Designers Swear By This '3B' Styling Secret for Coffee Tables
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If you’ve ever tried to craft a stylish tableau on a coffee table, then you know just how challenging it can be to achieve the perfect mix of height, texture, and shape. As someone who produces the beautifully styled homes you see on Country Living, allow me to assist. What you might not have realized is that there is a pretty basic formula you need to follow for a perfectly styled coffee table. It’s what we use in the magazine all the time, and it’s called the 3B Theory.
The 3B Theory is pretty simple. Every large tabletop surface—whether it’s a coffee table or a console table—should have a mix of three elements: boxes, bowls, and brass. (Some might prefer boxes, books, and brass, which works too, but we prefer bowls since they introduce another shape into the mix.) This rule of three is even backed up by science! As humans, our brains are naturally drawn to the offset symmetry that groups of three provide.
Let’s break down each element and chat about why it works.
1. Boxes
When building your tableau, start with boxes. These effortlessly add height, so pick your most attractive option to stack high above the others. If your preferred box isn’t tall enough, stack it on top of pretty coffee table books for an elevated (literally) look. And, while your box can be made of any material, antique wood boxes work especially well here.
2. Bowls
Bowls should come next as they are typically larger than your final brass accents. If you need additional height, opt for a footed compote. Natural materials, such as faux horn, or lovely patinaed silver (not shiny!) are my favorite for this element. In a farmhouse or cottage, a basket can also stand in as the “bowl.”
3. Brass
Finally, use brass accents to complete your display. Quirky figurines or vintage candleholders are the easiest vehicle for adding that charming patina, but larger brass accents—such as a vase or a pitcher—work just as well. Just be sure to choose a piece that is distinctly different in size from the other items in your coffee table display.
Burlwood Box
Brass Dog Figurine
Mercury Glass Compote
Set of Aged Brass Bells
Horn Bowl
Set of Leather Boxes
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