Shea McGee Shares Her Coffee-Table Styling Tips and Favourite Products

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No living room is complete without a coffee table in it or, at the very least, an ottoman that doubles as one. Coffee tables rest in the centre of our living rooms, and in an ideal world, we'd have them styled to the nines with books, candles, and decorative objects for an elevated look and feel. However, that's most often not the case.

A realistic coffee table holds our remote controls, coasters, and maybe even an old cup from the night before — it's the practical items that take centre stage. That's why when styling a coffee table, it's important to consider details like the dimensions of your table, its shape, and what objects blend best with your home's decor scheme. A coffee table is not meant to look cluttered but rather to contribute to your overall decor.

To better understand the table styling process, we asked interior designer Shea McGee, who stars in Netflix's "Dream Home Makeover" and is the creative genius behind Target's Studio McGee line, for some pointers. "I like to think in groupings," McGee says. "On a round table, I'll think in groupings of three, and on a rectangular table, I will maybe do four to five groupings so that we can get levels and mix up the shapes and textures." But the one thing that McGee always starts with? A tray. "I think it's the easiest way to set a really good foundation for your coffee table."

The McGee & Co. designer says she uses all sorts of objects to make up her table groupings: beads, bowls, candles, trays, books, flowers, and more. So to accomplish that perfectly styled coffee-table look, we've done the work for you and rounded up the best display items for the job. Keep reading to see all of the objects for yourself (and remember to think in groupings of three or four).

Shop coffee table decorations by category:

  • Trays
  • Beads
  • Bowls and figurines
  • Candles
  • Books
Coffee Table Tray: Threshold Wood Acacia Serving Tray With Brass Handles
target.com

Coffee Table Tray: Threshold Wood Acacia Serving Tray With Brass Handles

Incorporate this Threshold Wood Acacia Serving Tray With Brass Handles ($30) as a finishing touch to your table. The tray is great for rectangular coffee tables and is the perfect size for layering books, candles, vases, and more. We love its brass handles, which add an elegant touch to living room decor.

Coffee Table Tray: Murai Trays
luluandgeorgia.com

Coffee Table Tray: Murai Trays

Incorporate texture into your living room with the Murai Trays ($50, originally $72). The trays come in a set of two — one big and one small — and are the perfect place to hold coffee table books, a cup of coffee, or small decorations. We love their hexagon shape, which adds character.

Coffee Table Tray: Zara Round Stone Tray
zara.com

Coffee Table Tray: Zara Round Stone Tray

If you have a wood coffee table, try mixing in a tray that's a different material like this Zara Round Stone Tray ($70-$109). The tray features one large and one small counterpart. We love its marble shell, which adds an earthy touch to your home's decor.

Coffee Table Trays: Larsen Faux Leather Tray
westelm.com

Coffee Table Trays: Larsen Faux Leather Tray

Hold magazines, remotes, and more in the Larsen Faux Leather Tray ($90, originally $148). The round tray is wrapped in textural faux leather that looks so close to real leather, you won't be able to tell a difference. Its saddle finish blends in with all decor schemes, making it the perfect living room addition.

Coffee Table Tray: Wooden Herringbone Decorative Serving Trays with Handles
target.com

Coffee Table Tray: Wooden Herringbone Decorative Serving Trays with Handles

Not only are the Wooden Herringbone Decorative Serving Trays with Handles ($28, originally $44) great for displaying your favourite accents, but their handles make them perfect for serving food, too. The trays come in a set of two and can be stacked for added space. Displaying a herringbone design, these decorative trays won't disappoint.

Coffee Table Tray: Tikal Round Wood Tray
the-citizenry.com

Coffee Table Tray: Tikal Round Wood Tray

Incorporate richness and depth into your living room with the hand-carved Tikal Round Wood Tray ($135). It's made of sustainably sourced wood and is available in two sizes or as a set to best suit your table. We love its simple design, which makes an impact anywhere you place it.

Coffee Table Tray: Clemente Bowl
luluandgeorgia.com

Coffee Table Tray: Clemente Bowl

If you're looking for a narrow tray to elevate a candle or coasters, this Clemente Bowl ($30) is a great option. Its narrow size is perfect for both round and rectangular coffee tables and is made of hand-carved Paulownia wood for a natural look. It can even store practical things, like your remote control.

Coffee Table Beads: Wood Bead Garland With Tassels
amazon.com

Coffee Table Beads: Wood Bead Garland With Tassels

Elevating a coffee table is as simple as adding texture, and this Wood Bead Garland With Tassels ($8, originally $13) is a great place to start. The garland can be wrapped and strung anywhere around existing decor to give it an elevated look. Place it on a tray and watch it bring it to life.

Coffee Table Beads: Wood Contentment Beads
potterybarn.com

Coffee Table Beads: Wood Contentment Beads

Available in both black and ivory colours, the Wood Contentment Beads ($79) is a beautiful touch to coffee table decor. Made of 100 percent mango wood with jute strings on each end, these beads add character. Wrap them around candles or let them gather in a bowl to complete your table's look.

Coffee Table Beads: Wooden Bead Garland
potterybarn.com

Coffee Table Beads: Wooden Bead Garland

If you're looking to incorporate a natural finish into your home, might we suggest the Wooden Bead Garland ($129)? The garland is finished with a natural wash that makes it an easy addition to your coffee table display. Made with 85 beads, it's easy to bunch up, too.

Coffee Table Bowls and Figurines: Hearth & Hand With Magnolia Wood Bowl With Carved Handles
target.com

Coffee Table Bowls and Figurines: Hearth & Hand With Magnolia Wood Bowl With Carved Handles

Store all of your remote controls inside the Hearth & Hand With Magnolia Wood Bowl With Carved Handles ($20). The bowl can hold decorative displays or practical items to help keep your home organised. Designed with carved handles, it's easy to move around as well.

Coffee Table Bowls and Figurines: Nordic Wood Bowl
potterybarn.com

Coffee Table Bowls and Figurines: Nordic Wood Bowl

Does the Nordic Wood Bowl ($179) look familiar? Hint: it's the beads. This gorgeous teak wood bowl features a light wash that gives off an organic and rustic appeal. It's perfect for holding decorative objects or other small trinkets on your coffee table. Due to the natural materials of this bowl, each one varies in texture.

Coffee Table Bowls and Figurines: Threshold Designed With Studio McGee Marble Links
target.com

Coffee Table Bowls and Figurines: Threshold Designed With Studio McGee Marble Links

Add the Threshold Designed With Studio McGee Marble Links ($35) to your coffee table for a modern accent. It will give your space a contemporary, sculptural aesthetic. It has one white marble rectangular piece interlinked with a grey marble rectangular piece. Place it on top of books for a sophisticated look.

Coffee Table Candles: Form Studies Ceramic Candleholders
westelm.com

Coffee Table Candles: Form Studies Ceramic Candleholders

Capture the attention of passersby with the Form Studies Ceramic Candleholders ($20, originally $35). The holders are a stunning way to elevate candles on your coffee table and have a natural finish that will give your home a sophisticated look. Made in the Philippines, these candles offer a worldly charm.

Coffee Table Candle: Boy Smells Slow Burn Candle
sephora.com

Coffee Table Candle: Boy Smells Slow Burn Candle

We'd be remiss not to mention this internet-loved Boy Smells Slow Burn Candle ($46) for your coffee table— which POPSUGAR editors are obsessed with, as detailed in our best-scented-candles roundup. The candle was inspired by Kacey Musgraves's hit song — and the country musician even helped to create the scent, which features notes of incense, raspberry, and Cedarwood.

Coffee Table Candle: Willow Soy Blend Mini Cement Candle
target.com

Coffee Table Candle: Willow Soy Blend Mini Cement Candle

The Willow Soy Blend Mini Cement Candle ($6) is infused with the woodsy scents of willow bark and leaves that give your home the smell of a dense forest. Poured into a cement container with the word "willow" engraved on the front, this scented jar makes a small but mighty decorative accent and burns for up to 32 hours.

Coffee Table Book: Architectural Digest: A Century of Style Coffee Table Book
potterybarn.com

Coffee Table Book: Architectural Digest: A Century of Style Coffee Table Book

Get a start on decorating your coffee table with the Architectural Digest: A Century of Style Coffee Table Book ($125). The book has a minimal look that'll blend right into your home's decor. Plus, it's fun for guests to look through all of its gorgeous pictures.

Coffee Table Book: Modern ColorStak Books
westelm.com

Coffee Table Book: Modern ColorStak Books

If you're looking for a stacked book style, give the Modern ColorStak Books ($140) a try. The books come in seven colours to best match your coffee table and make a great addition to living room decor. Place a candle or decorative object on top to complete their look.