Without a dose of discipline on the part of the homeowner, coffee tables can quickly become catchalls for mail, keys, coffee mugs, and other sundry household items. Yet with thoughtful planning and creativity, say the experts, coffee tables provide one more canvas on which to inject personality and creativity into a space. Curated for both purpose and pizzazz—think photo albums, fragrant candles, or tchotchkes—coffee tables can speak volumes about a homeowner’s history, passions, and interests.
For Megan Temple, of Megan Temple Design, polish and practicality drive the design scheme of the coffee table in her living room. “Start with an interesting-looking tray and add items to it, such as a vase with flowers, a candle, and drink coasters,” she says. Temple is also partial to using decorative boxes, purchased new or vintage, to hide the remote control. “Cute and functional,” she says.
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Stephanie Summers-Mayer, whose family was recently featured on Discovery channels’ Building Off the Grid, is partial to creating a homespun vibe with the use of reclaimed items. In the coastal-inspired shipping container house that she built with her husband in rural Missouri, Summers-Mayer got creative with the look of the coffee tables, opting for a vintage travel chest in one room and an upholstered ottoman topped with a wooden tray for contrast in another. For added interest, Summers-Mayer layers in a potted plant or another element from nature. Foraged branches, for example, command a room and help draw the eye upward, creating various heights and points of interest around the table.
But sometimes less is more, says interior designer Joni Spear. She prefers a simple yet refined look that builds lightly on a curated foundation of books or magazines and layering in other items. “My personal preference is to add candles, a splash of fresh flowers or greenery, and a small object. Working with odd numbers is a favorite trick of the trade,” she says.
Most importantly, homeowners should keep the needs and habits of their family in mind. “A household with curious toddlers shouldn’t have burning candles within easy reach,” says Spear. “And fragile or valuable items shouldn’t be used in teen spaces. A bit of practicality mixed with a nod of restraint offers undeniable success.” When in doubt, add a few books, says Temple. “I’m not sure coffee table books ever go out of style—especially if they say something about your personal interests.”
Says Summers-Mayer: “Choose items that represent your personality or work as conversation starters, and never underestimate the power of a flower or greenery to add color that not only amplifies but ties together the space.”
