Interior designer Kelly Hoppen’s simple coffee table styling tip is a fabulous way to bring color into a neutral room and you achieve the “simply thrown together” look.
Known for her signature style of clean lines and neutral tones, Kelly shares how she creates a perfectly curated coffee table display that looks like a work of art.
In theory, it’s all about choosing an accent color that can be used in small amounts to spice up a color scheme or add more pizzazz. Used by stylists and designers for maximum impact, this foolproof technique is also an ideal way to seasonally update your home with little effort.
As Kelly shows with books and flowers, it works really well in a simple, neutral or monochrome space. Here, an unexpected pop of red and height difference creates a striking focal point, like a piece of art, and adds more visual interest to the living room.
Kelly captioned the video posted on Instagram, “If you know me, you know my flowers have to be one color. I love matching a bouquet of accent flowers with accessories… anyone else feel this way?”
The interior designer explained how she grouped books in a red hue and then chose red as an accent color for a bouquet of peonies. “I love this vintage Willy Rizzo table with the books stacked high and this (vase) that’s kind of off-center in the circle here. It’s kind of a piece of art, but it looks like it was just thrown together,” she explains.
How to achieve the look
In the video, Kelly references the original TRG rotating coffee table, designed by Italian artist William Rizzo in 1969, which features a striking wine cooler/stainless steel container (this is where Kelly placed the vase). A candle by Fornasetti and a vase by 101 Copenhagen Kyoto complete the arrangement.
To recreate the look inexpensively, follow these three steps and shop some cheaper alternatives below.
- Organize your picture books by color. Place two stacks of different heights on top of each other.
- Get a bouquet of fresh (or dried) flowers in the same accent color.
- Place the flowers in a glass vase and place it off-center on a round mirror plate or tray. Voilà!
Get the Kelly Hoppen look (on a budget)
Decorative individual book stack bundles
Now 20% discount
If you’re a book lover, you’ll probably draw on your extensive book collection. If not, you can find decorative book stacks on Etsy – coffee table styling made easy!
Angelo minimalist round concrete coffee table
This beautiful concrete-style coffee table is perfect for minimalist rooms or those with a penchant for the industrial look.
Arocha coffee table
This is a glossy white coffee table. It has three “trays” of different sizes built into it, giving you more options to tweak the styling.
With its tapered design, this white wood grain coffee table fits perfectly into modern spaces.
Flowers are always seasonal, but at Flowerbx you will find a wide selection of beautiful flowers that you can filter by color.
Your fresh bouquet from the London florist
Stick to the same color family, like this stunning bouquet of pink and red blooms.
Stay traditional with bright roses that always make an impression.
Nothing is better than a clear glass vase for a fresh bouquet of flowers. This hand-blown design made from recycled glass features a distinctive thick rolled rim.
Nuptio round centerpiece made of mirrored plate
Grab this set of mirrored centerpieces – use just one or keep the stack for styling. It also helps reflect light around the room.
Round mirror tray made of stainless steel
You can also achieve the look with a mirrored tray. This sleek chrome finish is a sleek choice.
Here’s an imitation Fornasetti candle at a fraction of the price, saving you hundreds of pounds.
Complete your coffee table with a versatile large black vase. It will be a real eye-catcher in any setting.
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Olivia Heath is the daily editor of House Beautiful. Olivia is in charge of all things digital and loves uncovering tomorrow’s biggest design trends and sharing the best decorating tips, small space solutions, houseplant care and gardening tips.
Week after week, Olivia rounds up the high street’s chicest homewares to help you get the look for less, showcasing the best makeovers and the hottest and most unique deals on the market. She also loves covering the biggest events in the calendar, including all the action from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, colour of the year predictions from Pantone to Dulux, and exclusive previews of all the new Christmas collections before they hit the shops.
Olivia has been writing about homes and interiors for seven years and her work has also been published in House Beautiful US, Elle Decor US, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Red, Prima, Town & Country, Elle Japan, Modern Living and Micasa Revista.
Before joining House Beautiful, Olivia worked at Reveal magazine, where she covered celebrity and entertainment news during the day and attended showbiz parties and red carpet events at night!
Olivia has an MA in Journalism with an NCTJ degree and a BA in Journalism and Media and Cultural Studies.
