The living room might be the center of the home, but what’s the center of the living room? It’s easy to think about that supersized sofa or the television all the furniture is pointed toward, but Ania Agárdy of Luxury Living would respectfully disagree. “The coffee table is often the focal point of furniture in the living room,” she argues. “The sofa may be bigger, but it is the coffee table that is the true centerpiece.”
Of course, Agárdy is not the only one who sees the power of the coffee table: Austin-based designer Blair Burton says the right option acts as a social lubricant. “A really beautiful coffee table can actually help begin the conversation,” she shares. “Sofas and chairs tend to face one another, and the coffee table is the object they gather around.”
How to Choose a Coffee Table
Designer: Blair Burton Interiors; Photographer: Julie Soefer
If a coffee table is so covetable, it shouldn’t be treated like an afterthought. Sure, the surface should match the room’s vibe, but the pros caution against deprioritizing proportion. “Scale matters enormously,” Burton explains. “You want the table to feel substantial enough to hold the seating arrangement together, but you also need enough space around it for people to move comfortably.”
She says a coffee table should have “enough presence to connect to the furniture around it,” so look for an option that’s about two-thirds the length of your sofa.
Once you have dimensions down-pat, experiment with texture. While you can’t go wrong with a classic wood topper, materials like metal, glass, and stone can add some visual intrigue. The secret, Burton says, is to look for tables with unique details. “Beautiful wood grain, an unusual stone, evidence of craftsmanship or age,” she suggests. “Those things give a room another layer.”
How to Style a Coffee Table
A coffee table is a core part of your living room, so shouldn’t it be styled accordingly? But don’t take this as a sign to fill every square inch of its surface with stuff. “A living room should still work when someone is living in it,” Burton explains. “There should be somewhere to put a drink, set down a book, or pull something closer to you.”
Designer: Luxury Living; Photographer: Pompi Gutnisky
For Agárdy, her approach depends on a coffee table’s shape. Round silhouettes often are treated with the rule of three—a trio of items of varying heights—while she adds stacks of books to a rectangular setup. If a piece features show-stopping materials or design details, Agárdy uses what she calls the “nude” styling technique. “I incorporate glass objects with minimalist books so I don’t interfere with the protagonism of the piece,” she explains.
Books, candles, and coasters might be coffee table staples, but Brooke Mennen-Talsma prefers an unconventional approach. “I gravitate towards oversized vessels with really large-scale branches or loose organic floral arrangements, which create height and texture,” the Iowa City designer says. “I also love incorporating something with a little age to it, like an antique wooden box, a trinket, or a collected object that doesn’t necessarily ‘belong’ on a coffee table.”
That way, there will be plenty of conversation starters the next time a crowd gathers around your coffee table. Because, let’s best honest: Where else would they flock to in your living room?
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