Good decorating is all about having everything in the right places. Don’t underestimate the power of replacing old accessories on your coffee table for a new lot. A few great accessories are the little touches that can make a room look like you’ve done a lot more than you have – they signal confidence, glamour and luxury. The first thing people notice. Here is a few quick ways to do it!
ADD PILES OF BOOKS
Pile up the the glossy hardcovers – deep stacks, to the edges of your coffee table. Not only will they finish your table and room, they will also reflect your style. Plus pile of beautiful interesting magazines on your table means no-one need be bored.
TOP AN OTTOMAN WITH A TRAY
Give your ottoman a makeover by popping a tray or low basket on top of it, creating the perfect place to display everything from books to magazines, flowers, plants or candles.
DON’T FORGET FLOWERS
Add bunches o fresh flowers (or foliage) for instant style. Stick to one or two hues for maximum impact – the vase is vital. Match your flower to your vessel – and the setting. They are the ultimate finishing touch.
OPT FOR TWO LONG TABLES
In the New York living room of hotelier Ian Schrager’s apartment, he used two long tables to divide the sofa. A simple yet effective idea you can use wherever you live.
THINK LIKE AN ARTIST
Play with colour and textures. When you arrange your coffee table, you are an artist, you have to see the beauty and possibilities at hand. Stick to one colour for major impact. Go monochrome. Group similar items together.
USE THE SPACE UNDERNEATH
Utilise the are under the coffee table to stow a pair of low stools piled with books or a couple of baskets with blankets. It can fill the space and make any room feel like a home.
DON’T GO OVERBOARD
In the living room of a Paris apartment designed by Jean-Louis Deniot, the black and white cocktail table by Hagit Pincovici is nod to the grey found throughout the rest of the room. To let the piece shine, tabletop accessories are limited to candlesticks and a decorative sculpture.
USE TRAYS TO ORGANIZE
It’s a no-brainer that trays are an excellent way to stylishly organize a tabletop. In a rustic in Amagansett, NY, a wicker tray breaks up the coffee table, and can also be used to serve food and drinks when needed. A vintage basket filled with a bromeliad, agave, cyclamen or orchid is a time-honoured look that graces the best houses everywhere. Try it.
ACCESSORIZE WITH SCULPTURES
In an upstate New York house, the family room is anchored by a cocktail table by Etienne Allemeersch from Art-Design-Carta. The table is decorated with dramatic sculptures in hues similar to the rest of the room’s neutral decor.
TRY A TWO-TIER TABLE
A two-tier coffee table offers even more room to show off your favorite accessories. Here, lacquered boxes and fresh flowers match the room’s warm orange-and-brown palette, enhancing the vibrancy of the stylish space.
