How to Style a Square or Rectangular Coffee Table
A well-styled coffee table can pull a room together like nothing else…
but it can be hard to know where to start. Not only are there countless ways to style a coffee table, but there are so many different sizes and shapes of coffee tables, each permitting a different magic balance.
When it comes to styling a square or rectangular coffee table, it’s all about starting with the basics.
Here are our favorite tips for styling a square or rectangular coffee table:
Explore our 2021 Fall Collection at McGee & Co
No. 1: Set the foundation
Creating a base to build off is important when designing anything, but especially when styling a coffee table. One of the easiest ways to start is with a tray. Not only do trays bring the perfect focal point or base, but they are great for corralling everything that ends up there, whether that’s a candle and coasters or a stray remote.
From The Sunset House
From our Pine Brook Project
Grounding & dimensional styling trays
No. 2: Add books
Next, you want to build off the look with more sustains all pieces.
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. We love stacking books to create a bit of height or a landing place for other decorative items.
From our Rye New York Project
From our Mountainside Retreat Project
Our favorite coffee-table books
No. 3: Add in levels
Whether your coffee table is big or small, it’s always a good idea to have some varying levels to bring interest. Playing with height doesn’t have to mean tall breakable vases or florals you can’t see the TV over. In some cases, we use a few stacked boxes for form and functionality. Bonus: boxes make for great storage to store those random things that always seem to end up here.
From our AZ Homestead Project
From our PC Contemporary Project
Decorative boxes we love
No. 4: Layer in decorative objects
Decorative objects are the best way to add some interest to your coffee table, but you don’t have to use a fragile sculptural piece to implement this tip in your space. Something beautiful but functional like a door stopper, paperweight, or even a pretty deck of cards will do the trick.
From our Beckham Project
No. 5: Add a pretty candle
The key to making your living room feel instantly cozy? Light a candle! We love layering in designer candles to bring an elevated touch to the space, ignite all the senses, and create an experience.
Explore more of our 2021 Fall Collection here.
For tips on styling a circle coffee table, check out our post here.
Watch our video below for a visual guide to how we styled the coffee table in our Pine Brook Project.
At which project was this filmed? I’d love to save the living room photos to my idea board for our next home. Thanks!
Here’s a link 🙂 https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/get-the-look-pine-brook-project
Looks lovely! I’m curious — where do you keep the books (of which there are several — Bible, devotional, my book, my husband’s book, my journal) that you use regularly? I have them on the coffee table and it isn’t attractive.
You could store them in a large box, stacked or alone! We tend to keep journals upstairs in our nightstands!
Any thoughts on wood coffee tables and how the decor should coordinate? For example, if I have a wood coffee table, is a wooden tray a no-no? I noticed that you went with a leather tray in this example.