At the moment I don't have a coffee table but a good tip is to use a tray to display or place items on as you can easily pick it up and move it if you need more space or to clean the table. You could use a wooden one, rattan or even a vintage silver plated tray, whatever suits your style. As for items, a few lovely coffee table books stacked neatly, a decorative container, maybe a bowl with wooden, glass or ceramic balls, a hurricane lamp with candle could be placed on the table and a vase of flowers is a must. Look around for items that suit the theme of your decor, ie if it's coastal you could use a lovely piece of white coral, a blue and white vase and some lovely books on coastal style.

Thanks for the opportunity to look at your room and think about what I would do. It has been fun. I think the round coffee table will work if it is large enough for everyone seated in the L sofa arrangement to reach it. (Bonus is no barked shins from sharp corners on a square one.) I agree pale colours like yellow won't do much for bringing about a changed more modern look. The room needs more drama and freshness and I think that currently the room has too many colours in the pale range and not enough contrast. I would go for introducing more of the stronger colours in your attractive tribal fabric, including black and white. Black in particular will allow you to really update the look. Consider painting the bookcase or even the doors black. (The existing coffee table would even look good painted glossy black.) Some plump cushions in the tribal fabric and others in a bigger more graphic design in large red and white zigzags or stripes say, would add to a more integrated look. Your bright yellow pot plant holder on the bookcase is another colour in your tribal fabric which would look good in the scheme as a minor accent, say, more pots that colour in a larger size, a big vase/artwork or lampshade. My advice is to stay away from golds and beiges as they relate to older fashions. A large framed in black graphic print on the wall in black and white (or even photo with meaning to you) could be an idea to think about too.

Hi, thanks all and apologies, all my mail went into the junk folder so I didn't see the comments. Yes I used the Annie Sloan chalk paint in graphite with black wax. As it was my first attempt I was very nervous. First I'd tried staining it with minwax polyshades - epic disaster! So I had to sand that down a bit as it was quite glossy and the Annie Sloan didn't stick. Anyway the lady in the shop Said to put clear wax on before the black wax which I did on the top but later I forgot and did black first by mistake and actually preferred that - so you can really muck around with it. I'm so pleased you all like it, my mother was very unimpressed and said she preferred it as it was but oh well, we like it. The paint is a cinch but the waxing takes quite a bit of elbow grease and not a small amount of lint-free rags (especially with black wax) and is quite expensive. Bill attached. Brush I will use again but used all the paint and almost all the wax. Still - Much cheaper than something new. I'm a bit nervous about tackling the large coffee table but I figure I can always sand it down again. The other option is a dark brown/black rub on stain called Java by General Finishes which I can get from the US by Amazon. It says it's the closest to the ikea brown/black Colour what ch could be good. I have another side table so I might try it on that one for a different room and then decide which looks best... Decisions decisions! May end up doing my awful but comfy walnut bed suite in the French Linen chalk pain half strength. I just hate it so much - it's so heavy and dated. Then I can add some nice pictures and make the room 'something'. Thanks for all the compliments - made my day!!

How are you with diy?! http://houseupdated.com/how-to-build-a-diy-industrial-coffee-table-for-only-75/