30+ Best Coffee Table Ideas You Need For Easy Styling

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This blog post is all about the best coffee table ideas!

Your coffee table is a natural focal point in your living room, making it a very important piece to help you define the style of the room. The right coffee table look can tie together your decor, giving your design a more cohesive and sophisticated feel. This is why finding the correct decor is not as easy as throwing together a stack of books or combining a random set of decorative objects.

However, this process does not need to be too complex either. I know how intimidating it can feel to start with a completely blank space and way too many options for decor pieces. Choice paralysis is a real thing! Because of this, completing my coffee table decor was actually one of the tasks that took me the longest when I first moved into my apartment. It was always missing something!

That’s why, in this post, I wanted to share some of my favorite coffee table decor ideas. We’ll move through all the coffee table essentials, helping you create the best coffee table ideas one piece at a time. This is a great way to ensure you’re only investing in decor that can serve your vision, saving you time and money down the road. 

Let’s jump right into it and get ready to create the coffee table of your dreams!

Coffee Table Ideas – Coffee Tables

First thing first, you need a gorgeous coffee table that matches the style of your living room. Make sure to also consider what shape and size you are looking for; these factors are just as important as the aesthetics of your new coffee table! 

As a general rule of thumb, you’ll need a coffee table that covers at least two-thirds of your sofa’s length and sits at roughly the same height as your couch cushions. Additionally, if you’re working with a narrow space, consider rectangular pieces. On the other hand, round or square tables can help you ground your decor better in a large sitting room. 

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These are some of my favorite options when it comes to the best coffee tables. I have purchased the first one for my living room three years ago and have been loving it ever since! Being a glass coffee table, it’s a good option if you’re looking for a piece that’s not too visually heavy. For instance, I like how it doesn’t make my space feel too busy while, at the same time, being a glamorous design piece. Of course, if you invest in a glass table, be ready to clean it quite often as anything and everything will leave a mark on it (speaking from experience here!).

A wooden table can instead be a better fit for a modern and organic living room. Solid wood pieces come across as very understated and elegant while remaining simple and a bit minimalist. They also tend to be very resilient, making them a great choice if you have children, pets, or are simply looking for something that can stand the test of time. 

I also love coffee tables that either through shape or color can become accent pieces in your living room. Opting for an oversized oval table or daring with a golden table base can easily give a more sophisticated touch to your decor even keeping everything else relatively simple. If you want a high-impact piece, focus on stand-out features or play with items that contrast highly with the rest of your decor.  

Coffee Table Ideas – Trays

A tray is a must-have piece when it comes to coffee table ideas. It’s the easiest way to display and organize small items, as well as grounding your decor preventing it from looking like clutter on top of your coffee table.

A large tray not only looks stylish but it also introduces some height and texture variation to your design. This, in turn, helps better distribute your decorative items across different flat surfaces and heights to keep your decor visually interesting. 

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Acrylic trays are a great option for a modern coffee table where the decor is simple but elegant. You can opt for a clear tray if you’re working with a neutral color scheme or don’t want this piece to be the focus of your design. A dark green, brown, or burgundy tray is perfect instead for warmer living rooms thanks to its mid-century inspiration and deep tones.

Wicker and wood trays are a safe bet for most styles. They look timeless and pair with a huge variety of palettes thanks to their inherent neutrality. The difference, when it comes to these materials, is in the details. For example, gold handles paired with a dark wooden tray give a more glamorous and formal look compared to a rustic, distressed wood finish. 

As far as the shape is concerned, you can go for either a round or rectangular tray independently of your coffee table design. The main thing to keep in mind is that a round tray will fit less decor and they can struggle to accommodate larger items like books or decorative boxes unless you opt for a big diameter.

Coffee Table Ideas – Scented Candles

Your coffee table is the perfect place to showcase your favorite scented candle. Given its central position, it’s perfectly placed to project the scent across the entire space, setting a great ambiance for the room. A beautiful candle is also an easy way to decorate a small coffee table as, unlike books, it requires a very limited surface. 

​Candles are also great for layering. Placing one on top of books, bokes, or trays introduces into your decor a play of heights that looks extremely curated and chic. 

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Candles are truly one of my favorite things to shop for. The great thing about them is that you can easily switch them out throughout the year, giving your coffee table decor new and a seasonal element that keep your design fresh. 

Depending on the atmosphere you are trying to create, you can opt for a luxury scent or something more fun and quirky. Brands like Baobab Collection (candle no. 5) will provide high-performing scents that are elegant but understated, similar to what you would smell in a five-star hotel. A company like Homesick (candle no. 3) plays instead with more popular references, turning the candle design itself into a part of the experience. 

If you’re looking for accent pieces, you can always opt for bowl designs. Whether it’s an oversized, hammered silver candle or a rustic wooden one, they are sure to make a statement! 

Coffee Table Ideas – Vases

Vases are an important part of coffee table ideas because they help you introduce into your decor natural elements and different heights. Regardless of whether you love to keep fresh flowers or have committed to faux plants (no judgment here), this is definitely a piece worth investing in to make your coffee table feel more curated.

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Modern, minimalist vases are perfect if you like sleek lines, soft curves, and creative shapes. They combine innovative design with a simple and neutral color scheme that can pair well with most coffee tables. Pieces like this, with their simplicity, also let your flowers or small plant take center stage which is ideal if you love colorful bouquets. 

Textured ceramic is another versatile option when it comes to coffee table vases. A rougher finish or terracotta color, for instance, can work with an organic environment – think farmhouse or coastal. These rustic pieces tend to be larger items, making them a great choice if you’re looking for a tall vase or something that can accommodate leafy branches rather than small flowers. 

Lastly, you can opt for a shorter and wider vase if you’re decorating a round table. This way, you will avoid having a single item stand out at the center of your design like a random pole. Proportions are crucial when creating a balanced design! 

Coffee Table Ideas – Books

I’m sure you have seen plenty of chic coffee tables decorated with beautiful stacks of books. These pieces are great for creating a layered look that gives your design a more sophisticated feel. 

I also love coffee table books because they’re an easy way to include your personal style into your home decor. No matter what topic you’re passionate about, I promise there is a gorgeous book about it that deserves to be displayed in your living room. This is also why coffee table books can be great conversation starters for your guests! 

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These are some of my favorite books. I actually have Vivian Maier’s photography book currently displayed on my coffee table and both “The Big Book of Chic” and “The Art of Home” on my wishlist. I think they also make for great housewarming gift ideas! 

While these options are more traditional coffee table books, nothing prevents you from even creating your own. Whether it’s wedding photos or memories from a vacation you recently went on, you can design a custom photo book to add to your coffee table decor. A bit more time-consuming than ordering a volume on Amazon, but definitely more budget-friendly and unique! 

Coffee Table Ideas – Miscellaneous

Once you are done with your essentials, you should have a solid basis to move on to filler decor. These are small pieces that can be used to cover the plenty of room left available on your coffee table with the larger pieces. Especially if you have a large coffee table, miscellaneous decor items are an absolute must-have to avoid your design looking incomplete.

​The good news is that these pieces don’t need to be purely decorative, they can also be extremely functional! For instance, if you have a small living space, you can use your coffee table decor for extra storage! 

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Some of my favorite smaller items to include in coffee table decor are matchboxes and candle stoppers (the perfect complement to your scented candle of choice), decorative boxes (to hide ugly remote controls), and coasters (forget about stains from your daily cup of coffee). 

​Don’t be afraid to add some random pieces and mix and match different styles. This is the time to get creative with your coffee table ideas and add some elements purely for visual interest! You can make a trip to your local antique or thrift store to look for pieces like a magnifying glass or small statues.

Coffee Table Ideas – FAQS

1. What are the best coffee table ideas for small spaces?

If you’re working with a small space, you’ll want a coffee table that doesn’t crowd the room. Think of a simple design with a neutral color palette that can keep your space looking open and uncluttered. A glass or acrylic table is a good rule of thumb for small rooms since it creates an illusion of space. You can also try tables in different materials like nesting tables or side tables of similar dimensions, which you can spread around or tuck away as needed. 

2. What is the best coffee table for a large sectional couch?

With a big sectional in your living room, you’ll want a table that can balance the length of your sofa and pairs well with the shape. I would recommend an oversized rectangular table or even a square table, giving enough room for everyone to fit comfortably and reach the table from all seats. Ottomans that double as tables are another great option, especially if want something more casual and relaxed.

3. What is the perfect coffee table height?

It’s best to choose a coffee table that’s about the same height as your sofa cushions or just a little bit lower—around 16-18 inches usually works. This allows everything to be within easy reach without blocking the view. It’s all about keeping the design of the room flowy while giving you enough room to style and use the table efficiently.

4. Should I choose a rectangular or round coffee table?

If you can’t settle between shapes, start by thinking about how you’ll use the table and what the room’s layout is. Round tables are a good idea for a square space since they’re easier to walk around and add softness to spaces full of boxy furniture. A rectangular coffee table, on the other hand, works well with a narrow, small space, where they add structure and give you more surface area for coffee table styling. 

High-level general rule: for small spaces, opt for something compact, and for large rooms, something that’s about two-thirds the length of your sofa.

To Conclude

This post showed you 30+ coffee table ideas to help you elevate your decor and transform your living room! 

The perfect decor starts with choosing the right coffee table for your space. Remember to consider the proportion of your space, the shape of your coffee table, and the style and material requirements your surrounding decor imposes. Once you have the perfect piece, take on a step-by-step approach, adding items such as a decorative tray, a vase, coffee table books, and small filler objects. 

By building your decor gradually, you’ll feel confident combining different ideas to create a truly unique and beautiful coffee table, worthy of an interior designer studio!