At a glance, you may think that a coffee table is exactly that: a surface upon which to place coffee. It’s that lounge room table that you use for casual caffeination—whether you’re chilling out with a friend or watching T.V. yourself. Without a second thought, you may place your half-filled mug upon its surface, not once contemplating the items that gather there throughout your daily life. We’re here to tell you that coffee tables need not be so utilitarian—and that you can dress yours up as much as you would your dining room table. If a picture tells a thousand words, a coffee table can certainly spin a short story. Transform yours from functional to fabulous in these easy steps.
Table of Contents
Smart Balancing Act
When selecting items to display on your coffee table, symmetry is key. Choose similarly sized items that will balance one another out on either side of your coffee table. To unlock this symmetry, try developing a mental blueprint where each quarter of your table contains a similar portion of items. Alternatively, experiment with arrangement placing your items in a centre tray. When first starting out, a tray can be an invaluable anchoring template. Finish off your arrangement with a larger object—such as a plant, a large book, or a tall flower—that grounds your display without distracting attention from the smaller items.
Conservation
Minimalism plays a large role in contemporary design. Sometimes a statement finds its power in that which has been left unsaid. With that in mind, be selective about what makes the cut. If you have a smaller coffee table, select items that will neither cramp your style nor occupy the space reserved for your actual coffee cup. With a larger coffee table, you may have the space to disperse larger items more liberally. Whatever the size of your canvas may be, remember the power of blank space—the unspoken subtext of your display. (On a practical level, blank space will accommodate the day-to-day usage of your coffee table. Yes, we would like room to place a coffee cup or the T.V. remote control.)
Sell Your Story
Building on the above, it pays to be strategically selective. This coffee table is the main draw of your lounge room—which story do you want to tell? When choosing items, definitely discriminate on a basis of theme. Which aesthetic are you going for, how do the items mesh, and are they thematically linked? Perhaps they have a similar shape or colour. Perhaps you could anchor your vignette in the centre and orbit the objects outwards. What sort of vignette can you capture in the visual equivalent of 25 words or fewer?
Accessorise To Personalise
Finally, remember that this is your lounge room—not a display home! Ensure that your display is uniquely you. If you’re a bit of a bookworm, perhaps you might like to stack one or two of your favourite books. If you love scented candles, be sure to include one in your display. Remember to embrace minimalism, treating your coffee table as a highlight reel as opposed to an exhaustive museum of trinkets. Too many items will skew your delicate balance, running the risk of clutter. If you wish to showcase different aspects of yourself, consider changing up your design on a seasonal basis (or whenever the mood strikes, really).
And there you have it: four quick tips to seriously style up the centrepiece of your lounge room. Who knew that the humble coffee table could speak such stylistic volumes? Remember to keep it balanced, minimal, thematically linked, and personal.
