Some of the most valuable real estate in your home is the surface of your coffee table. Which means a totally empty coffee table, or one covered in a pile of papers… well, it’s a major missed opportunity.
The coffee table is a fantastic chance to show off beautiful, interesting, obsession-worthy things! Consider how many times a day you look at this spot. Why wouldn’t you deck it out in a way that feels 100% you? We asked Nate, Sasha, and Lauren to weigh in with their best advice.
SASHA SAYS: Keep things moving.
“I am constantly rotating the items on my coffee table to include any books I’m currently interested in, candles, flowers, or objects. I don’t think there is anything that needs to remain stationed in one place. Rather, your coffee table is a great canvas to experiment with and showcase what you want to see in the moment.”
NATE SAYS: Count your accessories.
“Always a few books. And the easiest design trick is to take the book at the bottom of the pile and move it to the top – the whole look changes! Then, when it comes to accessories, think in odd numbers. I tend to have 5 or 7 little things – a decorative box, a piece of pyrite, pottery, whatever you have that you love.”
LAUREN SAYS: Consider the coffees and cocktails.
“I love putting out a pretty tray that everyone can use for their drinks – much better than having coasters all over the place. Otherwise, books and beautiful accessories, though these days with my daughter just starting to walk, they have to be only moderately destroyable.”
Lead photograph of Rita Hazan’s home designed by Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent and photographed by Brittany Ambridge; Manhattan living room photographed Miki Duisterhof; a Phoenix home photographed by Patrick Cline.