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How to Decorate Your Coffee Table

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I read a neat article in Southern Living Magazine about how to decorate your coffee table written by designer Phoebe Howard.   I thought I would give Phoebe's advice a try.

Here is Phoebe's design.  Her formula is listed beside the photo in the article. You can click on the above Southern Living Magazine link and read it.


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Here are three version of my coffee table following the same rules:


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I think these look nice, but I think Phoebe was designing for a true living room and not a family room.  Here are my issues:

1.  A large basket of a dozen remote controls, and I only understand how to use two of them.


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2.  Coasters!  We need coasters because we actually use our coffee table for...coffee and tea!

3.  Library books:  I like keeping my library books on the coffee table as a reminder to turn them in on time!


In reality, this is the best our coffee table will look.  I am still following Phoebe's rules (loosely), it's just that the tall feature has been replaced by our basket of remotes, and the small sculptural object has been replaced by coasters.


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Which version of our coffee table do you like best?  

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

27 comments

  1. I like yours. It is not too fussy. Maybe add some fruit in a dish. Keep the books on a side table.
    I LOVE YOUR SECTIONAL...

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  2. They all look great Ricki, including the "real life" one!

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  3. I love all your versions Ricki, they look very cozy. Have a great day. Reminder the 23rd is my next copy cat challenge.

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  4. I love that blue lantern, such a great pop of color!! I like the first and third grouping best, but what about a different one? You need your remotes close, so keep those, maybe the blue lantern in middle, and of course you need your coasters, maybe the 3 large books with the candle goblets on top, and the greenish bird? Your table seems bigger than the design picture, I think you could get by with more elements. Just my opinion, you can do what you want. :)

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  5. I think you did a grand job converting her rules to a livable and attractive solution.

    Now, I will try it on my coffee table.

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  6. Truly, I like the first one the best, but, our houses are not magazines and we have to live in them and they have to be useful too.
    Love,
    Lorraine

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  7. I like yours the best because it's real life, my husband always has to move something on mine when he lays on the couch to watch tv:) Something tall just wouldn't work in my house, I did see this article in SL and did think it was a good one!

    Rondell♥

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  8. Very beautiful. I'm jealous as my coffee table seems to be a dumping ground for everyone's junk!

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  9. *** I'm with LORRAINE, ABOVE... #1 is soooo "PRETTY", simple and clean-looking, somewhat like the one in our living room... it makes me "happy" to look at it!!!

    Having said that, it's probably not "as practical" as the others tho, which are nice, too... We have no children, buuuut, 2 "NOT-SMALL" dogs, & we are uber comfy because THEY have "THEIR very own", FAB 6' ROUND leather/hide ottoman, that THEY love & lay on when we're watching TV right their with them in OUR PB leather Manhattan chairs... yessireebob, one big happy family are we!!!!!

    Warmest wishes in 2012,

    Linda in AZ *
    bellesmom1234@comcast.net

    Best,
    Linda in AZ *
    bellesmom1234@comcast.net

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  10. I think I like the second one. But which one do you like best? That is the big question!!
    xxDaniella

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  11. I don't like to follow the rules, there is no one who can tell you how your home should look if they don't live there on a daily basis.
    So I pick your last one, it is how you live and what you need.
    The others serve no purpose in your life.
    Amy

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  12. I think it should be functional and represent your lives. I love the last one and I hear you on the remotes. Must call in children to work most of them.

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  13. Hi! Long time no see. I like the real one. The older I get, the more I am tired of seeing things that are "Staged" just for looks but are not very practical for real life!

    That's just me.

    ETS

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  14. I love them all, but I think the one with the blue lantern is my favorite! OMGoodness at the remotes!! LOL! Mr. Art @ Home is quiet the techo!!

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  15. I actually like your version best, and it is more practical. Don't get me started on the remotes.
    Laura

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  16. I need to grab my Southern Living and actually read it. I have a round coffee table...which creates its own issues. I think you have to live in your own house...so it has to be comfortable. I would put your bird candle holder on top of the books to add some height for the last design.

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  17. I think your coffee table looks lovely. We have our remotes in a basket too! We don't have a coffee table in our family room just in our living room. In fact, our coffee table was my Mom's, in 1970s colonial style, so completely not in style now. LOL!

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  18. I like yours best because it has form and function! Now I feel compelled to go get a coffee table!

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  19. CUTE, I really like them. My favorite is the one with the bird candleholder type thing. :)

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  20. I love you table in pictures 2 & 3. Use your larger books like in these pictures and put your basket of remotes on top of the books. Possibly stack your coasters underneath your little white pumpkin or the bird?
    Great post Ricki Jill...show us what you end up with! :)

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  21. I like the fourth one with the bird but they all look nice! I'm over here to look at some of the books you've mentioned. I need a new book to read! ♥

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  22. I like the fourth version...can't explain why. Our ottoman coffee table always gets stacked with books, flowers and an oversize hurricane glass candleholder. I hide a few things under the ottoman that I don't really like to see. Yours looks very pretty Ricki Jill....I think I need to figure these rules out.

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  23. I think I like the ones without the remotes, maybe the remotes could be in a box with the stack of books.....Oh heck what do I know, I don't even have a coffee table, and I have never thought about it. I would like a guide for the fireplace mantle, that really stumps me!

    Carol

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  24. The one with the flowers and the bird I like the best. But as I was reading I thought , man, I use my coffee table--put my feet on it, eat on it, put drinks on it, put my books on it, my lap top etc. So yes I have one little ole elephant that remains on it, but there are so many uses for it that I couldn't have it all covered over with decorations! lol

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  25. Thank Heavens for baskets! They organize and hide all the necessary evils! I saw that same article in SL~ while they are great rules to follow for staging, reading, drinking & using your coffee table make it a little more challenging!

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  26. As much as I like design, there is reality! Possibly changing the style of the basket or the holder of coasters could give you some options.

    - The Tablescaper

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I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

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