How to Style a Coffee Table

“How to style a coffee table” is one of the most common interior design questions we get—and for good reason. The coffee table is the centerpiece of the living room, and it plays a surprisingly big role in everyday life. From hosting family game nights and serving as a spot for casual dinners to acting as a landing place for books, candles, and decor, the coffee table is one of the hardest-working pieces of furniture in the home.

When it comes to coffee table styling ideas, the first thing to consider is the shape and size of your table. Round, square, rectangular, or oversized—each coffee table shape calls for a slightly different approach to balance and proportion. A well-styled table should feel both beautiful and functional, enhancing the flow of the room while showcasing your personality.

To inspire you, we went back through the Studio McGee design archives and pulled together three of our favorite styling approaches: the coffee table as a mini library filled with stacked books, the coffee table as a curiosity cabinet showcasing unique decor and collected treasures, and the coffee table as a game room centerpiece perfect for family gatherings. These coffee table decor ideas will help you create a space that feels intentional, layered, and lived-in.

Shop McGee & Co. coffee tables here.

Lockwood Coffee Table

McGee & Co.

Letting your coffee table styling double as a bookcase is a tried and true styling theme. In past Studio McGee projects and McGee & Co. collection shoots, Shea and the design team have approached the coffee table first and foremost through books, then layered in other elements to finish the design. We love the look of three or four stacked piles of books, letting the color of their binds and their covers be just as much part of the design as the coffee table itself. In interior design, coffee table books have more purposes than we can count. They are beautiful, they are conversation starters, and they may even encourage you to slow down and flip through some inspirational pages instead of immediately turning to a device (we’re all guilty of it!). They also communicate a lot about the people who inhabit the house—what their hobbies are, where they love to travel, and what their design aesthetic is. Stack your books in various heights to create some visual interest across your coffee table styling. It also creates a nice landing place to layer in other decorative items—curiosity pieces, floral arrangements, candles, and catch-all bowls for remotes.

To answer, “how to style a coffee table,” visit The Oaks Project in our portfolio for an example of the coffee table as a bookcase.

Cecily Coffee Table

McGee & Co.

Celeste Coffee Table

McGee & Co.

Rocio Burl Coffee Table

McGee & Co.

Decorative objects are a great way to add some visual interest to your coffee table styling, they often are both tactile as well as pleasing to the eye. Something beautiful but functional, like a door stopper, paperweight, or even a pretty deck of cards, will do the trick. These items are meant to be picked up, turned over, and touched. We love the idea of having a textural, tactile moment on display as part of your coffee table styling. You can also implement not-so-touchable curiosities, like a glass box full of a feather collection, a bowl of dried petals from a special occasion, or a succulent garden in a beautiful terrarium. These coffee table styling elements are sure to strike up a conversation and establish your home as a well-traveled, cultured one, thus relaying the same message about those that live within it.

To answer, “how to style a coffee table,” visit Cabo Dos Vistas in our portfolio for an example of the coffee table as a curiosity cabinet.

Lady Onyx Hand Object

McGee & Co.

Diani Marble Cuboid Object

McGee & Co.

Exeter Stone Object

McGee & Co.

We love the idea of giving your family and your guests a reason to engage around the coffee table. Incorporating games into your coffee table styling is a great way to do that, or at least present the option.

To answer, “how to style a coffee table,” visit Water’s Edge in our portfolio for an example of the coffee table as a game room.

Parker Coffee Table

McGee & Co.