When spring arrived, I was ready for a change. I went with pinks and greens even though it was a stretch for my neutral-loving self. But to my complete surprise, I loved it! So much so that I’m keeping it through summer.
Welcome to another Pinterest Challenge. The subject this month is summer coffee table styling. If you’ve popped in from Bluesky at Home, thank you. I’m so glad you’re here! I hope you find inspiration today as I share how to decorate a coffee table with colorful vintage pieces. And you’ll see what my friends have done at the bottom of the post. Let’s get started.
How to Decorate a Coffee Table With Colorful Vintage Pieces
Below is the inspiration photo for the Pinterest Challenge. It was pinned by Beth at Home Stories A to Z.
When I look at the photo, here’s what I see and want to incorporate when I style our coffee table.
- a bench-style coffee table
- woven basket
- a tray
- wooden beads
- greenery stems
- a candle
- coffee table books
“If your style isn’t the same as a photo you see on social media, no worries!”
If you see a photo and think – I love it but that will never work for me, do this one thing and you’ll surprise yourself.
TIP: If you use what you already have in your home, changing something into a style that works for you will easily fall into place.
Vintage Chamber Pot turned plant holder!
When I look at Beth’s style, it’s more contemporary than mine. She mentions vintage chic and French country. I can kind of see that, but no one would look at my home and describe it that way. My style is mixing old with new pieces together, and I enjoy repurposing things as much as possible. I’ll mention those things as I show you what I’ve put together below.
I love collecting vintage coffee table books!
We use an old iron garden bench for our coffee table. The bottom of the bench is a little crooked but because it’s vintage, it’s hard to give up. And because it’s a bench, its slender shape makes it difficult to decorate.
Beth used a wooden tray to corral some of her items and a there’s a woven basket underneath. I’m combining those together and using my scalloped-edged woven tray. It was a HomeGoods find from a couple of years ago.
You can also see the pot my plant is sitting in. It’s a repurposed chamber pot. It must have belonged to a wealthy woman because it’s more ornate than most I’ve seen. The flowers on the sides are pretty and it has a gold rim.
After adding the coffee table books laying down, I tried standing them up to have more eligible space. But, I didn’t care for it so back to laying them down.
This table vignette doesn’t say Cindy – lol!
Adding beads and a candle rounded out the summer coffee table styling. Even though it looks fine and there’s nothing wrong with it, it doesn’t say Cindy lives here so that simply won’t do. 😉
Back to restyling. When shopping my home, I saw an antique lid from a crock being used for another plant across the room. The bright colors work with our pink and green living room, it looks great sitting on the books, and screams vintage. Again though, I think this arrangement is just okay. Let’s keep trying.
Almost, but not quite.
Okay it’s getting better. I combined a beautiful antique pitcher with several candles in place of a single candle. Along with using the beads it’s filling up nicely. But do I love it? Meh.
Now I love it! By moving the books to the middle of the tray and adding the crock lid with the beads, I was able to spread things out. And I’ve incorporated all of what I thought I could from Beth’s photo. I shopped my home and played around until I was completely happy with the look. I have the tray/woven basket, a candle, beads, coffee table books, and green stems (plant) all sitting on bench type seating.
Now it says Cindy lives here!
Have you been inspired to keep shopping your home and keep playing until you get the results you want? And by doing so, can you see how to decorate a coffee table with colorful vintage pieces? Thank you for stopping by today. Next up is my friend Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse. You will enjoy what she has to share.
If you’d like to see May’s Pinterest Challenge from last year, click here. It’s a Father’s Day buffet idea!
I love that you stay true to Cindy! And that you show us how you play with the arrangement until it felt right to you. Isn’t that what the best for our homes?
Author
Yes mam, that is what we want! I remember long ago buying things because I saw it and thought I could make it work. Oh how much money I wasted! Glad it only took me 40 years to figure it out. 😉 Thanks Diane.
Love this so much!!! Your coffee table looks amazing!!!
Author
Aww, you made my day Emily, thank you!
My first thought is how pretty! Every element in your coffee table vignette just sings! The final arrangement is perfectly balanced. 😍 Love it Cindy!
Author
Wow, thank you Michelle. I am glad it turned out well. At first I was thinking this might be the challenge that does me in! LOL
Cindy
Your combination of iron, baskets and vintage pieces are just stunning. Thank you for all you do. 😘
Author
I am so glad you liked it. I am smiling from ear to ear – thank you so so much Rachel!
Thanks Cindy, I love the process to because after all it is a process! Staying true to your look is what it’s all about and just goes to show you how many different looks one can get by using the same formula. Great job!!!
Author
I really appreciate that Shelley, thank you. It took a while! :0
Hi, Cindy, I can’t believe we both used a scalloped basket tray in our coffee table styling. Your long rectangular tray is perfect for your bench. Like you, I love adding, subtracting, and rearranging until you get the look you want and feel comfortable with. Thanks so much for the lovely inspiration photo. I hope everyone enjoys the summer coffee tables.
Author
I have used that scalloped tray in so many places over the last couple of years. So much so that I wish I had another one! Thank you Carol.
Cindy, I LOVE the two vintage pieces you’ve shared!!! I think our great-grandparents would think it funny that we use their chamber pots for other things, but why not? They are stunningly beautiful… They could also come over here and live nicely! 😉
Love how your whole coffee table vignette turned out. <3
Thanks for making this our challenge this month. Love it!!!
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Author
I have a feeling my great-grandmother would be appalled. LOL! We’d just have to remind them that just like them saving one tiny baggie or piece of aluminum foil, we are also saving something to reuse. But in a much much better way. 😉 Thank you Barbara. If I ever want/need to pair down and remove some pieces, you’ll be first on the list for the two pieces in the tablescape.
Cindy, I’m inspired by how you played around until you got it just right! I agree that until it feels right for you, continued zshusing is a must! I’m really loving the pink florals in your home! Pinned.
Author
Yay, glad you’re inspired. I used to give up and just say – good enough. Now I work it until I say – I love it! 🙂 Thank you Cindy
It’s a pretty display for your coffee table and I love the plant holder and all the pinks you used. Sometimes I think changes makes us more inspiring.
Author
I agree Marlene! Ever since painting the kitchen green, I’ve been using it as a neutral and have had so much fun with color. The green has been inspiring to me! Hope you have a nice week.