Whenever a new season arrives, I can’t help but crave a refresh in my space. I clean up and reorganize, rearrange my shelves, and often end up adding an item or two to breathe new life into my décor. A book on the coffee table is one of my go-tos, and for good reason. Books on the coffee table are a great (and relatively affordable) way to add an element of interest to your home, spark conversation, and act as a source of inspiration. That’s why I’ve compiled some of the best coffee table books I could find.
Not only are they an easy way to elevate our spaces, but the best coffee table books make a great gift! You can choose options based on relevant interests or simply because a beautiful cover catches your eye and sparks interest in you. Plus, you really can’t have too much. This is one of the few cases where you should really judge a book by its cover! When it comes to the best coffee table books, aesthetics are just as important as the content of the book.
Scroll to see some of our favorite picks — from art arrive dish arrive fashion, There’s a little something for everyone. (And it’s never too early to start shopping for holiday gifts!)
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Featured image of Michelle Nash.
20 best coffee table books for stylish reading
Simple Wine: A Completely Accessible Guide from a World-Class Sommelier by Aldo Sohm
This is a must-have for any wine enthusiast. As one of the most respected and appreciated sommeliers on the planet, Sohm is a trusted voice in the world of exclusive liquor.
Beautiful life by Athena Calderone
If you are a fan of the gorgeous Calderone’s EyeSwoon aesthetic, then you can’t miss her beautiful book. This designer tome is also gorgeous on the outside as it is filled with helpful tips and inspirational images.
Cecily Brown by Francine Prose, Courtney J. Martin and Jason Rosenfeld
This work has become one of the best coffee table books available today thanks to Cecily Brown’s use of symbolic language, whimsical brushstrokes, rich color palette, and intense energy that seems to jump from the pages of the book. and into space.
Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power by Mark Godfrey
This is not your everyday art book. It examines an important period of radical change in the history of art. It sheds light on the previously forgotten history of Black artists
Origins of cooking: Paleolithic and Neolithic cooking by Ferran Adrià
Foodies need this special coffee table book. In addition to having a truly gorgeous cover, it examines in detail the foundations of cooking, starting from the earliest sources.
Anni and Josef Albers: Equal and Unequal by Nicholas Fox Weber
This pictorial biography focuses on the pioneers and protagonists of modern art and design, celebrating two of the most important abstract artists of the 20th century, Josef and Anni Albers.
Upstate: Living space with living space by Lisa Przystup
This inspiring collection of glamorous furniture will have you dreaming of the Hudson Valley. It has a variety of spaces from farmhouses to Victorian homes and cottages on either side of the Hudson River.
Open Studio: Do-It-Yourself Art Projects by Contemporary Artists by Sharon Coplan Hurowitz and Amanda Benchley
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the contemporary artists working in their studios, along with tutorials on how readers can recreate them.
John Derian’s Picture Book by John Derian
This New York Times bestseller is the one book art fans have been waiting for. It is curated from images that have appeared in Derian’s biennial collections and features a stunning array of works.
Ibiza Bohemia by Maya Boyd and Renu Kashyap
Add a pop of pink to your space with one of the coolest coffee table books in the game. It embodies the spirit of Ibiza through 300 pages of vivid photographs, quotes and anecdotes.
Le Corbuffet: Edible art and classic design by Esther Choi
Home cooking and the high art of cooking come together in this unique cookbook. It uses food to create edible interpretations of modern and contemporary sculpture, painting, architecture and design.
The fashion collection can’t be faulted by Valerie Steele
A must for any fashion lover, this bright book will look stunning in contrast to the neutral interior and be displayed next to the black and white photo book as it would have the same bright options.
Every day I pray for love by Yayoi Kusama
There is no better way to add a sense of novelty to your coffee table than with the addition of this beautiful, bright and deep coffee table.
Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This book is a must for any Little House on the Prairie fan. This is Wilder’s unpublished autobiography, revealing the true stories of her pioneering life.
The Invisibles: A Classic Portrait of Love and Pride by Sebastien Lifshitz
This glamorous vintage photo gallery features gay couples posing for private and often secretly celebrating their relationship. It’s a rare collection of photos from the time when same-sex couples were in hiding.
Frida Kahlo The Complete Pictures by Luis-Martin Lozano, Andrea Kettenmann and Marina Vázquez Ramos
Fans of the famous Mexican artist won’t want to miss this beautiful book. The cover features one of her classic self-portraits, making it a piece of art worth displaying.
Black is beautiful by Kwame Brathwaite
This is the first coffee table book dedicated to Brathwaite’s remarkable career. It’s a powerful look at the work of this iconic photographer, who used his art to popularize the political slogan, “Black is beautiful.”
Robert Mapplethorpe: Pictures by Paul Martineau
Style this with other picture books or leave it as the centerpiece. It’s a fascinating collection of Mapplethorpe’s work, covering everything from florals to portraits, nudes and still lifes.
Architectural Notice: A Century of Style by Amy Astley
If you find yourself regularly going down the AD YouTube rabbit hole this is the coffee table book for you. It takes readers into a century’s worth of archives of some of the world’s most splendid spaces.
By chance Wes Anderson by Wally Koval
Authored by Anderson, this book takes you to real global locations that can be harnessed from his iconic films. It also includes the fascinating stories behind each facade.
This post was originally published on October 6, 2020, and has since been updated.
