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Setting up your coffee table to look organized and stylish is truly an art form. It’s easy for your arrangement of books, candles, and other knickknacks to go from chic to messy in a matter of minutes. So, we picked our editors’ brains to find out what exactly goes into making their coffee tables look first-class all the time. Learn their recipes for success, and shop some of their must-haves in the slides ahead.
Imperial Threads, Artbook, $55 “Books, books, and more books. Anything from D.A.P. Also, this doesn’t make things look put-together, but a half-finished crossword is always fun to leave out when you have some spare living room hang time.” – Alex Redgrave, Executive Editor
Tom Wesselmann, Amazon, $38.61 “I’m obsessed with art books, so I keep tons of them around that way I can look at them everyday. I’ve been styling them in a few neat stacks on my coffee table with my favorite covers (mostly Tom Wesselmann) on top. I also have this super chic, tall, silver Italian cocktail shaker from the ‘60s that doubles as a vessel for coral anthurium. That paired with a nice candle and you’re good to go!” – Elaina Sullivan, Style Editor
Set of 4 Etch Gold Coasters, CB2, $29.95 I don’t know about you, but I’m always eating and drinking while sitting on my sofa… which means my coffee table is kind of like a dining room table. So coasters are a must (when entertaining, too). I love these CB2 coasters—they’re chic and such an easy way to add a metallic touch to any space. – Alyssa Clough, Social Media Editor
Hérmes Sellier, Hermes, $660 “I clear off my daughter’s toys and put out a mix of things. I usually stack a mix of art books, ones with graphic images and a couple antique books. I set out an Hermes ashtray and a vase of simple flowers. Oh, and candles.” – Kate Berry, Style Director
Elemental Energy, HarperCollins, $32.99 “Crystals! I’m starting to study the power of crystals and understand more about them. Elemental Energy by Kristin Petrovich has been really helpful in the basics (and then beyond basics) of crystals.” – Kristin Limoges, Associate Lifestyle Editor
Pitch Dinner Plate, CB2, $9.95 “I take a very minimalist approach to my coffee table design: I keep a ceramic plate stocked with a candle, a bowl of matches, and a mini vase I picked up in Copenhagen, which I will occasionally fill with fresh flowers.” – Anna Kocharian, Digital Editor
Pittsburgh Map Coaster Set, Neighborwoods, $36 “I stack two or three coffee table books, and set coasters, candles, and a small succulent on top. The candles are always changing—right now I love this fig leaf and sea salt one from Etu Home—but my coasters are constant. I have a wooden set with a map of Pittsburgh (my hometown) etched on them. They’re always a conversation starter (the company has dozens of other cities, so they make a great gift).” – Jessica Dailey, Digital Editorial Director
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