The best coffee table books to add chicness to your home

Add style to your space

Books on a coffee table

by Hannah Mellin |
Updated on

Ever feel like you want to update your living space? Coffee table books have become the latest must-have staple to grace homes far and wide. Coffee or side tables, if you prefer, have now become a focal point in the home - with aesthetically pleasing books piled effortlessly on them. You can make a statement with your carefully selected choice of books that can showcase your love for fashion, travel, or perhaps interior design.

The age-old saying ‘less is more’ has become the new mantra in the world of interior design. Whilst some of us may struggle with navigating our way around styling our homes, it’s now the simple things that are making a big difference. The name "coffee table books" is an interior design trend that puts your books centre stage - for display rather than for reading whilst drinking a delicious cup of coffee. Made up of mostly pictures, they are not intended to be read from cover to cover, and they rarely have a storyline.

Best coffee table books at a glance:

• Best Overall: Live Beautiful - View now on Amazon UK
• Best stylish: Architectural Digest at 100: A Century of Style - View now on Amazon UK
• Best art: Banksy You Are an Acceptable Level of Threat and if You Were Not You Would Know About - View now on Amazon UK

Place on the table for decoration or sit down for an afternoon and flick through the amazing imagery at your leisure, these books are very versatile and are sure to wow your guests. Take a look at our guide to the best coffee table books.

The best coffee table books

Best iconic

Vanity Fair 100 Years: From the Jazz Age to Our Age on white backgroundPhoto: Amazon

Rrp: £100.00

Price: £50.79
Alternative retailers
Target$49.93View offer
Macy's$90.00View offer

Vanity Fair has long been one of the most iconic publications. This book is not only easy on the eye with its sophisticated design, but it also contains a wealth of history spanning 100 years. From culture and art to world affairs, this is a great coffee table book as well as a captivating read.

Customer review: "Stunning and interesting coffee table book amazing photos."

Pros

  • Great size
  • Good value

Cons

  • Chunky

Best fashion

Chanel Catwalk: The Complete Collections: The Complete Karl Lagerfeld Collections on white backgroundPhoto: Amazon
Price: £95.23

This book encapsulates fashion and nostalgia through a look back at some of the most iconic looks from designers Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard. A simplistic yet chic addition to any coffee table, Chanel Catwalk Collection would add a flare of style to any living space. Prepare to see striking catwalk and beauty looks along with amazing clothing from over the years.

Pros

  • Suits any age group
  • Good size

Cons

  • Heavy and robust

Best interior design

Eat, Drink, Nap: Bringing the House Home on white backgroundPhoto: Amazon

Rrp: £55.00

Price: £42.99
Alternative retailers
Target$39.15View offer
Macy's$55.00View offer

This bestseller has become hugely popular since its release. The book is a great addition for anyone looking to adopt the minimalistic look. Eat, Drink, Nap by world-leading members club, Soho House will give you tips on how to adopt the well-known quintessential style in your home. This book goes far beyond interior tips with other lifestyle advice, including recreating spa treatments at home along with DIY facials for the ultimate wind down.

Customer review: "This is just an incredible book! I am delighted! All my favorite things are collected in one book. I recommend!"

Pros

  • Includes DIY tips and tricks
  • For Soho House fans
  • Fabric textured cover

Cons

  • None

Best Overall

Live Beautiful on white backgroundPhoto: Amazon

Rrp: £45.00

Price: £27.38
Alternative retailers
Target$27.38View offer
Macy's$45.00View offer
Crate & Barrel$45.00View offer

This book will not only add style to your room thanks to its aesthetically pleasing cover, but it will also give amazing advice for those who want to master the art of interior designer. If youu2019re looking for plenty of design inspiration to spruce up your space, this is a great read. Equally, itu2019s perfect for light afternoon browsing, sounds like bliss.

Customer review: "Beautiful coffee table book. Lovely photos. Good clear advice from the author. I would recommend to anyone who is interested in interiors."

Pros

  • Beautiful images
  • Fits in with any decor

Cons

  • None

Best photography

Vogue on Location: People, Places, Portraits on white backgroundPhoto: Amazon

Rrp: £70.00

Price: £41.17
Alternative retailers
Bloomingdale's$70.00View offer

This book is for those who love a bit of escapism. A delightful combination of fashion and travel, Vogue on Location will take you on a journey through the stunning scenery of countries including Morocco and Bali. If captivating imagery and travel writing is something that you have a passion for, this book more than delivers plus it makes a great edition to the coffee table.

Customer review: "Lovely big book, feels and looks very luxurious on display! Gorgeous photos to flick through, perfect Sunday reading."

Pros

  • Thick paper
  • Luxurious

Cons

  • May be too big for some coffee tables

Best stylish

Architectural Digest at 100: A Century of Style on white backgroundPhoto: Amazon

Rrp: £125.00

Price: £68.75
Alternative retailers
Target$68.75View offer
Macy's$125.00View offer
Bloomingdale's$125.00View offer
Crate & Barrel$125.00View offer

This book gives an impressive outlook on the interior and lifestyle world. The Architectural Digest has been a staple publication in the design world for over a century giving readers an interesting peep into celebrity homes. Although itu2019s slightly on the pricier side, this coffee table book more than delivers with a look into the homes of figures including Barack and Michelle Obama and David Bowie. If that's not enough, this book contains stunning imagery and plenty of inspiration that you could adopt in your own home.

Pros

  • Neutral design
  • Full of inspirational photographs

Cons

  • A little heavy

Best art

Banksy book on white backgroundPhoto: Amazon

Rrp: £39.95

Price: £24.99
Alternative retailers
Target$24.99View offer

If you're an art enthusiast, then this book is one for you. This impressive collection of Banksyu2019s iconic street art is perfect for those who love to browse through eye-catching imagery. The book documents Banksyu2019s gripping work from the late 90s right through to h Christmas piece discovered in Wales in 2018. Whilst this book may appear somewhat understated on the outside, its contents contain a rich array of photography to transport anyone on an artistic journey.

Pros

  • Full of facts and images
  • Great quality

Cons

  •  Not all pics can be confirmed as Banksy works (some inspired by Banksy)

Best minimal

This Is Home: The Art of Simple Living on a white backgroundPhoto: Amazon

Rrp: £45.00

Price: £31.99
Alternative retailers
Target$31.99View offer

Do you prefer simple things when it comes to the interior of your home? This book will give you all the guidance you need to channel just that. Take a look inside 15 homes from across the world and discover what makes a content and happy space. This home goes far beyond aesthetics as it delves into nurturing your residence. Prepare to embark on some truly therapeutic reading.

Pros

  • Great for fans of Feng Shui

Cons

  • We coudn't find any

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Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, A Modern Kitchen, Yours and Take A Break. She has been working in the Journalism industry for over a decade and has written for an array of brands. When she's not writing, cooking, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in her jungle garden with her three cats and sausage dog Waffle.

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