It always feels magical when changing your living space for a new season. And these fall coffee table decor ideas are sure to bring those cozy autumn vibes.
Coffee tables are usually the most centered pieces of furniture in your living room. When you sit and chat with loved ones or curl up on the sofa, the table is always in your periphery.
So, keeping it neat and decorating it with beautiful, fun fall things are sure to set the mood and make your heart happy. It’s also great when there are functional elements along with conversation starters.
Now, these fall coffee table decor ideas aren’t pricey and won’t break the bank. I’ve added in some DIY options too for you to get started. Simple elegance is what I love and I’m sure what you choose will create a warm and inviting space for the season.
Check out my Christmas coffee table ideas too when you’re done.
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Before styling your fall coffee table
Before picking up the pumpkins and foraging for pinecones, it’s important to think about your specific table and the style you prefer.
Location
Where is your coffee table? Is it where everyone gathers daily for family time? Is it in front of the TV?
A high-traffic coffee table that gets daily use always needs more functional elements and a bit more open space.
Trays that can keep books, remotes, candles and coasters together are always a good idea. Space for the kids to sit around and color is also important as the weather gets more chilly. And, you wouldn’t want tall flowers and vases blocking your TV.
Size and shape
Sometimes, coffee table trays can overwhelm a small table so it’s useful to take the size and shape into consideration. A bigger table can handle bigger centerpieces, for instance.
For round tables, square and rectangular shapes might add contrasting elements to the space. Or rectangular tables might benefit from rounded vases and ornaments.
Of course, you can also stay really dedicated to the shape with rounded everything on a rounded table and linear items on regular shaped pieces.
Who’s always around
Got young kids or pets? Do your teens love roughhousing? That can definitely influence the decor you get for the coffee table.
You wouldn’t want delicate glass pumpkins and unique, one-of-a-kind vases on the coffee table that can easily break and injure your loved ones. So, durable and unbreakable decor would be better with them around.
Don’t think you’re limited though! There are lots of wood and fabric pieces that can truly elevate your space.
Your personal style
What’s your personal style? Do you want to maintain this style for the coffee table or do you want to step a little out of your comfort zone and try something different?
Your opinion matters above all else. It’s your space! What you love, what makes you smile is what should be on your table.
If you enjoy minimalism, then a simple ceramic vase in the center of the table with some flowers is perfect! If you prefer cozy and charming, you’ll love warm colors, textured layers and some vintage touches that give you a little nostalgia.
Not everything has to be brown, orange or white. It’s all about what you want!
Fall coffee table decor tips
Add textures
Fall and textures go hand-in-hand so incorporating many types of materials can be a great way to bring in an autumn atmosphere.
For example, smooth, ceramic pumpkins can be added on top of rough burlap fabric or wooden slabs. Soft plushies can sit on mirrors, wooden or vintage metal trays.
Bring in natural materials
I am a fan of low waste and eco-friendly decor. So, I adore bringing in natural materials to my space.
You can use real mini pumpkins, dried fruit and spices that can be composted after or real flowers in your vase. You can also use natural fabrics like linen, cotton, jute and burlap. And, of course, pinecones and leaves can be foraged (and free).
Use layering and varying heights
Interior decorators love creating dimension in a space to peak visual interest. One way to do that is to add layers of items and vary the heights of some of them.
What does that look like? A small woven placemat, a short stack of books, tall figurines and an even taller vase filled with pampas leaves or flowers.
The visuals draw the eye to each item and gives an impression of depth and interest.
3 isn’t a crowd
As a photographer, you learn about the rule of thirds, phi and Fibonacci spiral. For some reason, our eyes love things grouped together in odd numbers – threes, fives, sevens – you get the point.
Dividing the table in thirds and decorating the middle third can give a pleasing arrangement to the eye. Or having 3 books instead of 2 just makes it look better for some reason.
Negative space is good
I talked about leaving room for the kiddies to color and draw on the table. But, leaving space without anything there is negative space and that’s a good thing.
You don’t want your eyes to be too overwhelmed by your table. You don’t want it to feel cluttered so having some empty room (at least half the space) is important for the scene to feel balanced.
Plus, you’ll have the space to put your teacups in the evening.
Catch-all containers
Let’s be honest, no matter how much you try to keep the coffee table tidy, things would still be left out-of-place. Maybe a pen here and there or extra books and papers stays on the coffee table. That’s all perfectly fine but may not go with the theme you want.
I always find having a mini catch-all container can help hide the clutter. You can get a fall-themed container one too. A pumpkin with a little lid would be cute and seasonal! Trays also help keep things in one place! Baskets and faux books are also great.
Fall coffee table decor
Trays
Many use trays to anchor the design. It is the base on which everything else is added and can be moved around. This makes them functional, especially on game night or when the kiddies want to doodle.
You can go for wooden trays, glass ones, or even vintage metal ones. Wooden trays with metal handles are also a great option. This oval shaped tray is pretty unique and comes in a bunch of colors.
For the classic, rectangular coffee table tray, this acacia wood one is a great choice! It’s also pretty functional and you can use it for those breakfast in bed mornings.
If you’re looking for a circular tray with its own textured element, this rattan tray is wonderful and has its own beautiful design coated with resin. It’s not a dual purpose tray but it’s gorgeous.
And. for a completely different tray material, this concrete one is divine! Oh, it also comes with the faux book that has a hidden compartment which could work as your catch-all container for remotes and more.
Bowls can also work here too! So, don’t think you are limited to just trays!
Wooden signs
Besides trays, you can bring in wood elements and the fall theme with small table signs. This maple leaf sign has phrases like ‘pumpkin spice’ and ‘falling leaves.’ It’s not too big and there are lots of other holiday options too.
Sticking with the maple leaf theme, you can pick up this fall leaf wooden centerpiece that comes with LED lights in them!
If you want to introduce the fall colors to your space, how about using this sign that spells fall?
Pumpkin decor
Pumpkins are synonymous with fall so adding pumpkins to your coffee table is a great way to usher in the autumn season. You can choose real pumpkins that you can compost later or you can go for decorative ones.
This decor set comes with artificial pumpkins, acorns, pinecones, maple leaves, and foam berries so you don’t have to forage for anything.
For elegant looking pumpkins, these resin ones check all the boxes.
To add a little softness, you can fill a small ceramic bowl with adorable crochet pumpkins like these. If you have kiddies over for Thanksgiving, you can gift them a couple when they stop by. And, if you are an avid crocheter, you could DIY these yourself!
For living rooms and coffee tables where glass decor is okay, this hand blown pumpkin figurine is a show stopper. It is so beautiful and there are lots of other colors to get!
Non-pumpkin decorations
Pumpkins aren’t the only decor items associated with fall. Acorns and pinecones are too! So are fall-colored leaves and turkeys. And, while gnomes are more associated with Christmas, you can certainly find lots of fall themed gnomes!
Okay, the gnomes definitely snuck some pumpkins in there.
Table runners and fabrics
We talked about introducing textures for a contrasting table scene. Balancing rough surfaces with soft, delicate fabrics add so much unique interest to the coffee table. Or if you are going for smooth trays and vases, a natural fabric like jute or burlap can also bring dimension.
Similarly, fur, lace, macrame, crochet doilies and tassels can introduce whimsy and personality.
You can also swap out table runners for placemats too! There are lots of circular and rectangular ones that are sure to fit your table scene.
Candles
Candles aren’t just aesthetic. They can engage the other senses and bring in beautiful fall scents and gentle heat to the living space. Pumpkin spice, cinnamon, apple and woody tones are perfect for the season.
The type of candle you get will be based on the aesthetic you are going for. I am a huge fan of beeswax candles (I prefer them over soy ones) and this one certainly is unique and interesting!
Dripless beeswax pillar candles are also great! And this pumpkin shaped candle is a fun way to bring pumpkin decor into the space. Of course, add a little ceramic bowl to catch the melted beeswax too!
Lights
While candles add some light to the space, you can ditch the fire hazard and get pretty LEDs too. Fairy lights can be so whimsical and fun as fall coffee table decor. You can go simple with LED tea lights or bring in mason jars too.
Mini fall trees with lights would certainly introduce some height elements to the table too.
Vases
Pull in some height and texture into the space with vases. They can be incredibly artsy and ornate or simple and minimalist.
How cool is this ceramic bohemian one? It screams elegance and goes perfectly well with pampas grass, fall themed flowers and leaves.
These vintage glass mini vases are also beautiful for shorter and smaller flowers. With the glass pumpkins from before, you can certainly create a sparkly atmosphere.
Foliage
Preserved eucalyptus, dried pampas grass, preserved wheat stalks, fall leaves, and faux foliage are great options here. They add lightness and bring the fall table decor together.
You can also do real succulents and air plants too. They’re great indoor plants even for fall and winter.
I love this bouquet that comes with dried pampas, bunny tails, lavender and red eucalyptus stems. It’s big, bold and beautiful!
Eucalyptus stems can also bring in a beautiful green color to your table. I’ve linked to both real dried eucalyptus stems (left) that you can hang in your shower after and small faux stems that come in a glass vase with faux water (right).
Books
Large coffee table books, magazines and books you are reading right now can all be included on your coffee table. They’re great conversation starters! If the colors of the covers clash with your overall aesthetic, consider covering them with paper! Repurpose brown paper bags and you’ll instantly change their look! Or line them with linen.
Use these fall coffee table decor ideas to celebrate the beauty of autumn. But, when it comes to decorating, there’s no right way, there are no rules to follow. Go with what brings you joy!
Whether you prefer the minimal look with a couple pieces or prefer the maximal display with all the pumpkins, textures and layers, what matters most is that it feels authentically you!
Functionality is also important too! But, above all, have fun! Enjoy the creative process and embrace all things fall!
If you are looking for more ways to decorate for fall, stay tuned I have more posts coming! Happy decorating!
