Top 13 Best Coffee Table Books Updated 04 /2024

Even if you don't like coffee table books as much as I do, it's always fun to see what other people are reading. It made sense for me to find out which books some of my favorite interior designers like to read over and over again for ideas. Below, a bunch of design experts share their favorite things, starting with things that cost less than $10 and going up to things that are worth the money, like furniture. This is where you can pick your own adventure. There isn't a bad choice in this group.

“30,000 Years of Art : The Story of Human Creativity across Time and Space”

When I want to look at a coffee table book, I like "30,000 Years of Art" because it's so bold and colorful. There is a lot of art in the book itself, with its super-thick pink and yellow hardcover and the well-written descriptions of each piece that is shown are both interesting and beautiful. Because it's small and heavy, it's great for small accent furniture. But don't be fooled; the bright color makes it stand out on bigger coffee tables and shelves. As a conversation starter for guests, everyone wants to look inside because it looks so interesting. She is the owner of Whitney J Decor, a company that sells furniture and decor.

 “de Gournay: Hand-Painted Interiors”

The de Gournay hand-painted wallcoverings are some of the most beautiful things you can find in a home. I bought this book as soon as it came out. I keep it on my desk so I can quickly look at it when I need ideas for a project. Sterling McDavid, a designer and founder of Sterling McDavid DesignBuy, says that "de Gournay: Hand-Painted Interiors" is a great book.

“Wallpaper, a History”

A used bookstore in Berkeley sold me "Wallpaper, A History," and now it's one of my favorite books. Learning about the history of the decorative items that we use in our work makes me more excited about the history of design. For example, wallpaper started out as a way for middle-class people to decorate their homes. They didn't have the money to buy tapestries, so they used wallpaper instead. To put on your coffee table, it's a beautiful book that looks good. To read, it's even better. It was founded by Clara Jung, the founder and CEO of Banner Day Interiors.

“S Is for Style: The Schumacher Book of Decoration”

My favorite thing about this book is that it's not only full of inspirational images but also organized by style. People who work with me get a piece of paper and have to write down the rooms that speak to them. They're usually surprised to find out which category they fall into! In this case, the designer is Hattie Collins, who is the owner of Hattie Sparks Design, and she makes clothes.

“The Kinfolk Home: Interiors for Slow Living”

"I love this book's photography and the idea of capturing a wide range of families who have made homes that are unique to them and that show off their personalities." "Slow living" is what I'm all about." Patrice Stephens is a design Instagrammer. A book about interiors for slow living is called "The Kinfolk Home: Interiors for Slow Living." From Amazon, you can get it for $28.49.

“Alexander McQueen”

There is a coffee table book called "Alexander McQueen." I have had it there for a long time, and for good reason. Fashion has always been a big part of my life, and it still has a big influence on how I design interiors. I don't need to explain how great McQueen was at fashion, and this little collection of his work, theater, and designs has always been a source of inspiration for me. I look to it for colors, textures, tones, and unique compositions. Having a glass of wine and flipping through the pages in "McQueen's brain" is what I think of as a great way to spend the evening. Aleem Kassam, the owner of Kalu Interiors, is a designer.

“Jean-Louis Deniot Interiors”

Love how this book is timeless, how the architecture and interiors work together, how the scale, forms, and attention to detail all work together. I love being inspired by this book.

My goal is to have all of these things in our home.

As a perfectionist, I can see how much care Jean-Louis Deniot put into his interiors.

According to him, I want to reach a point where all the materials and scales are in balance with each other. I also want there to be a level of contrast, but not too much.

In the daytime, I want the rooms to look alluring or calm, but at night, I want them to have a different mood.

I don't want the family who lives there to know how much work it was. I think this quote is great. Our clients don't know how much work goes into each and every project. I think the insides of the book make it something that will be read for a long time. In his work, "trends are not important." Gemma Parker is the founder and principal of Gemma Parker Design.

“Humans of New York”

People of New York is on my coffee table right now. I love flipping through the book and reading the stories. Seeing other people's stories makes us all feel like we're part of a bigger group. I want to work harder and keep an open mind in my life because many of the people in this book have had to deal with a lot. She is the principal and founder of the company Amala Raj Interiors. People of New York, $10.88 from Amazon, is a book about people living in New York City.

“Barack Obama: Hope for the World”

It was given to me by the mother of my late husband. The cover shows a happy and triumphant President Obama. I have to admit that the book's size, color, and shape are part of what makes it so interesting. The AA community also hopes that the election of America's first African American president will mean that racial tensions will end with the election of the first African American president. In the future, when I look at the cover of the book, I'm still filled with hope. As I'm reminded to look for creative ways to solve common problems, I feel awe. Charmaine Wynter is the owner of Charmaine Wynter Interiors, a design company.

“Surf Shacks Volume 2”

"The simple coastal homes in this book inspired me to buy our own lake house, and they still give me ideas for how to decorate it." Each of the homes on this list is unique and casual, but they're all just right. The pages also show a more carefree way of living. I like the cover made of linen and the black lettering on the spine that looks like a picture. It can go anywhere and adds a little bit of cool to any room right away. Tiffany Leigh Piotrowski is the principal and founder of Tiffany Leigh Design, a design company.

“Jungalow: Decorate Wild”

'Jungalow: Decorate Wild' is my favorite coffee table book and the one I always use. Self-care for me has become reading coffee table books. With Jungalow, I go on a journey that lets me learn about global design through the art of telling stories and taking beautiful pictures. I'm so excited by the rich colors, cultures, patterns, and textures this book talks about. Every single page is filled with ideas. There are many useful tips and projects that Justina Blakeney gives you that you can use in your own home, which I also like. The tips she gives can be used in any style that makes your home unique and special to you. Nicole Reid is a popular Instagrammer who posts about design and shows people how to make things.

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