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Effortless Ways to Style Your Coffee Table
Little things, thoughtfully placed on the centre table, can pull together the look of the whole room. Here's how
Rashmi Haralalka
3 February 2017
Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about writing, especially interior design, home decor, and home improvement. I believe that details are not just details... they make the design. Connect with me on:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rashmi-sharda-b79b8119
Email: rashmiharalalka@gmail.com
Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about writing, especially... More
Your coffee table is like a blank canvas right in the heart of your living room. It is a component that can bring the whole seating arrangement together. How to decide what accessories to style it with or how empty to leave it? Here are some quick and simple inspirations to jazz up the centrepiece of your living room.
Let the candles shine
Candles are an evergreen accessory for a coffee table. Here, the designer has used two low-lying coffee tables and lighted a cluster of elegant candles to create a soothing and intimate mood. Lit or unlit, candles always add a dash of warmth and sophistication to a space. You can group differently-shaped candles together – like in this room – and place them in harmonised glass covers that shield them from draughts and lend a refined finish to the setting.
Candles are an evergreen accessory for a coffee table. Here, the designer has used two low-lying coffee tables and lighted a cluster of elegant candles to create a soothing and intimate mood. Lit or unlit, candles always add a dash of warmth and sophistication to a space. You can group differently-shaped candles together – like in this room – and place them in harmonised glass covers that shield them from draughts and lend a refined finish to the setting.
Say it with flowers
Flowers will bring freshness to your living space and brighten up the room. The delicate white lilies here create a beautiful contrast against the dark solidity of the table and echo the pale accents of the cushions and wall installation.
Flowers will bring freshness to your living space and brighten up the room. The delicate white lilies here create a beautiful contrast against the dark solidity of the table and echo the pale accents of the cushions and wall installation.
Upholster it
An imaginative version of the pouf, this upholstered table drives home the bespoke look of the room. In this case, a floral motif contrasts against the neutral palette of the sofas. A playful touch has been added with a little tray on top, filled with stones and pebbles.
An imaginative version of the pouf, this upholstered table drives home the bespoke look of the room. In this case, a floral motif contrasts against the neutral palette of the sofas. A playful touch has been added with a little tray on top, filled with stones and pebbles.
Mix and match
This table features a bit of everything but in very small doses – from a vase to a couple of books to a dainty stem of flowers. It’s so easy to put together without any hassle! You can even add some other vases of different shapes and arrange all the items as a unit.
Tip:
When you dress up your coffee table keep in mind how much of its space you might need to use. Overloading it with accessories will not leave much room if several cups and saucers need to be accommodated there.
This table features a bit of everything but in very small doses – from a vase to a couple of books to a dainty stem of flowers. It’s so easy to put together without any hassle! You can even add some other vases of different shapes and arrange all the items as a unit.
Tip:
When you dress up your coffee table keep in mind how much of its space you might need to use. Overloading it with accessories will not leave much room if several cups and saucers need to be accommodated there.
Unbeatable books
Displaying good books is a great way to impress your visitors. They make hassle-free coffee-table accessories, too. So steal a few good titles from your shelf and stack them here; even a few of the latest magazines would do. Books and reading material always instantly personalise a space and reveal a bit of who you are as a homeowner… in a great way.
Displaying good books is a great way to impress your visitors. They make hassle-free coffee-table accessories, too. So steal a few good titles from your shelf and stack them here; even a few of the latest magazines would do. Books and reading material always instantly personalise a space and reveal a bit of who you are as a homeowner… in a great way.
Potpourri is nice
All kinds of decorative elements can be placed on the coffee table – even potpourri. Here, a tray with dried, scented cones and stout candles has been placed in the centre of all the action. See how a subtle sense of festivity and contemplation is conveyed through this setting. It takes no time to prepare, but makes a long-lasting impression on your guests.
All kinds of decorative elements can be placed on the coffee table – even potpourri. Here, a tray with dried, scented cones and stout candles has been placed in the centre of all the action. See how a subtle sense of festivity and contemplation is conveyed through this setting. It takes no time to prepare, but makes a long-lasting impression on your guests.
Add some glitter
If you like a bit of bling in the house then this circular plate in gold is perfect. Many of us have faux gold or silver trays or decorative plates. Get them out of storage and display them on your table. Here the tray has an embossed design, which gleams and glints above the dark flatness of the green coffee table. Go a step further – fill it with water and add a few floating candles or fresh flower petals.
If you like a bit of bling in the house then this circular plate in gold is perfect. Many of us have faux gold or silver trays or decorative plates. Get them out of storage and display them on your table. Here the tray has an embossed design, which gleams and glints above the dark flatness of the green coffee table. Go a step further – fill it with water and add a few floating candles or fresh flower petals.
Install a focal point
In this case, a colourful themed urn dresses up the table. The tabletop already features panelling so there’s not much needed in terms of styling. The visually rich solitary urn acts as a highlight to the Moroccan theme of this Hyderabad home.
In this case, a colourful themed urn dresses up the table. The tabletop already features panelling so there’s not much needed in terms of styling. The visually rich solitary urn acts as a highlight to the Moroccan theme of this Hyderabad home.
Let the light take centre stage
Is this a fixture or a table lamp? It’s both! Instead of the ceiling, this chandelier is attached to a slender stand and drops down to the centre of the table. The low-lying chandelier with glittering crystals seems to swoop down and stop just a few inches above the table-top. How dramatic!
Tip:
If such a unique light is proving difficult to find, you can hang a pendant light very low towards the centre of the table. This is usually done in the case of dining tables; here it will be a surprise element and the result will be gorgeous.
15 Contemporary Lights You Should Know About
Is this a fixture or a table lamp? It’s both! Instead of the ceiling, this chandelier is attached to a slender stand and drops down to the centre of the table. The low-lying chandelier with glittering crystals seems to swoop down and stop just a few inches above the table-top. How dramatic!
Tip:
If such a unique light is proving difficult to find, you can hang a pendant light very low towards the centre of the table. This is usually done in the case of dining tables; here it will be a surprise element and the result will be gorgeous.
15 Contemporary Lights You Should Know About
Bring in a decorative tray/ basket
Don’t restrict the tray/ basket to just serving or storage. You can also use it as a decorative accessory on the coffee table. You can arrange your little vases, mini-plants and candles in a wicker basket to make a pretty arrangement – and the table looks neater, as well. The best part is that when guests come and you need to make some room, just lift the entire tray and voila! the table is ready for serving snacks.
Don’t restrict the tray/ basket to just serving or storage. You can also use it as a decorative accessory on the coffee table. You can arrange your little vases, mini-plants and candles in a wicker basket to make a pretty arrangement – and the table looks neater, as well. The best part is that when guests come and you need to make some room, just lift the entire tray and voila! the table is ready for serving snacks.
Leave it bare
If your table is textured or has crevices and niches built in like in this coffee table, then sometimes leaving it bare is the way to go. The squares etched in the wood eliminate the need for embellishment. The recesses on the sides reveal the clever design where other accessories can be arranged, but are not really needed. For a table that already has so much going for it, the best you can do is to let it shine solo.
Read more:
Weekend DIYs to Spruce Up Your Living Room
How to buy a chair
Tell us:
How do you do up your coffee table? Share in Comments.
If your table is textured or has crevices and niches built in like in this coffee table, then sometimes leaving it bare is the way to go. The squares etched in the wood eliminate the need for embellishment. The recesses on the sides reveal the clever design where other accessories can be arranged, but are not really needed. For a table that already has so much going for it, the best you can do is to let it shine solo.
Read more:
Weekend DIYs to Spruce Up Your Living Room
How to buy a chair
Tell us:
How do you do up your coffee table? Share in Comments.
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