Las Vegas, NV on Aug 13, 2012

What's on your coffee table?

I bought a new coffee table this weekend and am having a heck of a time staging it. I found that staging my long, oval table was much easier. I've tried everything in the house on it and finally settled on a rustic wire basket with some green apples, an antique book and a chrome airplane, but I'm still not feeling it (my accent color is lime green). I have an over-abundance of glass and vases/bowls in the house, so I'm trying to avoid repeating those things, and flowers seem too frilly for our taste. Maybe some pictures of your coffee table will inspire me! Please share and offer suggestions for mine!

Like Clip

46 Comments Displaying 25 of 46 comments | See Previous

SheilaG, Plum Doodles Acworth, GA

I like it as is, but if you want to add something, I like Ellen's idea of just adding a couple more books under the special one (I'm so jealous!).

on Aug 15, 2012 · Like 2
Becky H Tampa, FL

Leslie, your eye for design is still working!! Your table looks great as it is; you don't need to ask for any ideas. I'm so happy for you to have your living room back!!

on Aug 15, 2012 · Like 2
Becky Blair, NE

No chalk paint in our home either. I'm more of a naturalist. If something I have aged in real time then I'm okay with that, to a certain extent, but I won't work hard repairing something to then beat it up. Though I must admit I like the look, I couldn't do it myself.

on Aug 15, 2012 · Like 2
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

I think I will try a small stack of books...thanks...I'm just not happy with it, and I see so many beautifully staged bookshelves/tables on here.

on Aug 15, 2012 · Like 1
Becky Blair, NE

Well if you're not happy with it then it doesn't matter that we all like it. What I do when I can't quite get something like this right is to start grabbing things from my stash drawers or from other rooms and "play" until I get that "YES!" feeling.

on Aug 15, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

You should have seen my husband and I in "Home Goods"....after trying everything we owned, we were all over the store, grabbing different things and setting up "mini vignettes" to see what may work. My husband is a very patient and understanding soul....LOL

on Aug 15, 2012 · Like 2
Sherry L Deridder, LA

When I had a round coffee table I used a large fruit bowl and filled it with in-season flowers, fruit, pine cones, Christmas balls, what ever was appropreate at the time or holiday. Add a couple of candles in pretty holders.

on Aug 15, 2012 · Like 0
SheilaG, Plum Doodles Acworth, GA

Leslie, try spacing them out just a tad more. Maybe pull the book in front of the right front corner of the basket, add another book and one of the apples on top of it.

on Aug 15, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

LOL Leslie, I'd have to drag my hubby into a Home Goods store. Well if we had one. We do very well together in a Sears tool department though. We both love our power tools. He lets me do all the decorating though.
Oh I like Sheila's idea of an apple on top of the books. Since it's a fake one and you don't have worry about it going bad and harming the book.

on Aug 15, 2012 · Like 1
Sharron W Memphis, TN

@Leslie, the one other thing you might try is a round metal basket or Colander if you have one...in terms of Hard edges (squares, rectangles) I'm fine with mixing in a few triangles...LOL but when I'm making a round pot or tray I don't want a hard edges form on it, it's distracting to me......Just one of my quirks, but it leaves me feeling unsettled as if something is not "finished" I just bought the college bound kid a gorgeous Colander, SS inside, red on the outside...I can just see it with your green apples in it...

on Aug 15, 2012 · Like 0
Marg C Middletown, NY

Steve, I believe that's called ORPD...obsessive relaxed personality disorder. haha!

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 2
Becky Blair, NE

Sharron, I can be just the opposite as you. I like mixing soft and hard edges.
LOL @ Marg!

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 1
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

I was looking for some sort of a round tray or wire basket, but just couldn't fine one. Everything in the room is hard angles except for the drum light and now the table underneath, so I did want a circular object on the table. I just have so many bowls/vases and glass pieces that I felt as though I needed something different. I'm going to try some of the suggestions here, and see if it makes it any better. I'll try some different arrangements and post a "which one do you like best" question. Thanks, all!

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 2
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

OK, better? I've looked at it so much now, it's hard for me to judge! LOL
on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 0
Ellen H Cullman, AL

I like the book stack better. I think the basket the apples are in is perhaps a litte fussy for your style. What about a pottery bowl for the apples - add warmth and earthiness but in a clean way?

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 0
Ellen H Cullman, AL

I also just happened to think - flower pots come in comtemporary styles and make great decorative containers - you might find one in black or dark grey that you could use as a "bowl" for the apples. I guess you could even put a plant in it if you wanted (LOL).

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

I think you're right, Ellen...where I wanted something a bit rustic for warmth, the basket just stands out like a sore thumb in the room. I'm liking this more...
on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 1
Ellen H Cullman, AL

Yes, yes, yes. By George, I think you've got it!

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 2
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

Thanks for your help! I work from home, so I now have everything spread around the room....plant and bowl moved, baskets all over the place, etc. Hubby will wonder what happened....LOL

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 1
Becky H Tampa, FL

Those black and white stripes work very well with your room!!

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 1
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

Funny thing is that I tried this bowl, with its matching taller vase over the weekend and didn't like it....I just needed Ellen's perspective to usei t alone, with a plant in it!

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 1
Becky H Tampa, FL

She gave you good advice!

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 1
Marg C Middletown, NY

this definitely works!! It has the height you needed!

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 0
Marg C Middletown, NY

and now we can all get ORPD'd!

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 0
Becky Blair, NE

YES! You got it.
LOL Marg

on Aug 16, 2012 · Like 1

Oops! Leave without saving?

Hometalk.com

Hometalk is where people share and help with everything home & garden

What's on your coffee table?

NOTE: You can drag and drop your photos to reorder them