As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work.

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 center 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 center 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 should instead 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 tells POPSUGAR. "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:

by Kelsey Garcia 6 hours ago

by Emily Oldenquist 9 hours ago

by Chanel Vargas 11 hours ago

by Sabienna Bowman 11 hours ago

Get Your Daily Life Hack

Select the topics that interest you:

By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from POPSUGAR.

Get your daily life hack right in your inbox.

Sign up for our newsletter.

By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from POPSUGAR.

Please select the topics you're interested in:

Would you like to turn on POPSUGAR desktop notifications to get breaking news ASAP?

Great, Click the ‘Allow’ Button Above ☝️

Awesome, You’re All Set! 🎉