6 Unique Ways to Style Your Living Room with Coffee Tables

Styling your home with secondary finds has its rewards: the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of seizing that perfect piece at a savory discount. It does, though, require a certain amount of patience and definitely some creativity.

One thing we found is that it helps to look at styling as solving a problem rather than filling a room with elements. I need a sofa, an armchair, and a coffee table should be more like a need a place to lounge and read, enough seating for company and a place to keep my art books and rest a coffee mug.

With this in mind we offer six solutions to both practical and aesthetic problems with various ways to create your coffee table space.

Not atypical would be to follow the lines of our sofa with a low-lying rectangular coffee table. You may, however, want to consider one with additional storage like this one. Having a bottom shelf offers a possibility to store books, coasters, and even additional pillows to sit on.

 B&B italia Surface Table at Modern Resale

Your coffee table doesn’t have to be labeled a “coffee table” per se. A smaller side table placed in the middle can provide a more comfortable height and may be moved around as needed.

Living Divani Ying Ying side table at Modern Resale

Or, try floating a few complimentary side tables conveniently between your seating arrangements. Grouping them together in the center makes an attractive surface of varying heights.

Ligne Roset Circles side table (left) 

Don’t shy away from color. An otherwise monochromatic room could benefit from a pop of color at its center. 

B&B italia Fat Fat Lady coffee table at Modern Resale

Combine a table with a stool. The stool here does double duty. It acts as a table but also provides additional seating when it’s required. Aesthetically, the combination is visually interesting and it functionally fills the space without creating too much mass.

Ligne Roset Circles side table (left) and Busnelli Infinity side table/stool (right)

Often situated at the center of the room, consider your coffee table to be a piece of sculpture. Look for interesting silhouettes, craftsmanship, mixed materials and unusually shaped tops. Where you may be lacking in an art collection, you can make up in your selection of a coffee table.

Roche Bobois Evol coffee table at Modern Resale

If these looks inspired you, consider this ceramic side table to show off your own unique style.