Coffee Table Styling

I am forever searching for the right combo of items on my coffee table.  I have tried so many different objects on it and haven’t “loved” any of them.  When I look at inspiration photos, all I can think of is, where are their remotes? and other daily needed items? I realize most photos are staged for best effect, but how do they function in the real world?

I decided I was going to figure out a combination I love AND can live with in the real world.  I took a look at all the coffee table décor pins I had on my living room board on Pinterest.   I figured I would see a pattern that I could translate into reality.

Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

While I love number one above, I think number two is probably most consistent with my living room style.

I found the following items pretty consistently on photos I pinned.  Plants or flowers, a tray to corral remotes and other day to day stuff, books or magazines and some quirky elements.  I also like to have an area of the table to keep my laptop on because I usually blog while catching up on my tv shows on the dvr.

From everything I’ve read, designers divide the coffee table into 4’s when it is a rectangle shape like mine. You also want to have items of varying heights to keep the eye moving.  And finally, you want to remain within a color palette of two to three colors repeating.

I shopped the house and I have a tray and a boxwood plant already.  I have a few unusually shaped elements around the house I could use, I just need to try them out.  I am working on the elements to keep in the tray, that seems to be my struggle point!  I can’t get them in an arrangement I like.  My magazines just don’t seem to be as tidy as everyone elses!

Do you have coffee table styling down? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

If you would like to see more inspiration photos, follow my Living Room Pinterest board here.