If you’ve ever looked at your coffee table and thought, “It just needs… something,” you are in the right place. We often treat our coffee tables as a landing pad for remote controls and half-empty mugs, but they are actually the MVP of living room decor.
In this post, I’m walking you through 10 different ways to style your space, using everything from vintage trays to fresh blooms. Whether you’re a minimalist or a “more is more” kind of person, there’s a look here for you. Let’s dive in!
1. City Vibes
If you have a killer view, you want your coffee table to complement the horizon, not block it. This look is all about texture and height. Using a chunky woven seagrass tray instantly grounds the space and keeps your items from looking cluttered. I love the pop of blue on the vase here—it echoes the water outside while the daisies keep things feeling fresh and unpretentious. The secret weapon? That geometric lantern. It adds a bit of architectural edge that fits a city apartment perfectly.
2. Modern Nest
Sometimes, the table itself is the star of the show. With a tiered, circular wooden table like this, you don’t want to over-decorate. We’re going for sleek and intentional. A simple black circular tray provides a “stage” for a single, statement gold canister. It’s chic, it’s expensive-looking, and it leaves plenty of room for your actual coffee. A tiny pop of green in a concrete pot adds just enough life to keep the modern lines from feeling too cold.
3. Glass Elegance
Styling a glass table can be tricky because you can see right through it to the rug! To make it work, you need a focal point. This purple glass vase is a total mood-setter. By pairing it with a rustic wooden tray and chunky white candles, you get this beautiful contrast between “fancy” glass and “earthy” wood. Pro tip: Use the lower shelf of the table for your favorite coffee table books to keep the top clear and airy.
4. Earthy Texture
This one is for my fans of neutral tones and organic shapes. Instead of a standard tray, we’re using a scalloped wicker basket. It feels soft and inviting. The “hero” here is that white textured vase with the dried reddish-brown florals—it adds height without needing constant watering! Adding a wooden “knot” sculpture on top of a stack of white books gives the table a curated, designer feel without being “too much.”
5. Vintage Charm
I am obsessed with this look. It’s a bit shabby-chic meets cottage-core. The distressed, sage-green metal tray is the perfect foundation for a romantic arrangement. We’ve got pink roses in a weathered stone jar and a vintage-style white candlestick. It feels like something you’d find in a high-end French farmhouse. It’s cozy, a little bit “undone,” and incredibly welcoming.
6. Cozy Glow
If your living room is your sanctuary for movie nights, this is the setup for you. It’s all about warmth. A simple dark wood tray holds an amber glass vase filled with pink and orange carnations. The amber glass catches the light from those thick pillar candles beautifully. It’s a low-profile arrangement, meaning it won’t get in the way of the TV, but it still makes the room feel “finished.”
7. Royal Reflections
Ready to turn the glam up to eleven? This look uses a mirrored gold tray to bounce light all over the room. If you have a dark or velvet sofa (like that gorgeous emerald green one), gold accents are your best friend. We’ve used multiple heights of candles—tapers in gold holders and pillars in glass—to create a “cityscape” of light. It’s moody, sophisticated, and perfect for a cocktail hour at home.
8. Woven Layers
This is “California Cool” in a nutshell. We’re layering a wooden tray inside a larger woven tray. Why? Because layers create depth. The soft pink ranunculus adds a touch of sweetness, while the carved wooden bowl and woven decorative ball add that “found object” vibe. It feels collected over time rather than bought all at once. It’s the perfect balance of feminine and masculine elements.
9. Minimalist Zen
Sometimes, less really is more. On a dark black table, a light wood circular tray creates a striking visual pop. Instead of flowers, we’re using a manicured green topiary ball. It’s clean, symmetrical, and very calming. The tall, thin glass cylinders add a bit of height without adding visual weight. If you want your living room to feel like a high-end spa, this is the direction to go.
10. Marble Luxury
We’re ending with a bang! A white marble table is already a luxury statement, so we’re pairing it with crisp whites and gold. The large white textured vase with hydrangeas and roses is the ultimate classic choice. But look at that tray—it’s rimmed with crystals! By adding a small bowl of pinecones, you bring in a natural element that keeps the “glam” feeling grounded. It’s polished, bright, and totally “Pinterest-worthy.”
11. Rustic Glow
This look is all about that “cozy cabin in the city” energy. What I love about this piece is the contrast—you have these heavy, rugged wooden legs that feel super grounded, but the glass top keeps the room feeling airy. If you have a smaller space, a glass top is a total pro move because it doesn’t visually “clutter” the floor.
Notice the lighting here, too. By placing a shelf underneath, you can stack your favorite hardcovers, and they almost look like a curated art installation. It’s warm, it’s inviting, and it’s the perfect spot to set down a dark roast on a rainy Sunday morning.
12. Sleek Storage
If you’re a fan of “less is more,” this one is for you. This table is basically a beautiful wooden block with a secret: that massive open shelf. It’s the perfect solution for people who hate clutter but still need a place for their magazines and remotes.
The dark wood grain adds so much richness to a neutral room. Pair it with a light-colored rug to make the wood really pop. It’s clean, it’s sophisticated, and it says, “I have my life together,” even if the inside of your junk drawer says otherwise.
13. Boho Bazaar
Can we talk about the vibes here? This is maximalism done right. The table itself is a simple, mid-century style wooden piece, but the styling is what makes it sing. We’re talking terracotta vases, pampas grass, and plenty of candles.
The trick to making a simple table look this high-end is layering. Use a wooden tray to group your smaller items—like succulents or candles—so the table feels organized rather than messy. Combined with that vibrant rug and all those plants, this room feels like a permanent vacation.
14. Texture Talk
Round tables are a total lifesaver if you have a sectional sofa or kids (no sharp corners to worry about!). This specific table is a texture lover’s dream, featuring a beautiful cane-woven bottom shelf.
It feels very “coastal chic.” To style this, think about heights. The tall pampas grass draws the eye up, while the lower bowls and books keep everything balanced. It’s a soft, approachable look that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and stay a while.
15. Bold Blocks
This table is a unit. If you have a large living room with high ceilings, you need a piece of furniture that can hold its own, and this thick-cut wooden table is it. It feels very architectural and solid.
I love the raw, slightly distressed finish of the wood here. It adds a bit of “industrial” edge to an otherwise very soft and creamy room. Pro tip: when your table is this chunky, keep the decor simple. A single large bowl with some pinecones or candles is all you need.
16. Tropical Minimal
Who says you can’t bring the resort life home? This table uses a black metal frame with a warm wood top, which is a classic “industrial” look, but it’s styled in a way that feels totally tropical and fresh.
The thin legs keep the space around the pool (or your patio) feeling open and breezy. It’s the kind of table that’s ready for a cocktail tray and a summer breeze. It proves that the right table can completely change the “temperature” of a room.
17. Lit Layers
This is a sibling to our first look but with a slightly different styling tweak. It highlights how much a coffee table depends on the lighting around it. The way the lamp light hits the glass and reflects off the books on the lower shelf creates such a moody, high-end hotel lobby feel.
It’s a great reminder to think about what is under your table. A plush, high-pile rug underneath a glass table adds a layer of physical and visual warmth that makes the whole room feel more expensive.
18. Live Edge
Saving one of my absolute favorites for last! A live-edge table is like having a piece of functional art. No two are ever the same because they follow the natural curve of the tree.
The organic shape breaks up all the straight lines of the sofa and the rug, making the room feel much more relaxed and “alive.” To really lean into the nature theme, pair it with some fresh flowers (like the lavender here) and a piece of bold landscape art. It’s effortless, earthy, and incredibly cool.