gorgeous on their own, a small silver tray for cocktails or flowers would add more glamour.
Undulating Sculpture
Balancing multiple accessories on a tufted ottoman can be tricky, so a pro tip is to anchor a decorative object on a tray. The tray and sculpture shown in this New York cottage are from the Huniford vintage collection.
Leaflike Cocktail Table
A vintage cocktail table by Wendell Castle shaped like a leaf makes a statement on its own in this Manhattan penthouse. Top it with minimalist accessories, such as a flower-filled urn and low bowl.
Antique Cocktail Table
In a neutral space with high ceilings, cherry blossoms in a Georg Jensen vase are earthy and airy. They also add height to the low antique Chinese cocktail table in this Palm Beach house.
Go from High to Low
On the square cocktail table by Thierry Jeannot, there are four points of interest. Each point varies in height, and a tall flowering plant adds color to the gray design scheme.
Consider a Glass-Topped Table
When you’re aiming to showcase a significant amount of accessories, a cocktail table with a glass top can provide balance. It doesn’t take up as much visual space as an all-wood design, for instance, and it keeps the focus on your display.
Go for One Statement Piece
If the idea of mixing decorative objects, flowers, and books really isn’t your style, opt for one statement piece that reflects your personality. An eye-catching sculptural item or vase containing your favorite blooms is sometimes all that’s needed to complete a living room design.
Weave In a Sentimental Item
Whether it’s a family heirloom or a ceramic you’ve treasured for years, incorporating a sentimental element into your coffee table decor adds a special touch. Plus, it’s the perfect conversation starter, something necessary for every interior.
Add an Air of Mystery
A brass cloche is the singular (and somewhat mysterious) piece of cocktail-table decor in the living room of designer Shawn Anderson’s country-meets-gothic farmhouse in Memphis.
Stick to a Single Color
The circa-1950 Sphere cocktail table and lamp in this Buenos Aires living room are by Jean Royère. A simple white bowl and blooms add to the room’s monochromatic palette.
Light It Up
A duo of candelabras ties this living room’s gold elements together in glamorous harmony. The sofa, from designer Jean-Louis Deniot’s collection for Baker, is in a Martyn Thompson Studio fabric, the 1930s Jindrich Halabala chairs are in a JAB Anstoetz fabric, the vintage cocktail table is by Paul Frankl, and the gold side table is by Hervé Van der Straeten; the indoor-outdoor rug is by Galerie Diurne, and the artwork is by Franz Kline.
Go Minimalist When Furniture Is Heavy
Designer Shawn Henderson pared down the cocktail-table decor in the living room of this Montana mountain home. The custom sofas are in a Studio Four NYC fabric, the custom settee is covered in a Hodsoll McKenzie fabric, and the custom swivel chairs and 1930s English wing chair are in fabrics from ALT for Living. The walnut cocktail table is custom, and the 1950s Austrian J.T. Kalmar floor lamps are from Bloomberry. A custom hooked rug by the New England Collection has a pattern based on a topographical map of the home’s site.
Add Some Height
A feathery floral arrangement keeps the vibe of this family room nook cozy while adding height and drawing the eye up to the artwork by Zipora Fried. The custom sectional is covered in fabrics by Great Plains and Donghia, the cocktail table by Daniel Scuderi and the chandelier by Trans-Luxe are both custom, the Ecart International sconces are from Ralph Pucci, and the carpet is by Tai Ping; the walls are in a Dualoy leather, and the ceiling is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Bison Brown.
Display Your Art
A bust sits on a cocktail table from India in the living room of designer John Robshaw’s Connecticut home. The living room sofa and its fabric are by John Robshaw for Duralee; the armchair, custom banquettes, and bone-inlay side table are all Robshaw designs.
Mix Rustic with Refined
The cocktail table inside designer Rela Gleason’s San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, home is an inverted polished tree stump, and a stone mill wheel serves as a side table. A ceramic vase and a leather-bound book keep the look classic.
Create Levels of Interest
A three-level coffee table sets the stage for drama in this Chicago living room. The 1950s chair is in a Dedar fabric, the 1930s orange lacquer–and-shagreen sideboard is French, the 1955 chandelier is by FontanaArte, the custom rug is by Beauvais Carpets, and the Venetian plaster walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray.
Choose a Statement Table
If your table makes a statement on its own, whatever you place on top of it is just a bonus! In a PR maven’s New York City home, the cocktail table and floor lamp are from West Elm. Atop the striped table are an array of stylish books, fresh flowers, and chic trinkets.
Try More Than One Table
The sleek living room of a Manhattan apartment designed by Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson of Drake/Anderson has two separate sitting areas and tables of various sizes throughout. The glass cocktail table by Fredrikson Stallard (right) is filled with feathers, the round side table is by Holly Hunt, the lamp atop it is by Charles Paris, and the custom rug is by Tai Ping.
Accent with Stools
In the living room of a weekend home in Bridgehampton, New York, designed by Steven Gambrel, the cocktail table is by Dos Gallos and topped with several vases and trays. The petite Thebes-style cane stools that accompany it are vintage.
60 Clever Home Decor Ideas, According to Designers
125 of ELLE Decor’s Favorite Interior Designers
20 Stylish Kitchen Rugs
100+ of ELLE DECOR's Favorite Interior Designers
