I was sitting on my couch this morning drinking my vanilla flavored coffee with my legs propped up on my coffee table. Things I noticed: four neatly piled stacks of unread mail, a few coupon clippings which I will likely never use, one bright pink bottle of nail polish, and three remotes used only by my husband.

It’s embarrassing to say the least. I don’t know about you, but the coffee table can easily become the junk table if you aren’t careful. After looking at mine this morning, I figured a blog was in order about coffee tables and how to keep them clutter-free.

At Rustic Furniture Pro, our rustic coffee tables are sturdy – you can certainly prop your legs up! They are water resistant, meaning that you can say goodbye to those pesky water rings. And they are beautiful, which leads me to my first tip about keeping your coffee table clutter-free. Buy a coffee table you WANT to show-off. If you love the way it looks, you will automatically want to keep it clear so you can enjoy its beauty.

Next, every coffee table needs a few cute coasters (even though the teak does not need to be protected – they are still fun to have!). I personally like seasonal coasters. It is an easy way to add the spirit of the season to your home without breaking your wallet.

Also, your rustic coffee table should have a focal point – and it shouldn’t be the mail! My older sister keeps a beautiful vase of flowers on her rustic teak table. And you want to know the trick? They’re fake! She has a lot going on as a wife, mom, and full-time designer. So she cuts corners by heading to find the perfect fake arrangement each season.

Finally, if we are talking rustic coffee tables, we have to talk coffee table books. My mom always keeps books about flowers on her coffee table. They are enjoyable to thumb-through and make sense for her lifestyle, after all, she is a florist. My advice: pick coffee table books that represent WHO YOU ARE. If you’re a cowboy, pick a photo book about rodeos. If you’re a dog lover, have a book about dogs. Let your personality shine on your coffee table.

Now, I am off to take my own advice, clean up my rustic coffee table and add a little personality to my room!