Coffee table styling is honestly one of my all time favourites! A coffee table exists for function more than anything. You need a place to put your drinks, remotes, snacks After all. But the table is also an opportunity to create a vignette in your living room. You could just stack some books on there and call it a day, but you're better than that. Whether you prefer some organised chaos or want things as minimal as they could be, I hope this gets you inspired to go restyle yours.

The key to any good coffee table is a variety, of both texture and height.

Variety and balance.

Nothing makes for a cluttered surface faster than a large collection of small knick-knacks. Contrastingly, displaying only large items can look heavy and cumbersome. When you collect your items be sure to have a collection of sizes, shape and texture, To keep your coffee table balanced, vary the scale of display items and stack or group like objects together.

Texture

Texture adds an entirely different dimension to your vignette. It creates visual interest and variety. Gather pieces from smooth to rough edges and shiny to Matt.

Variety of height.

When all items are at the same eye level, nothing gets noticed. To create a more eye-catching vignette, vary the height and scale of your coffee table's decorative objects.

If you are working with a large coffee table, forming a grid can always help.

tip: Tape off sections to form a grid and position objects within the squares. This helps compartmentalise your styling and makes the entire task less intimidating.

Groupings of three.

The age-old rule of threes comes in handy when styling your coffee table. Like Forming a Grid, dividing your tabletop into three separate sections can help you decide where things look best. This especially holds true for long, rectangular-shaped tables.

Make Seasonal Swap-Outs

As a living room focal point, your coffee table is a great place to rotate seasonal decorative elements. For example, nothing says spring like a vase of fresh tulips. In summer, place a sea conch on a stack of books for beachy vibes, then come Autumn, swap out the shell for a pumpkin, or objects with autumnal tones.

Easy step by step guide

1- Start from a clean surface. Nothing inspires creativity more than a fresh slate!

2- Gather your pieces, a variety of height, shape and texture. (Eg, books, bowls, beads, shells, magazines, vase, candle stems)

3- Centrepiece. A lot of people like to start with the centrepiece and fill the space around it, if this works for you, start here!

The centrepiece can be a large or understated object depending on the variety and size of your table. I often like to make the centre a statement. And more times than none, includes greenery or an oversized bowl!

4- Depending on the size and shape of your coffee table work in a grouping of three or form a grid. Do you want a symmetrical or not symmetrical look.

Pictured above is our Large rectangle table, I have five groupings and one centrepiece.

Pictured below is styled four groupings and one centrepiece.

5- Start with the larger objects first. Books are a great starting point to dictate the aesthetic. Depending on the size of the books, Layer one or two on top of each other.

Tip- got a cohesive and practical look, use books that not only you would read and guests want to, but also aesthetic on the eye with complimenting book binding and colours.

6- Add height. This is where the different shaped objects with height and texture create their impact. Tip for every flat surface add height. (Pictured here layered stones in a grouping of three with a rough texture and complimenting colours) also pictured here, two smooth candle stems staggered at different height. This helps encourage your eye move around the table.

7- Add personal character. This can be seasonal, but let it reflect you, a point of interest, which could be charming and unique. Shells, beads, trinkets, memorably. Experiment! It’s also a great conversation starter!

8- Greenery, flowers, foraging. I do believe every coffee table needs an element of life! I love nothing more than foraging from our garden or clippings from a walk. It creates an authentic and organic approach to styling foliage. And Purchasing blooms from the Florist is wonderful for creating a seasonal look!!! Spring is here after all, let’s bring those beautiful flowers indoors.

9- Always ensure there is space for drinks and snacks. A coffee has to be functional as well as aesthetic. Grouping a collection of coasters into the styling is another way of incorporating practicality.

10- Step back and asses your work. Make any tweaks and adjustments until the balance feels right. You will know!