Outdoor Accent Tables

How to Style an Outdoor Coffee Table

Whether you want to soak up the summer sun’s morning rays or cool off in the shade on a hot day, an outdoor coffee table gives you the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy the views. Coffee tables come in many styles and colors. Turn your patio into a European-style bistro or make it a modern getaway. You can also get accessories like outdoor pillows, cushions and outdoor umbrellas to make your coffee table and patio an enchanting entertainment area for guests.

At west elm, our outdoor dining furniture collection helps you select the right coffee table for your home. If you are planning to use your coffee table for playing cards and board games, a rectangular coffee table that is low to the ground makes a good choice. Weather-permitting, you can even stack a few board games on the table for use and visual effect. A beautiful mosaic tiled coffee table, complete with two or three chairs, creates an intimate hangout spot. Complete the scene with a funky side table, which can be a nice focal point and hold drinks and plates, too.

When you are entertaining outdoors, food and drinks are a key part of any celebration. For a summertime celebration, a chip and dip platter is perfect for serving snacks. Pair it with painted bowls and woven placemats for a festive finish. You can also present food and drinks to guests on a wooden or lacquer tray, which look stunning and eliminate the need for cleaning more dishes. If mixed drinks are on the menu, look for drink-appropriate products like mule mugs. You can also make a dazzling centerpiece from a glass pitcher filled with crimson sangria.

To create privacy, outdoor curtains are a good option. Outdoor curtains come in many colors, from light blue and white to red and bright orange. They also come in patterned designs like stripes. Outdoor curtains are weather-resistant and ideal for all seasons. They will provide shade for the outdoor area in summer and help retain heat in the evenings and during cooler weather. Curtains come in single pieces, so you can use just one as a divider or create an enclosed outdoor porch with four.

Once you have the bigger details of decorating taken care of, you can focus on aesthetics. Our outdoor rugs are designed for use in all weather. They come in interesting patterns like stripes and diamonds, and you can find them in assorted colors to match the surrounding decor. Earthen tones, like beige and light brown, lend a natural look to the patio. A darker colored rug will do a good job of hiding dirt. Placing an elegant black and white outdoor rug under the coffee table gives it an upscale, regal look.

If you’re not one to be stopped by a bit of bad weather, our outdoor umbrellas are just what you need. They come in light colors like white, which will give your patio a Mediterranean feel, and darker colors like red and gray. Outdoor umbrellas can protect you and your guests from rain and the sun’s rays, and it can help extend the life of your outdoor furnishings, too. Consider pairing the umbrella with a stand to make it more stable, and get an umbrella cover for easy storage when it’s not in use.

Whether you’re sprucing up a tabletop or envisioning a tropical getaway, adding greenery to your patio makes a big difference. Our outdoor garden planters can hold plants, herbs, ornamental grasses and more. Planters are available in a variety of styles, such as standing planters and traditional ground-level square and rectangular planters. Garden planters come in many colors, too, so you can easily find one to match the color scheme of the patio. You can complete an inspiring coffee table scene with a few nice pillows and cushions for the chairs and lanterns or candles to create a calming, romantic ambience.