Have you ever noticed in beautifully decorated living rooms that the coffee tables are always accessorized?
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There is usually a collection of books, flowers, candles, maybe a tray to contain odds and ends.
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I know life in a photograph is much different than real life. Especially if you have little ones running around the house. Candles on a coffee table don’t mix well with young children. Neither does a bowl of candy.
And yet, I still believe you can have a pretty, accessorized coffee table even with children.
Here’s what we do in our house:
This is our main living area {although we do have a separate room where movie watching is done} and the kids are in this room a lot.
Notice that nothing on the table is precious. A fern in a basket, stack of books, melamine tray with magazines, vase of flowers. I like it all and have done my best to teach the kids to respect my things, but if something were to break, I would not be crushed. I think that’s the number one rule of decorating in a household with kids: train them to be gentle, but expect that something could break at any moment.
On the bottom shelf of the coffee table are a stack of puzzles and a basket of books for easy entertainment. And proof that kids do hang out here. I want my kids to know that I care about having a pretty house, but I also want it to be usable.
On the table:
the most amazing bouquet of peonies and sweet peas from Pike Place Market . mirrored coasters {anthropologie long, long ago} . stack of decorating books with vintage bibles on top . yellow flower napkin ring {pier one} . alphabet tray {target long ago} . magazines {do you read matthew mead publications? So great} . fern {from the grocery store} . silver bowl with vintage word cards . vintage metal basket {found}
coffee table: wisteria
zig zag rug: urban outfitters
I’d love to know … what’s on your coffee table?
Posted by emily
