Coffee Table Essentials Challenge

What would we do without our coffee tables?  They are the centerpiece of any living or family room and play a vital role in our daily lives.  Our family room coffee table is devoid of any knick knacks given that it’s usually the place where teenage feet and multiple remote and gaming controls come to rest.  Our living room’s coffee table, though, is a pièce de résistance.  We love a well-styled coffee table so when we heard about Chairish‘s Coffee Table Essentials Challenge we knew we wanted to take part in the fun.  But styling a coffee table can be tricky.  Some people tend to over accessorize leaving absolutely no room for a wine glass, while others leave the space unadorned and decidedly uninteresting.  There are several things we keep in mind when we decorate our tables.  First, we like to use books.  New or vintage, the more colorful the better.  You can’t go wrong with coffee table books (and perhaps that’s why they’re called coffee table books!), especially if the cover or subject matter coordinates with your environment.

Second on our list is a natural element to soften the hard edges and add texture to flat surfaces.  Of course, arranging flowers right before guests arrive may not be how you want to spend your time so a potted plant, a bowl of succulents or a very lifelike faux design is good to have on hand in a pinch.

Third on our list of essentials is something fun.  We love games but we know that Monopoly takes up lots of room so we opt for something compact like a beautiful deck of cards or this elegant shagreen tic tac toe set.

Candles are a must to bring sparkle and life to a party.  We like the look of tapers in beautiful holders on a coffee table as they bring height and light to the space.

Last but not least, we love using decorative accents that we’ve collected on our trips or that have been passed down to us by our parents and grandparents.  We have a collection of vintage decanters and while we wouldn’t necessarily use them for our wine, we do like to display one or two.  They add interest to the setting and inevitably spark a conversation.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our styling tips and wish you all a Happy Easter!

coffee table / book / bouquet / game / candle holder / decanter