Recently I have read several blog posts about how to accessorize the top of a coffee table. In fact, Jordan wrote one here. The general consensus is that there should be a tray or a basket on the bottom. There should be books, a candle, plant life, something tall, and maybe something oblong.
Our coffee table isn’t a table at all. It’s a “wormy chestnut” trunk that is cedar-lined. My mother gave it to me years ago, and I think it was handed down in the family. It is very, very heavy. I don’t know if “wormy chestnut” is actually a type of wood or if it is just chestnut that has holes in it put their by worms. Whatever, it’s a great place to store the linens we use when entertaining.
The tray is a lift-out tray that came with our side board/hunt board. It is like a butler’s tray. Since this is a July vignette in the great room, I used red, white, and blue. The red is from a book and some cute bicycle coasters.
The height comes from a little white candle in a tarnished silver holder. I like its patina. Also, the wooden box that holds our remote controls is white and adds some height. Would you like your books to do double duty? See how Jordan turned a book into a remote holder.
The oblong shape is the little paper mache box we bought in India. And finally, the flower and greenery add the plant life. So, I think I can check off all of the boxes: a tray to hold things – check; books – check; some plant life – check; height – check; something oblong – check; (and I threw in something round). The arrangement is compact, attractive, in scale with the trunk/table top; and red, white, and blue. My work here is done!
