The Best Coffee Table Books for a Beautifully Styled Home: My Designer Favorites
Remember about 15 years ago when all print media went digital and nobody was buying physical books anymore? Then everyone starting listening to audiobooks instead of reading. Well, the one thing that has never gone out of style is style books as décor, especially coffee table books. People still want to impress their friends with what they’ve read and liked enough to buy a physical copy of. Books about cars and fashion houses, travel and art retrospectives; whatever your personality and area of interest, you can find beautiful coffee table to match.
If you are itching for some good physical books you can hold in your hand and look over with visitors from time to time, or are wanting to add to your TBR stack, here is my list of favorites that are both interesting and look good:
1. Persuasion: Deluxe Painted Edition- This is my number one pick because it is my personal favorite book AND I love the art work on this version. I own this and keep this in my bedroom to make me happy every time I look at it. It is also in the background of my virtual calls and looks stunning on camera!
2. Dress Like A Woman- I found this a few weekends ago on a shopping trip and immediately added it to my TBR list. I have only flipped through it so far but with fashion and history all rolled up into one book, this is sure to be a crowd pleaser for feminists and fashionistas alike.
3. Football- The quote from the listing says it all: “Could this be the best book on football ever?” I haven’t read it, so I wouldn’t know, but it’s a book about sports that I wouldn’t mind keeping out for people to see, so it just might be the best book on football ever.
4. USA National Parks- Informational and aspirational, this book is perfect for planning road trips and family vacations or to use as a visual checklist of where you’ve traveled and where you still need to go.
5. The Travel Book- Along those same lines, this is the bucket list for international travelers. With imagery and descriptions of various world countries, this is a perfect book to kickstart your wanderlust.
6. Wanderlust USA- Speaking of wanderlust…while this book is not my favorite read, I can appreciate the first-hand accounts and the pretty pictures. There is also a Wanderlust Europe version, as well.
7. Après Ski- This is a staple in every Park City and Heber rental project I work on. It’s a fun read for guests and even though they might not make any of the recipes in the book, there are other aspects, like history and fashion, to keep them inspired during their stay.
8. Monet- I first used this book in a Parade Home inspired by and named after Monet. As my favorite artist, this is now my favorite book to gift to the host that has everything.
9. John Derian Picture Book- I’ll be honest; the cover of this book freaks me out, but this is an eclectic book with fun drawings. I like to pull this out during October because it gives me distinct Halloween vibes.
10. Beaches- You can’t go wrong with any Grey Malin books, but Beaches is my favorite. Honorable mentions goes to Snow and Dogs.
11. West: The American Cowboy- There are actually 5 books in this “series” so you should definitely check them all out. I usually purchase West for any high-end rentals or second-home projects I work on, but I also highly recommend Wild Horses of Cumberland Island, as well.
12. The Porsche Book- First given as a gift, I didn’t realize how pretty the insides of this book would be. There are pictures and full page quotes, so you could leave it open to almost any page. Plus, there’s a great origin story for the true Porsche fans.
13. ESV Psalms, Photography Edition- The only thing more beautiful than the words are the photos. Could be read and studied from, or could be left open to your favorite.
14. Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers- This book is a flower guide and an activity book! Whatever your skill level is or hobby preferences are, if it has anything to do with growing, propagating, picking, arranging, styling or just appreciating, it’s in this book.
15. Architectural Digest at 100- As an interior designer, I couldn’t finish the list without this classic! With it’s minimal cover design, it looks amazing in any home, even if you aren’t really interested in interior design. (P.S. I have so many other interior design rec’s that I could write a whole other post with just those!)
Honorable mention goes to Bill Cunningham: On the Street. I watched the documentary about Bill and I love his story, but the photos aren’t stylized or posed. Some are even blurry, since they are just photographs he took of people literally walking down the street. If that’s your thing, this is your book! As Bill said, “Those who seek beauty will find it.”
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