If there’s one piece of furniture which should prioritise fun over function, it’s the coffee table. This underrated piece of furniture presents a host of stylistic opportunities, with its potential spanning far further than providing a resting place for your beverages, remove controls, or (gasp) even your feet. If your coffee table has been relegated to a merely utilitarian object, now is the time to elevate your styling game.
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Try these 6 tips and essentials to turn your coffee table into a viable living room centrepiece.
1. Coffee table books
IMAGE: ROGER DAVIES IMAGE: NANCY NOLAN
Doubling as conversation inspiration and aesthetic home decor, no coffee table is complete without a few timeless, beautiful books. Seinfeld’s Kramer was one of the first to truly appreciate the art of the coffee table book, with his tome, The Coffee Table Book of Coffee Tables. If you’re not into decorative inception, try a mix of fashion, travel, photography, and decor titles.
2. Light it up
IMAGE: THE BUSTED GENTLEMAN IMAGE: A FABULOUS FETE
Candles have been a zeitgeisty decorating piece for a while, however we still haven’t tired of them. The best luxury candles combine style with scent; adding a modern sensibility to your coffee table while helping set the mood. We love the pared back designs and fragrant scents Lumira offers, as well as the inimitable classic appeal of The Busted Gentleman’s Apollo candle, which is far too beautiful to actually light. Add an extra touch of elegance by housing your candles in a glass dome and keeping a candle snuffer and wick trimmer on hand.
3. Natural elements
IMAGE: TO BE BRIGHT IMAGE: ASHLINA KAPOSTA
Add a touch of nature through fresh or dried flowers, succulents, or opt for pieces crafted from natural materials. Sculptural crystal pieces like Stoned Crystals’ rose quartz Love Triangle or amethyst Chevronica provide a sense of intrigue and help cultivate a positive space.
4. In the box
IMAGE: TRUNK ARCHIVE IMAGE: RACHEL WHITING
An attractive box or bowl works to organize small items or obscure larger ones, providing a put-together, unified appearance. Opt for a shallow bronze or marble bowl or tray to house smaller items like keys, coins, and collectables, or select a box to stash your remote in.
5. Add a hint of function
Hand cream is a desk-side and handbag essential, however it also has a place on your coffee table. Treat your guests to smooth skin by leaving a couple of tubes of Grown Alchemist Soothing Hand Cream and Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream or Sensori+ Hand Cream Immune Booster on your coffee table.
6. Play with proportions
IMAGE: LILJENCRANTZ DESIGN IMAGE: STEVE CORDONY
Creating levels on your table and experimenting with different heights adds interest and makes for an eye catching display. It can take a while to get the composition just right, so in the meantime, don’t be afraid to play around with the placement of your chosen items. Stack flower vases atop heavy tomes or move sculptural pieces around on trays until it feels right.
Words by Theo Rosen
Feature image courtesy of To Be Bright
