Aside from a really great couch, a coffee table is the centerpiece of your living room. Not only is it the spot where you rest your glass of wine or put up your feet (guilty as charged) but the perfect spot for creating a personality-packed vignette.
A well-styled coffee table is like the cherry on top of a beautifully decorated space. So, we set on asking the experts just how to make a coffee table look more expensive with their very best coffee table decor ideas.
Whether you’re working with a budget-friendly setup or a high-end piece of furniture, styling your coffee table like a professional is certainly within reach with these tips from interior designers.
How to make your coffee table look more expensive
Of course, the starting point is a really beautiful coffee table to begin with. But this doesn't mean you need to have the most statement or expensive piece of furniture.
Sometimes just a simple, well-made wooden coffee table can make as much of a statement as the boldest marble with a few coffee table styling tricks from the experts. Here are 5 failproof ways to make your coffee table look more expensive.
1. Always include a beautiful tray
A well-styled coffee table often features a beautiful tray. Not only does this serve as a centerpiece to the table, but is essential for zoning and corraling looser items and oddities.
'It's oh-so-easy to make your coffee table look more luxurious and high-end just by investing some time in styling the surface artfully,' advises interior designer Kathy Kuo. 'Try adding a chic tray made of material like shagreen or travertine and add luxe decorative accents within the tray, like bud vases, stylish coffee table books, upscale scented candles, and decorative sculptures,' Kathy suggests.
A tray is your styling best friend because it instantly adds structure to your coffee table decor. Round trays are excellent for softening the edges of a rectangular table, while rectangular trays often work best on round tables, creating contrast. To elevate the aesthetic, opt for a tray with luxurious finishes like marble or lacquer.
With a retro meets coastal look, this tray can be used on your coffee table to house a vase, candles, and matches, or as a drinks tray complete with pretty coasters.
If a marble coffee table is out of budget, add a pop of beautiful natural stone with this 100% Calaccata marble tray from Amazon. It's sturdy and budget-friendly, too.
Finished with a mere 20 coats of high gloss lacquer, this hand-polished tray by Addison Ross is a cult buy. Add a pop of unexpected red with this playful wavy tray.
2. Edit down your coffee table books
Coffee table books are a great way to showcase your personality and interests while adding height and structure to your styling – but it needs to be a curated edit.
'To make your coffee table feel more elevated, focus on creating layers of interest and balance,' suggests designer Marie Flanigan. 'Start with a curated stack of beautiful books that reflect your style, and finish the look with thoughtful details like a tray to organize smaller items, a candle for warmth, or an interesting object collected from your travels.'
When curating your stack, consider both content and aesthetics. Choose books that resonate with your passions, but the covers should complement your room’s palette or offer an intentional pop of color.
'The best way to make an inexpensive coffee table look expensive is to use some large decorative books stacked strategically in the corner,' adds Karin Krinsky of New Age Interiors. 'Then, place a pretty bowl or tray and perhaps some beads ever so gently spilling out of them.'
Dog lovers unite. This homage to man's best friend is captured in the most beautiful leather-bound book that perfectly showcases our love for our furry best friends.
For a super easy hack, at Pottery Barn, you can choose from a myriad of ready-made hardcover book bundles in different shades to match or create a contrast to your living room decor.
Assouline books are the pinnacle of coffee table books. This edition, showcasing the history and lifestyle of the Hamptons, is full of 316 pages of beautifully photographed destinations.
3. Be sure to include natural forms
Nature inherently softens a space and makes it look less 'styled' and more, well, natural. Whether it’s a vase of fresh flowers, a sculptural piece of driftwood, or a cluster of natural stones, these organic elements make the vignette feel more inviting.
'Add a sculptural element like a ceramic vessel or a piece of hand-carved wood for texture,' continues Marie. 'Incorporate something organic, such as fresh flowers or a small potted plant, to bring life and softness to the arrangement.'
'The key is to mix materials and shapes while keeping the arrangement clean and intentional,' adds Marie. Even a single branch in an elegant vase can make a statement.
This terracotta vase looks like something found in an antique store or while traveling. It has been artfully sculpted and painted by hand so each one is super unique.
Beautifully made from 100% brass, these small bud vases have been designed with intricate etchings and can be used to create height with single stems of your favorite flower.
Made from teak root, the naturally beautiful grain of this hand-carved bowl is sure to make a focal point on your coffee table. Fill it with trinkets, foliage, or simply use it to store remote controls.
4. Create height and be mindful of scale
Achieving a polished look with your coffee table decor often hinges on striking the right balance of height and scale.
'A coffee table is an important bit of real estate at the center of your living space that offers a valuable opportunity to enhance the ambiance of the room,' says Amy Carman of Amy Carman Design. 'A carefully composed collection of books, accessories, and greenery add a layer of beauty for your eye to land on. At our Treasure Island project, seen above, we kept our accessories monochromatic, with the exception of a delicate gilded olive leaf sculpture.'
'Be mindful of the scale of your selections. An oversized coffee table requires only a few objects, but they need to be appropriately sized,' she suggests.
Balance taller items like vases or candlesticks with slightly smaller pieces, such as a stack of books, a tray, or a low-profile bowl. Be sure to vary the heights subtly for a layered effect rather than having all elements clustered at the same level.
5. Finally, add some personal touches
Achieving an expensive-looking coffee table is as much about showcasing your personality as it is about achieving a polished look.
'Adding layers through trinkets, collectibles, books, and candles adds extra dimensions that can’t fail to elevate your coffee table,' advises Holly Vaughan of Vaughan Design & Development.
Adding a few personal elements, like a cherished heirloom, a favorite travel souvenir, or a framed photo, ensures your coffee table looks much less like a store display and more like something out of a real, lived-in home.
A photo frame adds a completely personal touch to your coffee table. This glossy gold-painted frame features a pretty scalloped edge and is small enough to not block your view of the TV.
A little trinket box or small jar is always welcome on a coffee table. This one, made from matte marble, is not only useful but is a beautiful piece of decor all on its own.
Designed to look like pretty flowers with etched leaves, these candle holders from Anthropologie are too pretty to not look at every day. Fill with equally decorative taper candles.
Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to styling any surface in your home. Your coffee table should be a reflection of your taste and personality. Whether you lean minimalist or maximalist, the key is finding a balance that feels authentic to you.
