Books Are Fine, But Jackie Kennedy's '70s NYC Apartment Proves That the Best Coffee Table Styling Is a Little Weird

If something feels slightly unfinished about your living room, it probably has to do with your coffee table styling. For fear of making their space look too cluttered, many people tend to go too minimal or generic with unoffensive pieces, resulting in a finish that feels listless and unfocused. However, Jackie Kennedy's personality-filled styling proves that idiosyncratic details are much chicer.

Rather than stacked books, her '70s coffee table decor featured stranger details: two separate wicker baskets (this tightly woven rattan pick from Amazon resembles her look), Greek prayer beads, Egyptian brass cat sculptures, fresh tulips, and seemingly out-of-place sticks. It's unexpected, textured, and deeply interesting to look at. Though Jackie's design is less than perfect, its imperfection is exactly what makes it charming.

Online tastemakers have been telling us that our homes aren't weird enough since 2025, and clearly, they're on to something.

'When designing a home, it’s often the smallest surfaces that carry the most visual weight,' explains New York-based interior designer Nina Lichtenstein. She states: 'Nowhere is that more evident than on the coffee table, a modest piece with oversized potential. Thoughtfully styled, a coffee table can anchor a room, spark conversation, and quietly reflect the soul of a space.'

To explore perfecting this most essential of surfaces, Homes & Gardens spoke with Nina about how to create a coffee table that would make even Jackie Kennedy proud. We also curated an edit of accessories inspired by her look, to make it easy to replicate. Let's dive in.

Recreate Jackie's Look at Home

As Jackie Kennedy's design demonstrates, the most important consideration in building your alluring coffee table is establishing a narrative. Nina explains: 'A styled coffee table tells a story. Whether it leans minimalist or maximalist, organic or glam, each piece placed on the surface is a curated part of the narrative. A scented candle, a handmade ceramic dish, or a seasonal floral arrangement aren’t just decorative. They’re emotional cues that reflect how you want the space to feel.'

These sensory details help even the smallest coffee table have a huge design impact.

Stones, rocks, and shells are the perfect idiosyncratic additions to add weirdness and style, like the look we see in Jackie Kennedy's library.

Nina advises: 'Candles, florals, and natural materials all have the power to shift the mood. A coffee table styled with intention can make a living room feel more peaceful, more elevated, and more welcoming. It’s a small item with surprisingly high impact.'

A coffee table is the fulcrum around which the rest of your living room revolves. Even the smallest details can help transform this centerpiece into something truly magical.

Love celebrity news and interior design inspiration? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.