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You are visiting: Home » Decorating/DIY » Decorate Your Home » Designing Your Coffee Table Tablescape

Designing Your Coffee Table Tablescape

by Lindsay Ballard on October 8, 2009 31 Comments

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.

Another nice tablescape here and another combination of flowers, books, and a tray of stuff. Hmmm…I’m starting to notice a theme.

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

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.

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Comments

  1. Carolyn says

    October 8, 2009 at 6:05 am

    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?

    Reply
  2. The Tidy Brown Wren says

    October 8, 2009 at 6:05 am

    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.

    Reply
  3. Nadir @ Hodgepodge says

    October 8, 2009 at 8:38 am

    I've been wondering what you ended up doing with that table. Can't wait to see it!

    Reply
  4. Angry Julie Monday says

    October 8, 2009 at 9:19 am

    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!

    Reply
  5. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    October 8, 2009 at 9:20 am

    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

    Reply
  6. carolyn says

    October 8, 2009 at 9:42 am

    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!

    Reply
  7. Martha says

    October 8, 2009 at 10:34 am

    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!

    Reply
  8. pk @ Room Remix says

    October 8, 2009 at 5:43 am

    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

    Reply
  9. Pam says

    October 8, 2009 at 7:07 am

    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?

    Reply
  10. Jenn says

    October 8, 2009 at 7:19 am

    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!

    Reply
  11. Sheri says

    October 8, 2009 at 7:42 am

    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.

    Reply
  12. the BLAH BLAH BLAHger says

    October 8, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    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!

    Reply
  13. Lou Cinda says

    October 8, 2009 at 8:51 am

    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 🙂

    Reply
  14. Virg says

    October 8, 2009 at 9:09 am

    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.

    Reply
  15. Lindsey @ Better After says

    October 8, 2009 at 9:13 am

    Oh, you'd better believe I've been losing sleep over that britney spears/kid rock "collaboration." Can't wait!

    Reply
  16. Dianna says

    October 8, 2009 at 9:44 am

    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.

    Reply
  17. rachel @ perfectly imperfect says

    October 8, 2009 at 10:30 am

    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

    Reply
  18. Kelly says

    October 8, 2009 at 5:41 pm

    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

    Reply
  19. Jen says

    October 8, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    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!

    Reply
  20. Heidi says

    October 8, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    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

    Reply
  21. Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage says

    October 8, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    OHHhhhhh…. I can't WAIT to see that crazy table reveal — this is gonna be GOOOODDD!

    Reply
  22. Kristin says

    October 8, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    I have a Turkish bowl and books. Flowers have had to go bye bye now that the dude is mobile. Ah ha

    Reply
  23. Amanda @ Serenity Now says

    October 8, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    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….

    Reply
  24. Craig, Blair and Turbo Skousen says

    October 8, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    I don't have a coffee table, so I drooled over all the gorgeous furniture in those pictures! Oh boy!!!

    Reply
  25. Isabella & Max Rooms says

    October 8, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    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

    Reply
  26. Mary says

    October 8, 2009 at 6:40 pm

    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.

    Reply
  27. Anonymous says

    October 9, 2009 at 4:23 am

    Coffee table? What's a coffee table? Oh yeah. I had one of those once. Before all those grabby fingers came around.

    Reply
  28. Liz says

    October 9, 2009 at 7:36 am

    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/

    Reply
  29. Becky says

    October 11, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    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.

    Reply
  30. Karen@StrictlySimpleStyle says

    October 20, 2009 at 7:37 am

    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.

    Reply
  31. Glass Coffee Table says

    February 15, 2010 at 9:37 am

    That living room design on the last photo is just mind blowing! Thanks for sharing x

    Reply

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About Makely

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Lindsay lives outside of Austin, Texas with her husband (Tom), children (Zack and Emma), and dogs (Duke and Jill). She plays roller derby for the Rockin' City Rollergirls out of Round Rock, Texas.


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