5 styling tips for your coffee table

Have you ever admired those beautifully arranged coffee tables in glossy magazines and wondered why yours looks more like a chaotic mess? Well, fret no more! To help style your coffee table our MOJO Interior Designer has put together her top tips on coffee table styling.

COORDINATE WITH THE ROOM'S THEME

Always style your coffee table after finalising everything else in the room. This ensures that the colours, textures, and materials used on the table complement the overall ambiance. Stick to the theme and colour palette of your room, incorporating objects that harmonise with the space. 

Coastal: Timber tones should be light and works well to mix with weathered materials and smooth finishes such as driftwood, shells and native grasses as décor. 
Luxe: Coffee tables are heavily styled to showcase a mix of beautiful coffee table books, chrome decor items, luxurious candles and special feature pieces. And even though the Luxe style can be layered, everything has a place. 
Contempo: Furniture pieces should make a statement but at the same time be simple and uncluttered in keeping with the role of supporting the overall architectural space. Clean and crisp lines are the ultimate style for your coffee table.
Classic: The colour palette is muted and neutral, with timber tones in white, limed oak, washed grey, milk paint or dark timber as a contrast. When it comes to decorative items, use pieces you love, pieces that tell a story on their own but also look considered when working together. 
Global: The Global style is popular as it allows those beautiful objects collected from travel and also those passed down through families to shine and take centre stage. Small collectibles together in a tray as a striking feature create conversation and style. 
Urban: A mix of sentimental items and new, Urban style layering ensures alignment and cohesion through use of simple items like a bowl, a horseshoe or a pile of photography magazines. 

SELECT YOUR HEIGHT

When choosing objects to style your table, consider their height. You have two options:
 

• Opt for objects of different heights to create variation. For instance, place a tall item like a plant next to a medium-height object such as a large candle, and add a low-lying piece like a bowl or book.
• Alternatively, style using objects with different shapes and textures that are the same height.

MAKE A STATEMENT WITH SHAPE

Shape also plays a crucial role in styling. You can choose between two approaches:
 

• Create a statement by using objects of the same shape. For example, pair a decorative bowl with a round candle on a round tray.
• Achieve balance by incorporating objects with various shapes, such as a mix of square and round items.

LIMIT YOUR PIECES TO 2 OR 3

Depending on your coffee table's size, it's generally recommended to use 2 or 3 pieces. As you gain confidence in your styling skills, you can add more, but this serves as a good starting point. Consider a stack of books as one piece or a bowl filled with beads as another. You can also cluster a few small items on a tray to count as one piece. 
Using a mix of textures is a great way to add interest even if your coffee table alone is the standout feature. Textures can come from structural items, florals, greenery, books, beautiful boxes, vases and more! Remember to not over do it and leave some breathing space on the table, allowing for practicality.

TIME TO TAKE ACTION

Now it's time to bring your selected pieces together. Place each item one by one in the centre of the table. When arranging them, remember to cluster a few objects around the centre, avoiding a straight line arrangement. If using multiple stacks of books, you can create a square or rectangle shape to balance their form.