Updated : August 2, 2025
Published : July 25, 2025
Guides

If we’re honest, your coffee table is truly where your interior taste is most on display. It’s the still point of the room, quietly witnessing everything from intense book-perusing to chaotic takeaway nights. And for that reason, it deserves more than a token candle and the remote control.

And when space is at a premium – as it often is these days – that table needs to do more than sit there looking pretty. Which is precisely why we design ours the way we do at Furl. Our expandable designs for dynamic spaces don’t just respond to life’s clutter – they anticipate it.

So here’s how to style your coffee table without falling into the usual Pinterest traps. Consider this your clutter-conscious, style-forward guide.

1. Avoid The Tray Trap

We get it - a classic tray might be a solid addition. But styling by numbers is not the goal here. If the surface of your table is a thing of beauty – perhaps oiled walnut, or ash with a barely-there grain – why cover it up with an obligatory rattan tray? If you’ve invested in an eye-catching piece, give it space to breathe - it doesn’t have to be empty or simply used as a display (that won’t last) - but make sure you’re treating its design as part of your interior aesthetic.

If you are using a tray, make sure it serves a purpose – ideally containing chaos and adding to the overall feel of the piece, not obscuring its beauty.

2. Books Are Character, Not Props

If your stack of books looks like it was bought in bulk at a concept store, start again. One beautiful, slightly dog-eared hardback says more about you than a pristine pile of fashion anthologies that no one’s ever opened.

In fact, layering books works best when they’re not all the same size - it looks best when it looks entirely unintentional. For example, we like to offset a slim poetry collection with a chunky design tome, then top the stack with something unexpected – a small stone, or a hand-thrown bowl. Also important to remember: if your table extends, any books placed on top need to be easily shiftable.

3. Include One Object That’s Slightly Wrong

We’ll say it- too much harmony is suspicious. You want an element that breaks the rhythm, whether it’s a ceramic that’s a bit uneven or a sculptural piece that makes no sense but just feels right.

We’ve seen people use vintage toys, strange heirlooms, even a lone boxing glove. If it starts conversations (or just makes you smile), it earns its spot.

And the bonus? On a transforming table that adapts in size and shape, a quirky centrepiece holds the eye even when everything else is moving.

4. Rethink Flowers – They’re Not Mandatory

We know – flowers are the go-to for adding some colour to neutral spaces. But if your table’s already doing a lot, another busy arrangement might be overkill.

Try a single architectural branch, or perhaps a bottle of nothing but thistles. Or a bunch of tulips left slightly too long, on the edge of collapse – far more poetic than the showroom-perfect bouquet.

5. Texture Is the Real Colour Palette

If you’re working with neutrals (and most of us are), you need to think in feel, not hue. Rough ceramics, cold marble, matte-glazed clay, a hit of polished brass - these are the types of additions that create visual depth.

At Furl, our coffee tables are deliberately neutral in tone, but they’re rich in texture – handcrafted finishes, not veneer. We like to think that they don’t shout; rather, they hum. Layer around them accordingly.

6. Style From Every Angle (Not Just the Sofa)

This is the bit people forget. If your table is central, it needs to look good from all sides. That means no hidden backs, and no messy candle labels shoved to the rear.

Try rotating your objects by 30 degrees. Make sure no side is the obvious “back”. On an extendable surface, this becomes even more important – your table will literally change shape, so your styling has to flex too.

7. Edit More Than You Think

Finally, if your table looks like a still life and functions like an obstacle course, it’s time to pare back. Leave gaps and let some of the surface show. Think of the space as a breathing thing, not a storage shelf.

This is especially true with Furl designs. Because our tables are built to work hard – to open, lift, slide – your styling has to stay agile. A heavily laden coffee table is charming until you need somewhere to put your feet up. Or your laptop. Or, heaven forbid, a cup of tea.

The bottom line is simple: there’s no formula, and that’s the point. A coffee table isn’t an Instagram flatlay; it’s a personal, lived-in surface that should evolve with your needs and moods.

Rethinking your layout or downsizing your square footage, check out our expert tips on space-saving furnitures.