http://www.mariakillam.com/tablescape-for-beginners/

Quick tutorial on creating tables capes.

I like simplicity -- either a pile of books with something on top or a big bowl of fruit or a bigger plant.

Might consider putting a piece of clear/stained/mirrored/ glass all across the top. If you want or have, a nice selection of photos from trips you have taken under the clear glass, could be pretty, or a nice table runner of your favorite heirloom fabric, a purchased muslin runner, or 3 pretty panaramic photos going from left to right under the glass would be neat. On top, you probably want coasters in stack, either decorated tiles personalized, or just wood, or cork, or stone, read to use. Along with that, a small bouquet of flowers perhaps, that change with the season, and maybe a small travel game displayed, for fun like Connect 4 or Brass and wood, TicTacToe, . . Sounds like fun? :D

Below are a few ways in which we decorated coffee tables for our clients home:

Cascade Mountain Home · More Info

Cascade Mountain Home · More Info

I love the Michelle York coffee tables.

One of my pet peeves is seeing coffee table books used as plinths with plants and bowls on top of them. I want to be able to pursue a book without moving things around- especially at someone else's house, where I would not remove an item in order to flip through a pretty book.

Consider a trayscape that can be moved when you need the space for hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

Is that ^^^^ 2 cans of soda and a bowl of popcorn? And a board game?

That's usually what my coffee table looks like. But I agree to keep it simple and only use that which is easy to move. Maybe use a tray to contain a couple of books and a succulent...

2 cans of soda and a bowl of popcorn are either life or staging, not decor. Though if they are now considered decor, my status in the world of interior design has just been elevated.

Maybe some latter-day Andy Warhol is making sculptural sodas and popcorn bowls. I would believe it.

LOL the popcorn and soda. I figured they were trying to make it look like the owners were about to sit down to a film. I like the tray on the diagonal and would think it would be balanced by a bowl or plant should there not be snacks on the table ;-)

Cawaps- there is some guy or gal making boxes of consumer stuff- like a cases of Evian or something- as a sculpture. I have seen it repeatedly in shelter mags- absolutely amazing.

Really funny "example" BUT Michelle York Interior Design may just have stole my look....I'm pretty sure I did it back in '81, although my bowl was a little different...

I was going to say a bowl of popcorn and two cans of beer wasn’t decor, but didn’t want to sound snarky. Looks like a scrabble board.

I'd google some coffee table displays. I like to see trays and books with different interesting objects with different heights. What I enjoy looking at and what's practical for us are two different things though. Mine (ottoman) currently has a large woven basket with handles and inside is a picture of my kids (not a popular idea here) in coordinating frame, a few books selected paying attention the subject and color and on top of the books is a silver revere bowl that holds the remotes. There's still room for feet and other things and the display makes me smile.