10 Things Designers Say You Should Never Put on Your Coffee Table

While faux floral arrangements can be beautiful, designer Ashley DeLapp warns about resting them on coffee tables. “Always go with real flowers on your coffee table,” DeLapp says. “Just keep arrangements low and loose. Taller flowers can block sight lines and interrupt conversation.”

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Even if you have an impressive collection of bar essentials—think wine openers, cocktail picks, and shakers—designer Lauren Covino-Smith of Styled Ivy Interiors says you should keep them away from your coffee table. Consider a rolling bar cart instead.

“Not only does it become dangerous to have tall wine glasses or liquor decanters where people frequently reach, but it adds clutter and confusion to other styling elements on the table,” Covino-Smith says.

There might be room for rechargeable lamps in your home, but Elle Mead says it’s not on your coffee table. “They interrupt conversation and create unnecessary visual clutter in what should be an open, inviting centerpiece,” she explains.

Instead, decorate your tabletop with one of your favorite candles. It’s an easy way to make your living room more inviting, according to Elle Mead.

“Remember that miniature easels are for displaying artwork and rarely belong on a coffee table,” says Elle Mead, noting that they can disrupt sight lines. “And remember that artwork on an easel is designed to be viewed from one direction.”

A better option? Try a mix of decorative accents that show off your style—think coffee table books or small plants. “Items should be attractive from every angle and encourage conversation rather than competing for attention,” Elle Mead adds.

“We all love the statement a beautiful hardcover book brings to any coffee table, and two or three are perfectly okay when placed correctly,” says Covino-Smith. She recommends not going beyond this amount to prevent your tabletop from looking crowded.

Be sure to stay away from bookends, too. “The height they bring to vertically stacked books is much better suited for a bookshelf or on top of a cabinet,” she explains.

If you want to keep your coffee table clutter-free, it’s best for your remote controls to remain out of sight. “Storing them in a decorative box keeps them contained and within reach,” DeLapp says.

While storage baskets are useful for preventing clutter in the living room, DeLapp suggest placing them under the coffee table rather than on top. “Instead, use a decorative tray to corral smaller items. It will look more collected than cluttered.”

According to Covino-Smith, your coffee table should “tell a story,” so avoid generic decor such as beaded garland and chain links.

“These pieces aren't inherently poor design objects, but they've become tired and predictable, like a copy-and-paste version of a social media trend rather than timeless interiors that tell a story,” she says.