Home decor can tell you a lot about a person, and a coffee table book is no exception. It’s a deeper insight into someone’s interests, hobbies, and aspirations. A reflection on oneself. We buy coffee table books knowing they’ll be on display, right? So it seems natural to choose the best, coolest, chicest parts of our personalities and passions to put on show through the lens of these books.
There is a science to the perfect coffee table read. A bit like a children’s book, it needs a good balance of words and captivating imagery. If we’re being honest, after the first read, we never really look at our coffee table books in great detail again. They can turn into something for the guests to flip through while you make them a coffee, collecting dust until the next time a curious visitor opens it up.
This is one of the powers of a good hardcover – it can be a conversation starter. The right book can subtly position how guests perceive you, but also spark interesting chats over the charcuterie board. You’ve got a book on Lisbon because you spent a summer there? You’ll have some amazing memories to share with guests about that trip. Or maybe you bought a book on Christian Dior’s collections through the years – the fashion house crafted your wedding dress and you have a sweet sentiment to share.
Our suggestion is to choose a book that resonates with you in an authentic way, so that it blends into your space seamlessly. We’ve rounded up a selection of books to suit any passion, aesthetic, or aspiration.
Wish I Was Here
This book is perfect for the beach-side holiday dreamer. A curation of the best international photographers show you the most beautiful hotspots to surf, dive or enjoy life… More than 200 pages with breath-taking beaches and spectacular photos under, on, near or at the water.
Yves Saint Laurent Catwalk
A comprehensive overview of Yves Saint Laurent’s haute couture collections through original catwalk photography – you can’t go wrong with a bit of fashion history to flip through for a moment of nostalgia and inspiration.
Turquoise Coast
Open this book and take a trip to the Turkish Coast, a home to stunning mountain scenery, rich myths and folklore. A town that offers two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this book is guaranteed to spark your interest in history while pleasing your mind through stunning visuals. A blissful combination of luxury and culture.
Houseplants and Design
Houseplants have never been more popular, and this book is perfect for the homebodies out there. It is a complete guide to growing, propagating and caring for indoor plants and home to style them uniquely in your home.
Delicious Places
Food culture has come a long way. Delicious Places presents the new wave of cafés, restaurants and entrepreneurs that are writing a fresh chapter on culinary culture, perfect to inspire any foodie guests you might have coming round for a summer dinner party.
Vogue Living: House, Gardens, People
For the chicest home and living inspiration, open this book and find yourself immersed amongst the homes of the rich, famous, and stylish from all around the globe. From Madonna’s romantic rural retreat in the depths of the English countryside to Oscar de la Renta’s coral-stone Palladian mansion on the coast of the Dominican Republic – the dreamy list goes on and on!
Art Deco Style
One of the most iconic movements in interior design and architectural history, the Art Deco era took homes across the world by storm. Art Deco style captured the imagination of designers and consumers alike, and this book is an insight into that complex snapshot in time.
Poolside with Slim Aarons
This leisurely hardcover offers images of jet-setters and the wealthy, of beautiful, glittering people living the glamorous life. The main character of this book is a pool, and through beautiful imagery readers can connect to everything luxurious and aspirational that goes alongside one.
