I’ve been hopping around the Internet the last few days checking out some coffee table tablescapes. Wow, that’s a mouth full. Coffee table tablescapes. Coffee table tablescapes. Coffee table tablescapes. I bet you can’t say that three times fast.
We haven’t had a coffee table in our home in almost four years. The one we had before my son was born was glass and it had to go since it would KILL MY SON AS SOON AS HE WAS BORN! AHHHH! I was totally that mother, but I’ve calmed down a bit.
Anyway, I hadn’t even thought about accessorizing a coffee table in so many years that I needed some guidance. I thought it would be fun (well, fun for me at least) to go through some designer photos and note the common themes and accessories throughout. My buddy, Kimba at a Soft Place to Land, read my mind yesterday and put together a post on how to decorate your coffee table, so I must not be the only one out there who needed help.
Oh, and yes. This means that THE coffee table, the Britney Spears-meets-Kid Rock coffee table (no joke) that I keep talking about has been transformed, and I am enjoying it’s deliciousness right now. You’ll get to see it next week. I know you’ve been losing sleep over it.
So, let’s take a look at some of my favorite photos that didn’t look styled to death (i.e. totally fake and no one could ever live like that):
I like the simplicity of this one. It has a natural elements – florals and a wooden candle holder boat thingymajig. There’s also a bowl of unidentified stuff. It’s also not too cluttered, so there’s be plenty of room for airplane landing strips, and race car tracks (which is how I’m sure my table will end up being used).
I’m also drawn to this one for it’s natural elements. Is that arrangement of succulents and florals beautiful or what? It’s low enough that you’d be able to see someone sitting on the other side of it, which is important. And see? Another bowl and a tray. And not a lot of junk.
Notice that this table is much larger than the other ones we’ve looked at, but here’s another tray full of stuff, a few books and a nice low-profile floral arrangement.
I’m starting to feel like a broken record as I point out yet again more flowers, a stack of books, and a plate.
It’s always interesting to me how rooms that are styled in such different ways still have common elements throughout. Note to self: Pull together some books, a floral arrangement or some other sort of natural element, and a tray/plate/bowl of “stuff” for Miss Britney.
What’s on your coffee table? Do you subscribe to the flowers-bowl-tray-books design method? Or is your coffee table just a place to collect the day’s newspaper/craft project/homework? Do tell!
All photos: House Beautiful
Thanks for this post. I am also one of "those" mothers who didn't have a coffee table because of those sharp corners and lurking danger. We also simply didn't have the space for one in our tiny apartments. Now we have a little more space and a coffee table. But, I keep looking at it (and the clutter that ends up on it) and wondering what to do. I definitely need help on this. I like the pretty ideas you mentioned, but I have to wonder how well those flowers, candles, plates of random breakable objects, and nice books would fare my 2-year-old and 4-year-old daughters. Maybe fake flowers would be okay?
I like to keep my tablescape items all on one tray to I can remove it for playing board games when necessary. On my tray I have a small basket of coasters, a glass hurricane with a candle, and of course, the remote control for the television.
I've been wondering what you ended up doing with that table. Can't wait to see it!
All those tablescapes are amazing…but you know you know what they are missing? Children, I don't see kids living in those houses. We didn't get a coffee table until recently, but right now there's a sippy cup, an etch-a-sketch, and a pair of socks on ours.
Love u Linds…I'm waiting till he's 5, and then it's time to redecorate!
I love a pretty coffee table and there are so many examples out there. I was excited to see that I do have a tray of stuff, a floral arrangement and a couple of candles. Not too bad. Hugs, Marty
Kimba completely inspired me to give my coffee table a go too. Ours is an antique trunk. Unfortunately, it also holds our alcohol, which is rarely used but I guess it doesn't look good to have to drag a bunch of junk off it on the rare occasion we do offer someone a drink. I was thinking the tray of stuff idea is perfect – so easy to move. Thanks for your inspiring pictures!
See there! I'm not the only one losing sleep over Britney and Kid Rock. My coffee table has become a catch all of dear son's mail, loose change, etc. It is decorated along with the clutter with a fall wreath lying on it's back on top of a woven wood placemat, a clear vase with a metal vase with a birds nest inside, and a flat red dish with painted flowers on the other end. Nothing in the dish because I wanted the painted flowers to show.
Jus' want you to know that 'til next week, I'm sleepless in South Carolina…losing sleep over Britney!
For some reason, my "coffee table tablescape" stays pretty much intact without much clutter. Other parts of the house? No comment! 🙂
Hope you're having a good day!
pk @ room remix
I love coffee tables, but have never had one. My husband and son tend to wrestle around the living room floor and that would be an added layer of "SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HURT!" stress that I don't need. Maybe one day they'll outgrow this. One can only hope. Sigh…
I was curious about the second picture you showed. Is it just me or does that coffee table look like 2 twin sized mattresses on metal frames? Maybe my eyes are just deceiving me?
I used to have pretty things on our coffee table, but between the curious cat and our dog with his tail-of-destruction, things kept ending up on the floor. Now I just have a heavy candle plopped in the center of the table. I love the combination of flowers and other fun stuff!
Coffee table: a stack of my favorite books/devotionals, a glass jar full of dominoes, a crystal paperweight with mine and Mike's names engraved on it…and during the day my 1st graders schoolwork.
Erm…I have a silver tray, some books, a candle, and fresh flowers whenever guests are coming over. I'm in "that" category. Buuuuut, when it's just me, that tray is filled with junk mail and remote controls. Ha – just keepin it real!
I can do most everything in my house regarding decorating. I can create vignettes, I can hang a mean picture! I can accessorize bookshelves, baker's racks, you name it. EXCEPT the coffee table!!! It is driving me NUTS!!! I just cannot get it right!
These posts are helping! But I may need an intervention before long.
Lou Cinda 🙂
We have a glass and gray metal coffee table. It typically houses whatever craft project I'm working on. But when its clean, there's only a brightly colored tin box, big enough to hold two remote controls.
Since its glass, the best accessory we added was actually a large, lidded wicker basket underneath. It brings a lot of warmth to a more contemporary/modern piece.
Oh, you'd better believe I've been losing sleep over that britney spears/kid rock "collaboration." Can't wait!
Coffee tables make great foot stools. So I leave room for the feet. On one of my coffee tables I have a large wood bowl filled with accent balls I made. On the other coffee table I have a wood bowl filled with pillar candles tied with corn husk for the fall season.
i love that first picture- the table itself is beautiful, not to mention the accessories! i like to use candles on my coffee table, but it's not happening with a 3 & 1 year old. right now, my coffee table has 2 shoes (unmatched), a stuffed animal, a plate & a Zillion muffin crumbs! BUT- we will have a little seating area in our new master bedroom, so i'll get to candle it all up once we move! hooray- and thanks for the inspiration photos!
rachel
Hi Lindsay!
I love a lot of your picks. I laughed when I saw your post, bc I posted something similar today…
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com/2009/10/this-is-love-vii.html
Enjoy!
Kelly
Just wondering if you had a link to where you found the second photo..the one with the succulents in the wooden bowl. I happen to have one of those bowls and have wondered what to do with it….now I'm thinking I've found my answer! Thanks!
Hi Lindsay,
I finally got a proper coffee table which I posted about awhile back (big DIY project- it was a $10 goodwill find!). I love tablescaping it, always change things around for the seasons (two other posts!). But I've found that it's important to leave room on the table for things that get carried into the room, and for the FEET that wind up on it during TV time….the tables you showed us are pretty, it's true that they don't have a lot on them, but the items seem to take over the entire top of the table. Realistically, where would you put the coffee? 🙂
Hope you'll stop by sometime!
Take care.
XO
Heidi – Heart and Home
OHHhhhhh…. I can't WAIT to see that crazy table reveal — this is gonna be GOOOODDD!
I have a Turkish bowl and books. Flowers have had to go bye bye now that the dude is mobile. Ah ha
See? You can just cover Britney's face with some tulips and it will all be okay. 😉
I am sooooo waiting for the day I can do something fun with mine besides boring magazines. My littlest one is still into everything at this point….
I don't have a coffee table, so I drooled over all the gorgeous furniture in those pictures! Oh boy!!!
My coffee table has a tray to organize magazines and remotes. A small box filled with coasters, a vase waiting for my husband to bring me home some more flowers and a couple hurricanes with candles. Love it, organized AND functional.
Janell
Ugh. My coffee table has a basket of remotes, the laptop, and usually a magazine or some other random things. I try to not let it get cluttered. That's why I got the basket for the remotes.
Coffee table? What's a coffee table? Oh yeah. I had one of those once. Before all those grabby fingers came around.
Ours is usually free of clutter (unlike the rest of the house). There is no way that I could leave decorations, pretty trinkets, flowers, etc. on the table with my three yahoos. Maybe when they get a little older I will have a nice coffee table book, cute tray, and other things that make me smile. But for now, it is just a place to set my drink or play a board game with the hubs after the kids go to bed. Not quite exciting. 🙂
Love your site!
Liz
http://www.lovingthismomstuff.blogspot.com/
Hmmm…now that my coffee table is no longer a race track for Hot Wheels and my children can be trusted not to destroy everything on it, I guess I should give it some more thought. What's on it now — a Dos Equis bottle, an emory board, a Fiestaware salt shaker, a Bionicle book, a pumpkin plate, an xbox controller, Alan's feet, and a copy of Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts.
Hi,just discovered your blog at Better After. That coffee table makeover is pure genius. Anyway, I just did the same type of post today. There really does seem to be a formula for decorating the coffee table. At least the stylist for most of the shelter magazines seem to think so. I like to see an element of surprise myself.
That living room design on the last photo is just mind blowing! Thanks for sharing x