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The coffee table is the most photographed surface in your house, and most of us style it like a junk drawer. The good news: designers use a formula, and once you know it you can't unsee it.
Here it is: a stack of art books, something stone, something sculptural, and something that glows. That's it. Four layers, varied heights, and you're done.
No. 01A stack of art books: Dieter Rams
Start with the base layer. Two or three big art and design books give you height and a place to set everything else.
Why it works: Books are the easiest way to add color and personality without clutter.
No. 02Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper
A hit of color on top of the stack.
No. 03Venice: The Art of Living
For the stack's softer, travel-diary moment.
No. 04Something stone: a travertine bowl
Stone adds weight and real material. Leave it empty or fill it with lemons.
No. 05Or a marble catchall
A smaller marble bowl works on top of the books for remotes and matches.
No. 06Something sculptural
One abstract object gives the eye somewhere to land.
No. 07A burl wood box
Burl reads expensive and hides the remotes.
No. 08Something that glows
A good candle is the finishing layer, especially at night.
No. 09Marble coasters
Practical, and they look like they belong in a hotel lobby.
Shop the Decorate Your Coffee Table list
The rules
Work in odd numbers, vary the heights, and leave about a third of the table empty. If it looks busy, take one thing away.
Common questions about this look
What do designers put on coffee tables?
Usually a stack of books, a tray or bowl in stone or wood, one sculptural object, a candle and sometimes a small vase with a single stem.
How many items should be on a coffee table?
Three to five groupings is plenty. Leave negative space so the table still looks usable.
Want the full room? Get the look: the mid-century modern living room.
Every Dupe & Design pick is chosen independently by a working interior designer. Product details and availability change, so check Amazon before you buy.