Coffee Table Decor Ideas: Stylish Tips & Festive Flair for Your Living Room

13 Dec 2024

Let’s face it, if you’re not careful, your living room coffee table can become a dumping ground for TV remotes, half-read magazines, and snack-stashing.

But with the right coffee table decor ideas, it can also be a blank canvas for creativity. It’s the centrepiece of your living room, the star of Instagram flat lays, and the perfect spot to showcase your style. Whether you’re a maximalist enthusiast (like us at Audenza) or a minimalist, your coffee table deserves some love—and we’ve got all the tips to give it some pizazz. From everyday style to festive Christmas magic, let’s dive in!

What Decor Goes on a Coffee Table?

If you’re staring at your coffee table wondering where to start, don’t worry. Here’s our foolproof guide to styling mastery.

Trays: Stylish and Practical

Trays are your secret weapon for a tidy coffee table and styling in general. They keep everything organised and give your vignette a cohesive look. When you’re styling a vignette, using a decorative tray helps to ground the space and provides a base for all of your other decorative items.

The added bonus of using a tray in this situation is that it makes it super easy to clear the table when you need more space (or when unexpected guests show up).

Coffee Table Books: The MVP of Styling

No coffee table is complete without a stack of books. Go for oversized, glossy covers on topics you love—think fashion, travel, or art. Even better, choose something that sparks conversation. We’re maximalists over here at Audenza, so we love to use books as an opportunity to pack some pops of colour into the space! A stack of beautiful coffee table books gives height, texture, and personality to your setup.

Beautiful Everyday Objects

There are certain functional objects we need on our coffee table, so use this as an opportunity to further add a touch of flair to your styling, such as these fabulous Leopard Print Coasters or these stunning black marbled coasters that effortlessly combine functionality with style.

Candles for Ambience and Aroma

Candles are the multitaskers of the decor world. They look gorgeous, set the mood, and make your space smell amazing. Don’t just think of them in terms of plain scented candles either – something like this Artichoke Tealight Holder is perfect for adding the ambience of a candle, with the beauty of a décor item.

Natural Elements: Bring the Outdoors In

The trend for bringing the glories of the outdoors, inside with luscious potted plants gives us endless choices, whether real or faux, so they are a must for adding that essential warmth to a display that greenery brings. And if you’re not green-fingered, this is where faux plants are perfect – no TLC required!

Personal (and Quirky!) Touches

And last but not least, jazz it up and make it personal to you and your style. So, for the final flourish, we recommend adding something quirky and unexpected that brings a smile to your face and brightens up your day. Whether it’s a Gold Rock on Hand or a family heirloom that tells a story, the key is to include something that makes you smile.

How to Style a Coffee Table?

1. Style in threes: ever notice how things look better in threes? It’s science—or at least interior design science! Grouping objects in odd numbers creates a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing look, and prevents your styling from becoming too symmetrical and boring. Group items like books, candles, and a small plant to create a visually pleasing arrangement.
2. Don’t overcrowd it: as die-hard maximalists, you may be surprised to read this one from us, but it’s important not to overcrowd it – your coffee table still needs to function. After all, you do still need space for your morning coffee (or evening vino!). The key is for it to look curated, not cluttered.
3. Think about heights: vary the heights of your objects for visual interest – the eye should wander around the scene. If you have a piece you really want to display but it’s the wrong height, this is where a stack of nice books under the item is great for adding extra height. But just be aware not to block the TV remote with a giant vase for instance!
4. Mix textures and materials: think about combining different materials and textures, such as smooth, shiny, rough, and soft. Balancing different materials such as glass, wood, metal, ceramic, and even plants creates visual interest. A juxtaposition of textures creates that layered, curated look.

How to Make It Christmassy?

‘Tis the season to add some festive magic! But we don’t want to go overboard, so here are a few festive touches to add that all-important Christmas sparkle…

Add Seasonal Touches

Swap out some of your decorative items for a few Christmas touches, like a bowl of gorgeous colourful baubles, or a glass jar filled with twinkly fairy lights. If it glitters or glows, it’s fair game!

Add Some Sparkle

If you don’t add fairy lights to every surface in your house, is it really Christmas?! They are the easiest way to add a gorgeous, warm, Christmas glow to your living room. But be warned, go for ones with a timer function, or you will spend half an hour each day turning them on and off!

Christmas Colour Palette

We love to change up the colours on our coffee table to reflect the holiday season. For us, this means gorgeous deep, rich jewel colours with lashings of gold, but go for whatever colours mean Christmas to you.

Personal Touches

And finally, add something meaningful, like a framed photo of last year’s Christmas memories or a handwritten card. It’s these little details that make your decor feel special and unique.

Conclusion: Style Your Coffee Table Like a Pro

Your coffee table is more than just a functional piece of furniture—it’s a chance to showcase your style and set the tone for your living room. So, we hope these tips on how to style your coffee table have given you some ideas to create your perfect look, now grab your favourite coffee table books, light a candle, and get styling!