How To Style A Round Coffee Table

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One area that causes a lot of confusion for my clients is decorating a coffee table. “How much is too much?” is a question I’m asked a lot.

This is especially challenging if you have a round coffee table.

Somehow arranging things on a circular surface instead of a rectangular one can seem like you’re trying to do a 1,000 piece puzzle while highly sedated. Yeah, that bad.

After trying dozens of combinations, I’ve come up with a few “decor formulas” for solving this problem. Today I’m going to show you how to style a coffee table three different ways, and break it down so it’s completely fail-proof to imitate. 

OK, my behemoth of a round ottoman may not be the most dainty thing on the planet, but let me tell you I love it. Basically, it’s a toddler crash pad that happens to hold a ton of stuff inside and some pretties on top. I shared last week how our formal living room is my mommy-needs-a-grown-up-retreat-so-plastic-toys-see-your-way-out zone.

I’ve pretty much set this room up to be safe but completely boring for a toddler. Then at 8:30pm, it becomes my unwind with wine and magazines room. And all the mamas said, “Amen”. Before styling you’ll want to be sure to browse the different types of round coffee tables

THREE WAYS TO STYLE A ROUND COFFEE TABLE

#1 BOTANICALS & BOOKS
What You Need:
-A plant(s) for the center to add height
-Coffee table books in varying sizes
-A pretty paper weight

Why It Works:
This is for the people who totally dig symmetry. Because of the three book stacks, it looks balanced from all angles. It’s a no-frills approach to decor that leaves room open to hold drinks or even small plates. It shows off those pretty books, and is great if you prefer not to have too many small objects laying around.

#2 ROUND TRAY + BOOKS + DECOR
What You Need:
-Large round tray that covers at least 1/2 of the table surface
-Leafy green
-Two medium sized books
-A metallic or glass tray
-Candle
-Small ceramic or sculptural piece

Why It Works:
Because of the repeating circles, this feels like a cohesive collection even though there is a lot going on. It creates a nice vignette that offers both organic and geometric shapes. It’s perfect if you need to quickly clear your coffee table, as you can conveniently lift everything off at once. 

Nova City Islamabad

#3 RECTANGLE TRAY + BOOKS + DECOR
What You Need:
-Rectangular tray
-Candle sticks for height
-Small floral arrangement
-Variety of coffee table books
-Colorful ceramic vase
-Candle

Why It Works:
Of the three looks, this feels the most feminine and eclectic. The tray keeps smaller items grounded, so they don’t look too cluttered. This set up is nice if you frequently like to change your decor because the tray can constantly be rearranged and updated seasonally.

FAKE PLASTIC TREES
Confession time…all the plants used in this post are 100% artificial. Here’s the thing about real plants…I love them, but they hate me back. I do have a couple real houseplants and one massive fiddle leaf fig (don’t ask me how), but I also have fake succulents in almost every room. Fresh blooms are gorgeous, but who besides Martha Stewart can spend $25 a week on fresh cut flowers?

The white faux croc tray was one of my favorite TJ Maxx finds last year. It was under $20, and has been used in three rooms already. Obviously, I like to change things up a lot, so style #3 is my go-to arrangement.

Which look do you prefer, and why do you like it?