Eight coffee table styling tips that actually work. Your coffee table already owns center stage,
now style it to be spotlight worthy!

Woo Hoo! It’s Pinterest Challenge Da. Organized by Cindy of County Road 407.

This month’s image featured a square tufted ottoman styled by Beth at Stories A to Z.

Do you throw current magazines and maybe a remote control on it and call it good? Don’t let that workhorse of your home intimidate you! Your coffee table is already center stage, so why not make it worthy of the spotlight?

Whether you want to highlight its personality—or need to give it some personality—I’ve got you covered with 8 styling tips that work virtually everywhere.

I’m rather competitive, mainly with myself. I like goals I can actually meet!

So I created these tips to help me focus in on what makes a great display and so I could grade my displays. I know, it’s kida crazy, but my way to challenge myself and learn ad grow.

Instead of just saying “oh, that looks good,” I wanted to know why it looked good. Does it incorporate 5 of the 8 tips? Could it look even better with 7? (Can’t say I didn’t warn you about my competitive streak!)

Seriously, I use these tips constantly—for halloween displays, Easter tiered trays, Spring buffet vignettes, even Christmas cookie displays.

True story: The first time I shared these tips, a friend applied them to the bulletin board displays she was in charge of at her church. Suddenly her displays were getting attention and comments they never had before.

Today, let’s apply these 8 tips to my coffee table styling. You’ll see how easy it is—and gain the confidence to transform your own coffee table from functional to fabulous.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Here’s my secret weapon for creating displays that actually look intentional:

1. Vary your textures – Mix smooth with rough, soft with hard
2. Add textile – Fabric instantly softens any space
3. Vary finishes – Combine matte and glossy surfaces
4. Mix linear and curved – Straight lines need curves (and vice versa)
5. Use a common color theme – With one focal color sprinkled throughout
6. Incorporate negative space – Give everything room to breathe
7. Layer up AND out – Build height and depth
8. Create triangular shapes – They’re naturally pleasing to the eye

The magic is in the layers and variety for interest, balanced with continuity so it all holds together.

Starting Point: My round dark burled wood table versus our inspiration’s square tufted ottoman with light wood base. Different? Absolutely. But the principles still apply!

I draped a neutral gauzy shawl casually across half the table. Technically my table isn’t upholstered like the inspiration, but this $2 thrift store find instantly softens the whole vibe.

PRO TIP: I do this with table runners too—scrunch them casually for added texture and movement.

Trays are magic for making multiple items read as one cohesive collection instead of clutter.

I chose a round tray to match my round table. Yes, I know the guidelines say mix curves and straight lines, but a rectangular tray would either be too small or hang awkwardly over the edges. This round one nestles perfectly against the edge, leaving plenty of negative space.

I had a round wooden tray that matched the inspiration better, but it was way too small for my large table.

PRO TIP: Size matters! Aim for a tray that’s about 1/3 the size of your table.

Good design loves odd numbers. Beth’s inspiration tray had three elements: glass jar with branches, candle, and ceramic pot with wood beads spilling over the edge.

I started with a glass vessel filled with tall lamb’s ear cuttings.

then added a ceramic vase with wood bead garland trailing over the tray’s edge.

For the candle, I placed it in a glass jar with a textured wicker sleeve instead of using it solo. Why? Several smart reasons:

• The plain candle got lost next to the other larger elements
• The brown wicker echoed the wood beads, scarf, and glass jug
• Added crucial texture to balance all those smooth surfaces
• Brought in another natural material alongside the wood

I shopped my own house for all this! I gathered 3-4 options for each element from my stash, then swapped them around until I found the perfect combo. Took about 20 minutes (I tend to overthink these things).

Books! One of my favorite decorating tools.

I stacked four large coffee table books, removing the dust covers to keep colors cohesive. Added a vintage magnifying glass on top, just like Beth did.

And that’s it! Simple, right?

Time for my competitive side to shine! How did we do against all 8 tips?

✅ Vary textures: Soft fuzzy lamb’s ear, warm wicker and wood, smooth cool glass—covered!

✅ Add textile: That windowpane shawl was our textile hero.

✅ Vary finishes: Matte book covers, wood beads, and lamb’s ear balanced against shiny glass jug and ceramic pieces. The vintage aluminum tray sits perfectly in between, kinda like satin paint sits between flat and glossy.

✅ Mix linear and curved: Round beads, round tray, bulbous ceramic vase, and cylindrical jars contrasting with flat linear books.

✅ Common color theme: I stayed neutral like Beth’s inspiration, though mine’s much darker and richer (thanks to that dark wood table). Light neutrals would’ve felt too energetic here. The key is controlling contrast between colors.

✅ Incorporate negative space: That perfectly sized tray plus breathing room between each item—check!

✅ Layer up and out: Heights and depths galore.

✅ Triangular shape: The tray items form that pleasing triangle with lamb’s ear as our tall focal point.

Final score: 8 out of 8!

See how these simple guidelines can transform your coffee table from “meh” to magazine-worthy? Now it’s your turn—grab these tips and give your coffee table the styling confidence it deserves!

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And sadly, it’s time for me to send you on to my friend Lora , where I guarantee you inspiration from Lora’s unique way of seeing transformative beauty in even the old and rickety. Be sure to drop in on the talented gals I have to honor be hopping with today.

Hope you enjoyed this post and are taking away some great styling tips to use in your home.