3 styling lessons I learnt from taking a tour of Nate Berkus’ coffee table
When it comes to designing a forever home, it’s all about investing in furniture that speaks to you. While it’s inevitable that your home will change over the years, one of the best ways to ensure that your choices endure is by thoughtfully and meticulously styling your pieces.
Avid vintage collector and interior designer Nate Berkus proved this theory when he took to Instagram to show off one of the most beloved pieces in his home – a vintage orange-tinged marble coffee table.
The coffee table itself is a beautiful, timeless piece, but I was also taking notes on his coffee table styling ideas. It’s a surface in my home I rearrange almost weekly, and I learned some key lessons watching Nate talk through his space.
1. Pick a coffee table that’s going to add an interesting base
Nate’s beautiful marble coffee table has a backstory. He explains in the video, ‘Funny story about this coffee table. It’s made from Rosso marble. It was designed by Gae Aulenti in the 1960s and 70s, and Knoll produced it.’
‘Jeremiah and I saw this table online from an antiques dealer in Palm Springs when we lived in Los Angeles. We called the shop and we said, “Do you still have this table?” and they said, “Yes, we have a truck leaving for LA in an hour, so if you want this table, it can be in your living room in three hours.”
It’s a gem of a piece, a real statement. Although Nate explains that even for him, the terracotta shade was unfamiliar, the risky choice pays off; ‘It was definitely a risk for us years ago when we bought this color, as we thought it was really adventurous. What I love about it is it’s definitely post-midcentury, sixties, seventies vibe, but it’s super strong, super stable, very architectural, and very sculptural.’
It’s the color and textures peeking through the coffee table decor that make it the perfect base for building vignettes with a ton of depth and interest. It’s not so bold you can’t add whatever you want on top, pattern and texture-wise, but it’s also not just a bland background for decor.
If you want to get your hands on the exact same piece as Nate’s and have a toppy budget, you can shop the ‘Jumbo’ marble table on 1st Dibs. Or, I found some similar styles that have that same wonderful texture and warm color.
Rosso Marble Accent Table (20″)
This square marble side table is the perfect addition to your living room. Slot in beside your sofa or at the heart of the room for an elegant flourish that feels timeless and sophisticated. Perfect for laying your coffee table book collection.
This deep red coffee table has sculptural legs and a smooth top. It’s an elegant, luxurious style that would pair well with a really texture-heavy living room – think tufted rugs, boucle sofa, and lots of wood.
Pierce & Ward Marble Coffee Table (42″)
This mid-century style coffee table is unique in shape. With its angular legs and sleek marble top, it’s a classic vintage style that will bring a sense of eclecticism and grandeur to your living room.
2. Bring in beautiful pieces that also have a practical purpose
All good coffee table setups are about balance. These are quite practical surfaces that can’t totally give way to pure aesthetics, and Nate’s coffee table gets that balance spot on using beautiful pieces that could also cater to something practical.
Case in point, the ornate glass dishes that top the piles of books, perfect for coralling clutter and keeping a coffee table organized when you need. I have added a couple to my coffee table set up, and they are ideal temporary homes for keys, spare change, lipsticks – things that would normally be thrown on the table now sit neatly in dishes that double as decor.
Of course, Nate also included a tray within his coffee table decor. A must to give your styling some structure and zone the space. It’s also an opportunity to add in some different textures – the softer rattan contrasts with the clean lines of the stacks of books, and the fluid shapes of the vintage candlesticks.
This vintage-style glass bowl is the perfect coffee table accessory. It’s delicate and oh-so elegant and would contrast wonderfully with heavy coffee table books.
Modern Rustic Verdigris Metal Candle Holders
Nate has a pair of vintage candle holders on his coffee table, much like this rustic pair from Etsy. They give the arrangement patina and character that perfectly contrasts with the slick marble.
LOEWE
Oregano small scented candle
This oregano-scented candle will entice you to sit and relax as soon as you enter your living room. It’s a classic coffee table accessory that brings sophistication and atmosphere.
3. Create zones with in your coffee table decor
While Nate’s layout of his coffee table decor seems effortless, there’s definitely some method behind the arrangement. The pieces are stacked in individual areas that prevent the surface from feeling overwhelmed or cluttered and allow for the beautiful marble to still have plenty of stage time.
Each piece of decor has been given space to breathe. This is something I am guilty of overlooking when rearranging my coffee table, and filling my space to the brim is a coffee table mistake I have been guilty of making – blank space is just as chic as decor.
So, taking inspiration from Nate, I have now ‘zoned’ my coffee table in a similar way, creating small areas within the surface space. There’s definitely more table on show, but it’s actually meant that I can be more creative with the decor, creating multiple separate vignettes. And having that negative space has definitely made my coffee table look more expensive too.
Hapao Rectangular Tray, Tea Stain
Nate has a rattan tray on his coffee table that he uses to hold a stack of books. Bringing contrast, the texture balances out the smooth marble and creates visual interest.
Roma Eterna – Assouline Coffee Table Book
No coffee table is complete without a stack of aesthetic books. This book on Rome is not only inspiring but has a beautiful cover, making it the perfect choice to place at your table’s center.
“Little Book Of Yves Saint Laurent” Leather Edition
This leather-bound book on YSL will bring an enduring elegance to your coffee table and sit proudly within a stack of other books or solo at the center.
My coffee table decor looks better than ever, thanks to a mix of being both pared back and more layered. I can see more of the table, which definitely looks more elegant, with some lovely wooden texture coming through, and yet there’s more decor on there than ever, thanks to the zones I have created. It was a 10-minute rearranging job, adding pieces I already had in my home, but following these three simple lessons has made a big difference.
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