Mid-century modern is always a perfect match for coffee tables as the clean and simple lines can match minimalist and modern styles, while letting other elements of the room take center stage including a rich leather couch for farmhouse or art deco aesthetics.
There’s no shortage of ways you can use this aesthetic with your coffee table whether it's seasonal or year round. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here’s 6 ways to do it.
Showing Your Personality in Sitting Rooms
If you have a sitting room, a great room used for catching up but not everyday conversation, or a waiting room, a small stack of books in a triangular pyramid shape combined with an abstract sculpture or a ceramic vase are the perfect way to go.
The stack of books that differ in size add to the lines and shapes that mid-century modern is known for, and the topics bring out the personality of the room as you can theme them however you’d like.
The abstract sculpture or ceramic vase add height, a pop of color that isn’t overbearing, and continue to bring the lines of the style in a vertical direction to complement the diagonal lines of the triangle and horizontal lines of the sides of the books.
An Organic, Natural, and Earthy Feel
An easy way to have a mid-century modern coffee table decor with biophilic design concepts (bringing nature indoors) is to use a woven basket, a wooden tray or a cutting board, combined with a small potted plant and a few clay jars or bottles.
The wooden tray or cutting board immediately adds in nature as woven baskets use natural materials and add texture, while wood has the natural patterns and grains to give a visual of trees and forests. They help with the room's function by providing a place to store clutter and items like keys, coasters, and remote controls so the lines of the table and other decor items can take center stage.
The clay jars or bottles add unique shapes and lines to go along with both the incorporation of nature and organic colors. And plants have always been a part of mid-century modern decor as they have clean lines and are literally natural materials. Pepperomia makes a perfect option as it normally stays between 6 inches and 1 foot tall and wide.
A Large Statement Piece and a Small Complement
Large statement pieces like sculpture lamps or an artistic vase can bring eyes and attention to the space, and a smaller complementary item balances it out while helping to keep the table from feeling empty. This sticks with the clean lines and minimalist approach for mid-century modern and works perfectly for coffee tables in sitting rooms, living rooms used for conversation, and great rooms.
Vintage Coffee Table Books and a Piece of Modern Art
Another way to have mid-century modern coffee table decor is to use coffee table books that feature art works, pop culture, and architecture from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. This helps to set the mood and tone for the space. A modern sculpture sitting near the books brings art into the room which was a big part of this design style.
If you’d like the entire room to blend with the table decor, look for wall art items that stick with the theme. If the art on the table is a specific animal or from pop-culture like movies, and the books match, find vintage posters or wall art that matches these themes. The last step is to look for decorative pillows and even a throw blanket with the same character or a collage of matching themes.
3 Ceramic Vases and Jars With a Curved Glass Bowl or Tray
Combining three ceramic vases or jars with different shapes or slightly different heights, with a curved glass bowl or tray helps to offset the straight lines from the mid-century modern furniture. The grouping of three helps keep your eyes moving so they can trace the curves and lines from the other elements, unlike balanced items in even numbers that keep your eyes focused with the symmetrical style.
Mid-century modern is meant to keep things light and flowing, so the odd numbers with curved lines help to bring this to the area with the coffee table. This goes along with the interior design concept of the rule of threes.
3 Equal Size Trays With Different Themes
To keep balance and flow, three equal size trays that are evenly spaced across a rectangular coffee table or in a triangular shape on a round coffee table can keep the visual interest of the table. On each tray you’ll want to use a different decor item that matches the mid-century modern elements.
One could be a set of three pillar candles at different heights, another could have a potted houseplant, and a third could be a series of carved stones including a pillar, a sphere, and a pyramid at different heights. Anything that ties in lines, art, and the signature elements from the mid-century style should work. This arrangement also makes it easy to shift for seasons and holidays.
Mid-century modern will always have appeal for people that enjoy art, minimalist design, and clean lines. This makes it one of the easiest design aesthetics when it comes to coffee table decor.
