10 Items You Should Never Display on Your Coffee Table, According to Designers

Your coffee table is often the centerpiece of your living room, offering a perfect opportunity to showcase your style. However, filling it with the wrong items can lead to clutter and disrupt the room’s harmony. Designers have pinpointed certain objects that should be kept off your coffee table to maintain a clean and inviting look.

From work-related items to excessive decor, these are the things that can turn your coffee table into a chaotic mess. Here are 10 items to avoid placing on your coffee table.

10. Work-Related Items

A warm, inviting living room featuring a laptop, coffee, and casual accessories.
Photo by Sami Abdullah

Keep your coffee table free from work-related clutter such as laptops and cellphones.

These items can introduce stress into a space meant for relaxation. Consider storing them in a dedicated area to maintain a serene atmosphere.

9. Single-Sided Picture Frames

A warm, inviting corner with framed photos on a table near a window.
Photo by Tomás Asurmendi

Single-sided frames are not ideal for coffee tables since they can only be viewed from one direction.

Opt for double-sided frames that can be appreciated from all angles, ensuring a balanced and harmonious table display.

8. Faux Flower Arrangements

Bright pink artificial dahlia in a gold pot outdoors on a table, perfect for decoration.
Photo by Boris Hamer

Faux flowers can look artificial and lack the natural charm of real blooms.

Choose real flowers for your coffee table, but keep arrangements low to maintain open sight lines and encourage conversation.

7. Glassware & Bar Supplies

black wine bottle beside two wine glasses
Photo by Guillermo Nolasco

Bar supplies can add unnecessary clutter and pose a safety risk on coffee tables.

Instead, use a rolling bar cart to store these items, keeping your coffee table clear and stylish.

6. Rechargeable Lamps

green plant in white ceramic vase on brown wooden table
Photo by Luronda H

Rechargeable lamps can create visual clutter and interrupt conversation.

Use candles instead to add a warm and inviting ambiance to your living room.

5. Art Displayed on Easels

A cozy indoor art studio setup with blank canvases on easels, ready for a painting class.
Photo by Natali Smirnova

Art on easels can disrupt the flow and sight lines of your coffee table arrangement.

Opt for decorative accents like coffee table books that can be viewed from multiple angles.

4. Excessive Books

A cozy indoor scene with a mug, stack of books, and decorative items by a window, perfect for relaxation.
Photo by ECBULAT

A few well-placed books can enhance your coffee table, but too many will make it look crowded.

Stick to two or three books and avoid using bookends, which are better suited for shelves.

3. TV Remotes

A coffee table with a cup of coffee on it
Photo by Marc Pell

TV remotes can clutter the surface of your coffee table.

Store them in a decorative box to keep them out of sight yet easily accessible.

2. Storage Baskets

Warm autumn decorations featuring knitted pumpkins in a wicker basket.
Photo by Arina Krasnikova

While useful, storage baskets can make your coffee table look disorganized.

Place them underneath the table and use a decorative tray on top to organize smaller items neatly.

1. Beaded Garland & Chain Links

Adorable succulent plant in a pink heart-decorated pot surrounded by natural wooden beads on a countertop.
Photo by Tina Nord

These decor items can appear generic and overdone on coffee tables.

Instead, choose unique pieces that tell a story and reflect your personal style, creating a timeless and engaging centerpiece.

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About the Writer

Jenny Milam

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