As part of my Spring refresh, I have finally decided to replace my coffee table. This table has been a faithful companion for many years…probably more than 30, and I have become quite attached. It’s dated, no doubt, but it was of superior quality and, held up to several moves, and easily fit into completely different environments.
In truth, this coffee table is too small for the space it now sits. My living room is not huge, but there is a generous space between the two sofas that face each other. Yes, I could move the sofas closer together, but that presented other problems and wasn’t really a good solution. I’m happy to have this photo (left) taken after my mom passed away. A friend kindly sent me these beautiful tulips. My mom loved flowers, and looking at those tulips was comforting.
I donated this coffee table, and I’m hoping it has gone to a good home and will be well cared for for years to come.
Finding a replacement wasn’t an easy task. In the end, I opted to get two coffee tables and push them together. I already have a lot of marble in the house, and a marble top wasn’t my first choice…but I didn’t want glass either, and a more rustic wood style wouldn’t have fit in with the rest of the decor. On its own, the colour is quite stark in comparison with the other furnishings, but never fear…there is always lots to clutter it up with!
There are guidelines for finding the right size for your coffee table. Ideally, it should be about 2/3 the length of the sofa or chairs parallel to them, a couple of inches lower than the sofa or chair seat height and 18′-22″ between the two spaces. The ones I’ve chosen are within inches of all these measurements. At first, I wondered if they were too big, but now that I’ve lived with the new look for a couple of weeks, I think they fill the space nicely.
Like the size, there seems to be a formula for what to place on your coffee table…according to the design world! In the real world, I think you should decorate your table for your lifestyle and use it, not just have it look magazine-worthy.
***Items in the decorating formula include trays and boxes to harness bits of clutter, candles, BOOKS (of course), items of different textures, collectables (possibly treasures from travels), and something fresh (or live) like flowers or dried branches.
Over the years, I have collected plenty of all of the above! And, therefore, no shortage of how to fill the space…
When I placed this book on the easel, this happened to be the page it opened up to!
The books on my coffee table are my old friends. Subjects range from flowers and gardening to decorating, travel, and fashion. They now have plenty of room to breathe!
What’s keeping you occupied during these last weeks of winter?
xox Judy❤️
Such interesting collections and so well organized!
Thank you Cathy, it will be fun to change things up seasonally. xox Judy❤️
Lovely display Judy. I recognize a couple of those beautiful books – as they too sit on my book shelves and tables.
I have been refreshing the house for Spring as well. I bought a new coffee table for my family room, about four months ago, and have been playing with the arrangement on top almost everyday! Your vignettes always look so beautiful. Mine vacillate between too sparse to cluttered. LOL Thank you for the inspiration – yet again!
Hi Karen, I’m guessing you may be too critical of your own creativity! I’m sure you have come up with some fabulous displays! xox Judy❤️
Beautiful coffee table and the diplay of books with my favorite subject matters.
Thank you Eva, Sounds like we both have good taste! xox Judy❤️
Beautiful Judy! I love your new coffee table a the way that you’ve arranged it. I’ve been thinking lately that mine looks a little (actually a lot!) BLAH! You’ve really inspired me as usual Judy! Hugs, Karen xo❤️
Thank you Karen. It’s funny how you can look at something every day for years and all of a sudden you see it in a new light and you wonder why you never saw it that way before. As I said, I was very attached to my old coffee table…now it’s a distant memory. xox Judy❤️