The Best Sources for Decorative Coffee Table Books

Coffee table books make such a fabulous accessory, adding beautiful color and pattern to any area of your home. Learn where to find decorative books for home decor and gifts – and where to use them!

The right decorative coffee table book, also known as a cocktail table book, can be filled with meaning. They can speak to someone’s personal story or interests, and can be excellent conversation starters, too!

Learn where to buy them, what to look for, and how to style them throughout your home. Beautiful books aren’t just for coffee tables! They are excellent for nightstands, end tables, side tables, buffets, consoles and more!

stack of coffee table books on a coffee table

One of the things that really surprised me after my recent post about Bookshelf Decor Ideas was the questions and excitement about my secret (or not-so-secret) sources for books!

While I’m not a huge reader or a collector, I do love to peruse a beautiful coffee table book – especially interior design coffee table books. Whenever a new book from a favorite designer comes out, I can’t resist purchasing out of both support and a genuine love for beautiful design inspiration.

I also love to see the choices my friends and family make for the books in their homes. I think these books can be a little like artwork for your walls, because they truly help to tell a person’s story.

A white sink and small cabinet in a second floor laundry room requirement post.

Table of Contents

Decorative Books

Decorative coffee table books make excellent gifts – both for their beautiful covers and colorful, fabulously photographed pages. Interior design coffee table books have long held my heart, but I also love travel coffee table books, and really anything that adds a beautiful layer to help create a more cozy home.

Coffee table books do so much more than fill your Built in Bookshelves. Learn all about my favorite coffee table books, as well as my favorite sources, styling tips and more.

coffee table books stacked on side table

Interior Design Coffee Table Books

These books not only look beautiful as part of interior design, but can inspire your own designs. I love perusing through books from my favorite interior designers to seek ideas for design, decor and styling.

Timeless

Timeless design with function in mind.

Travel Coffee Table Books

Whether you’re planning a trip or just dreaming of a getaway, flipping through travel coffee table books can take you away to a far away place – while making your home feel just as dreamy!

Sailing the Seas

This book will take you away with a classic cover that fits into your home seamlessly!

Neutral Coffee Table Books

What lies beneath is often not revealed when shopping for books online. You rarely see beyond the dust cover (the book jacket that covers the book) to know what a hardback book actually looks like.

As part of our Neutral Living Room, I love a soft, pretty pastel decorative book that fits in with our neutral color scheme.

Make Life Beautiful – Not a traditional coffee table book, but a perfect decor item for nightstands or end tables.

The Kinfolk Home
Linen (filled with blank pages)
Architectural Digest at 100
The Welcoming House
Habitat
In Full Flower
Pacific Natural at Home
Making Past Present
Gathering: Setting the Natural Table
Abode (so pretty without the dust cover)
A Slice of England
Homebody (remove dust cover to reveal soft gray book)

The Kinfolk Home

This book fits almost any space and is filled with serene settings and inspiration for slow living.

More Stackable Books

I’ve had so many friends write and create beautiful coffee table books. These are a few favorites!

The Southern Entertainers Cookbook
French Country Cottage
The Gift of Home
Notebook (available in an array of colors)

stack of books with decorative object on top

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called a coffee table book?

Because these large, hard-covered books are typically placed on a coffee table to inspire conversation or pass time.

What is the typical size of a coffee table book?

Coffee table books are typically 11″ or larger and at least 28 pages in length with most at 200+ pages.

Where you can find used coffee table books?

Amazon (each book offers a new and used price below), Etsy (you can purchase stacks in the same or complimentary color palette), used book stores and thrift stores.

You can shop all of my favorite coffee table books in my Amazon store!

Styling Tips

coffee table book styling in neutral living room

Group books in odd numbers (a stack of 3 or 5)
Determine if you want the jacket on or off
Group by color
Layer – Place them on a tray or add a decorative object on top (candle, vase, bowl, object) to create interest

I also love to use Etsy to find books in a specific shape, style or color I am searching for (in this case it’s less about the pages and more about the cover). They are often sold in lots, making it so easy to find the perfect color and price point for your coffee table! Start your search here.