Coffee tables – the centre of any living space. Your sofa might be what you use the most, but your coffee table is what really ties the room together. It’s the perfect place to add personality through thoughtful coffee table styling. So, what’s the secret to a curated design? Turns out, there are a few. 

All too often, our coffee tables end up looking like dumping grounds for mugs, remotes and, well, anything else that hasn’t found a home in our homes. And just like an unmade bed, a messy coffee tabletop makes a room look and feel cluttered. By using the space as another place to show off your style and personality, your living room will feel more put-together, and more you. 

• Start with nothing

• Create a grid

• Use a pouffe

• Choose a focal point

• Remember - less is more

• Bring in botanicals

How to Style a Coffee Table

Start with nothing

The best decorating begins with a clean slate. Removing every item takes visual clutter and distractions away, letting you see the shape, size, and potential of the space. A blank surface works like a fresh canvas, a place where you can rest your eye and rethink how the area should be used. This simple first step also adds an instant sense of calm and cleanliness, which makes the styling process more enjoyable. When you start with a clean slate, the items you choose to add back will stand out more intentionally, creating a cohesive, balanced, and elevated final look – the foundation of any successful coffee table decor scheme. Choosing a coffee table with storage, like our Kai design, makes decluttering even easier, whenever you fancy a refresh. Just open the velvet-lined drawer and tidy your pieces safely away.

Create a grid

The grid method is an incredibly useful design trick to keep in your backpocket. It makes decorating far easier and more approachable. and it’s especially helpful if you’re not sure how to style a coffee table without it feeling cluttered. It’s also brilliant beyond your coffee table, acting as a guide for styling anything from a side table to your entire living room. 

Start by breaking the space into sections. Small coffee tables, particularly square or circular designs with a width under 75cm like our Lena coffee table, should be divided into quarters. This makes creating balance a little simpler. But a large coffee table, like our Russo ceramic style, should be divided into a six-box grid. To decorate, follow the rule of thirds by placing individual items in three of the boxes on the same side. On the opposite side, place a larger piece, like a tray, that blurs the lines, overlaps the grid, and introduces asymmetry. The finished design will look organic and intentional, but not overstyled. 

Use a pouffe

Footstool, ottoman, floor cushion - whatever you prefer to call it - a pouffe can soften and elevate your space. Used instead of a coffee table, they offer extra seating for guests, a comfy footrest, and a surface for drinks or decor. But why choose one or the other? For extra flexibility, create a coffee-table-ottoman combination, like our Thea coffee table pouffe sets. A fabric pouffe tucked beautifully underneath a solid table anchors your space while acting as a key focal point with added colour, texture and function. It’s an easy way to elevate your coffee table styling while keeping your living room flexible.

Choose a focal point

Every coffee table needs a focal point – a piece that draws the eye and anchors the space. This could be something large but low profile, like a tray or a bowl. It could add height and dimension, like a tall vase or candle. Or, it could be a vignette of perfectly staged pieces that tell a clever design story. These can be hard to get right, so bring back the rule of three. Three carefully chosen ornaments that come together in harmony without competing with each other, from books to boxes to baskets. Play with height, colour, and visual cues around the rest of your room to curate a design that shows off your personality. 

Remember - less is more

Whether you’re styling a room, an outfit, or even a cake, this rule will always come in handy. Even the most dedicated minimalists and confident maximalists will agree, it’s not about too little or too much – it’s really just making considered choices. So start there. Your coffee table might simply need a boost, like a stack of books or a small vase. It might be missing something you can’t quite put your finger on, like a candle or a stylish set of coasters. This is especially important for unusually shaped tables like our curvaceous Burleigh design. Pieces like this add a lot of visual interest and texture even without any styling. So something as simple as a tray in a contrasting texture can do a lot of hard work. Remember, intentional choices are what make coffee table styling look effortless.

Bring in botanicals

Flowers and foliage are an obvious but often underestimated way to refresh your coffee table decor throughout the year. Where static ornaments like books, bowls and candles are beautiful in their own way, plants bring their own undeniable energy and depth. A fresh vase of flowers or carefully placed dried arrangement will breathe life into your living space, brightening it with a seasonal pop of colour. Even a hygge-inspired branch will add a sculptural flare, making all the difference between a plain space, and one filled with design flare.

Styling a coffee table doesn’t have to be as complicated as it can sometimes seem. Intentional choices balance beauty with everyday living. So use pieces that you love, letting your personality guide the details and our tips help with their placement. Your coffee table will become so much more than a surface – it can be a stylish, functional reflection of you.