Modern Coffee Table Decorating Ideas: Easy Tips And Ideas

If you’ve been wondering how to decorate your coffee table, today’s post is for you! I’m talking about a subject I love — coffee table styling, decor, and arrangement.

I’ll be sharing simple tips on how to decorate coffee tables in your living room or sitting area, including inspiration photos, what to put on a coffee table, round coffee table styling ideas, modern living room table decorating ideas, and ottoman ideas to add a touch of style to your space.

Pure Salt Interiors

Decorating a coffee table can actually be a lot of fun, and it’s one of the best ways I know to make your living room look more interesting and cohesive.

But with so many elements to think about, updating your coffee table can sometimes feel a bit tricky.

Studio McGee – coffee table

Whether you have a small living room or an expansive open-concept living area, today I’m sharing my favorite coffee table decorating ideas for 2026, inspiration, and tips, including how to style and decorate any size or shape of coffee table.

Studio McGee – coffee table

Coffee Table Styling, Arrangement and Decorating Ideas

As the first thing people see when they enter your living area, a coffee table is the focal point of your living room or sitting room and is central to the room’s furniture layout and mood.

In fact, one of the most important things to consider when decorating a center table in a living room is the overall feeling of your living room, including the color palette and décor style of the rest of your living space.

Shannon Weller Design

Do you love a cozy living room? Are you drawn to a modern look, with clean lines? Or do you prefer something in between? Knowing this will help you choose the type of decorative items to place on your living room table.

Also, when choosing decorative objects for your center table, take into account how you plan to use the table.

Studio McGee – coffee table

The coffee table tends to be a landing space for a lot of extra stuff, so remember to think about where you’ll put your coffee cup or wine glass, remote controls, and phones, as well.

A coffee table might be used to display decorative items and books, to hold drinks and remote controls, as a footrest, as a dining table, as additional storage space, or as a place to entertain, play games, and do puzzles.

Pure Salt Interiors – coffee table – similar coffee table here – similar sectional here and here

coffee table ideas:

Use the following easy steps for decorating a coffee table as a guideline to help you get started.

Then rely on your creativity, taking into account your lifestyle and preferences, until you achieve a look that feels right for you.

West of Main

How to Decorate a Coffee Table

1. Start with books

Coffee table books are typically the first things to reach for when styling a coffee table, console table, or side table.

Public 311 Design

A stack of design books, topped with a crystal geode, a strand of beads, vase, or a small box or bowl, is the perfect way to decorate a center table–or any surface that needs a little something.

Pure Salt Interiors

Not only do coffee table books (literally) elevate your decor, they offer a great conversation piece and give your guests something to look at when they visit your home.

Pure Salt Interiors

If your coffee table is looking a little uninspiring, the best way I know to create a center of attention is with a stack of books.

The Life Styled Co.

favorite coffee table books

2. Mix in some natural elements

A pretty bowl or basket is a great way to add the beauty of natural elements to your living room center table.

Leclair Decor – coffee table – chairs

You can also play with different materials and natural elements, such as baskets, wood beads and chains, pottery, woven trays and bowls, shells, stones, marble orbs, etc.

Pure Salt Interiors – swivel lounge chairs

3. Layer in some decorative pieces

Next, walk around your house and gather items such as sculptural objects, trays, lidded boxes, baskets, orbs, glass vases, accent pieces, mementos from your travels, stoneware, pottery, bottles, and bowls. Grab anything that has visual interest and makes you happy.

Pure Salt Interiors – coffee table – similar coffee table here – similar sectional here and here

coffee table ideas for sectionals

Then sprinkle a few in here and there until you like the look.

To help create your desired mood or feeling, remember to include things that are both beautiful and sentimental and reflect your personal style.

West of Main

Also the decorative accents you choose will depend on how much surface space you have and whether you have a small table, a glass table, a two-tiered coffee table, a round table, white coffee table, square table, or modern coffee table.

Pure Salt Interiors – coffee table

decorative accent pieces

4. Add in some flowers or a plant

Adding a vase of fresh flowers or a live plant is always a great idea for your center table top, especially if you have a glass coffee table or other surface that won’t be damaged by water.

Pure Salt Interiors

If you have a wooden table, a good way to incorporate floral arrangements and plants is by placing them in a large tray to protect the surface of your table.

AKB Design Studio

And, if you don’t have a green thumb, faux plants and flowers are always a great option, too!

5. Finish with a candle

Although I don’t often use scented candles in our home, I do love the luxurious look of a shimmering white candle on a coffee table.

Studio McGee – coffee table

Whether you love a scented candle or prefer an unscented version, the coffee table or center table is a great place to add the beautiful glow and ambiance of candlelight. (As long as you don’t have children or pets nearby.)

Pure Salt Interiors – ottoman with overlay

Another easy way to add the look of candles to your living space is by using a few chunky wood candle holders or candle sticks to decorate your center table.

They add a beautiful and sculptural touch, even without candles.

Coffee Table Arrangement and Decorating Tips

Keeping the above tips in mind, here’s a quick and easy way to make a coffee table look more polished and pulled together in three simple steps.

Pure Salt Interiors

3-Step Coffee Table Styling

1. Start with one or two stacks of big books, adding a stack of marble coasters, a bowl, box, or vase on top of each stack of books.
2. Incorporate a square, rectangular, or round tray containing a plant or flowers, a pretty candle, and a small decorative item like a candle snuffer, paper weight, or orb.
3. Finish with a pretty lidded box (or two) to hold your remote controls.

Then just keep editing and tweaking until you like the way it looks!

Studio McGee

Round coffee table styling ideas

Pure Salt Interiors

When styling a round coffee table, here are a few additional suggestions:

• Start with a tray. A round tray works well on a round coffee table, but a square or rectangular tray is a great option, too.
• Add one large piece that will act as a focal point. This could be a vase, jar, or sculptural object. If you use a vase, you can fill it with fresh florals and greenery or leave it empty as a sculptural piece.
• As suggested above, work with groupings of three. If you need to create height, you can use a stack of books or lidded boxes.
• Layer in a few smaller decorative pieces likes beads, magnifying glasses, candle snuffers, small bowls, or a stack of coasters.
• Many round center tables also have a bottom tier, which provides another styling opportunity. On the bottom tier, you could add a substantial statement piece, such as a large decorative bowl or basket.

Kathy Kuo Home – coffee table

Living room table arrangement and styling tips

If you want to take your coffee table décor to the next level, here are some quick styling tricks and tips used by designers:

LeClair Decor – coffee table – chandelier – chairs

1. Follow the Rule of Threes

To decorate a center table in the living room, try adding something vertical, horizontal and sculptural. Combine items in groups of threes–preferably with a tall item, a shorter, more sculptural item, and a horizontal item.

Ali Henrie Design – Lindsay Salazar Photography – coffee table

Put one object in front of another and the third a little off to the side to create more depth and give your table a natural look.

Pure Salt Interiors

The goal is to tie it all together and create visual balance, so play with it a bit until it looks pleasing to the eye.

2. Pay Attention to Scale and Balance

Adjust the scale (and shape) of the items you’re using to the size of the table and space you’re decorating.

The Life Styled Co. – coffee tables – photo by Sierra Ann Photography

If you’re styling a coffee table in large living room, or if you have a lot of surface space, you can use oversized vases, branches, bowls, and candlesticks.

Lulu and Georgia – coffee tables

Also, balance hard and soft objects, shiny and matte things, rough and smooth things, as well as things with different textures, colors, tones, and styles, until you find an interesting mix.

3. Be Mindful of Color and Tone

It’s always a good idea to make your coffee table décor cohesive with the rest of your living room décor. Sticking with a color scheme or repeated tones can make it easier to style your coffee table.

Light Wood Coffee Table – Sofa

You might choose to go with a tone-on-tone look, alternate warm and cool tones, add a touch of bright color, or keep it neutral. It’s all up to you.

4. Edit

The last step is editing, which is tricky for me, because I tend to overdo, but it’s always a good idea to take away a few items so your coffee table styling doesn’t look forced or overdone.

Home decor trends for 2026 reflect a minimal, intentional look in the home — especially in the living room, so it’s a good idea to use a “less is more” approach to decorating your coffee table.

M Elle Design

When you’re done decorating your center table, you might want to take a few photos to see if the overall look is balanced and pleasing to the eye.

If you don’t like how it looks, simply make a few tweaks and rework your table décor until it looks and feels right.

How much space should you allow between your coffee table and sofa?

While we’re on the subject of coffee table arrangement, most designers recommend allowing about 16 inches between a coffee table and your accent chairs or sofa, to allow plenty of room to navigate around the space.

Pure Salt Interiors

Depending on where you live, you might refer to the center table in your living room as a coffee table, tea table, occasional table, or cocktail table.

But no matter what you call it or how you decorate it, a living room center table is the perfect place to add your own personal touch and style to your home.

I hope you found this post informative and helpful! I think the best thing about decorating a coffee table is that it allows you to create your own personal space and look.

By the way, many of the ideas in this post are also perfect for decorating a dining room table, a console table, side tables, foyer table, or an upholstered coffee table or ottoman, as well.

Pure Salt Interiors

Let me know if you have questions on how to decorate a center table in the living room. Have a wonderful day! xo jane

Where to Shop for Coffee Table Decor in 2026

Decorating a center table, regardless of the style of your living room, doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. In fact, I love gathering items from around the house and decorating tables, shelves, and other surfaces with items I already own.

However, if you’re looking for a few new coffee table styling pieces, below are my favorite places to shop for coffee tables and modern coffee table decor:

Serena & Lily Wayfair Pottery Barn Pure Salt Interiors Quince McGee & Co. Arhaus The Life Styled Co. Dear Keaton Jenni Kayne Lulu & Georgia West Elm

Coffee Tables:

Trays:

Decorative Accents:

Looking for more styling tips, modern decor ideas, and coffee table inspiration? Here are a few related posts:

Stylish Coffee Table Ideas and Trends

Modern Coastal Decorating Ideas for Your Home

Beautiful Living Room Design Ideas and Trends for 2026

How to Decorate a Long or Narrow Living Room: Solutions for Tricky Spaces

Small Living Room Decor Ideas and Inspiration

Modern Coastal Living Room Ideas and Inspiration

Cozy Living Room Ideas and Trends

Beautiful and Comfortable Recliner Ideas

Neutral Coastal Decor Ideas: Inspiration for Every Room in the Home

How to Add a Touch of Nancy Meyers Style to Your Kitchen and Home

The 10 Most Beautiful Home Decor Trends for 2026

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