I’m not exactly sure when or how it happened, but somehow, seemingly on accident, I’ve accumulated a burgeoning collection of one of my favorite home decor elements—coffee table books. My love for beautiful visuals and inspiring reads had unintentionally blossomed into a full-fledged collection. And lately, they’ve evolved into one of the most versatile home decor elements in my home! If you’re looking to layer some style and substance to your home, keep reading for a few simple tips to get you started.

Scroll on to see my top 36 favorites, and trust me, it wasn’t easy to narrow it down!

Coffee Table Books | White Urn | Faux Stems | Candle | Marble Bowl | Desk | Rug | Chandelier

Why Coffee Table Books are the Ultimate Home Decor

In my opinion, coffee table books are sorely underrated as essential decor. These multi-talented gems serve as both visual statements and intellectual escapes, effortlessly blending aesthetic allure with meaningful content. Their versatility is unmatched, effortlessly moving from coffee tables to console tables or bookshelves. And let’s not forget, they’re amazing conversation starters that offer a peek into your passions and interests. In short, coffee table books are where style meets substance in the most delightful way.

Here are a few styling tips to proudly display your coffee table books:

1. Style in Groups of Threes

Study Sources

Something magical happens when you group objects in odd numbers, and three is a great sweet spot. Try stacking three books topped with a decorative object, candle, or tray. It’s a design trick that never fails. If you’ve got a collection going, you can try spreading three stacks of books across your surface for an eye-catching moment.

2. Play with Heights

Study Shelf Sources

Using stacks of books to fill in space and add height to any styling moment is a not-so-secret weapon. Prop up a vase or lamp with a platform of books for some extra inches. You can also get practical with a tray or bowl to serve as a catch-all for those miscellaneous items like a TV remote or reading glasses.

3. Create a Vignette

Living Room Sources

Consider your coffee table books as a part of a larger display. This acrylic stand is perfect for opening a book to a particularly inspiring page and I rest this metal pointer to hold the spot. Together with the vase, candle, bowl, and trinket box, we’ve pieced together an entire visual scene.

4. Keep it Fresh

Bonus Room Sources

The best part about decorating with coffee table books is you can rotate them every couple of months to keep things looking interesting and fresh. A recurring ‘book swap’ is a great way to rediscover forgotten treasures and see your collection with new eyes.

Coffee table books are the unsung heroes of home decor, versatile enough to work in just about any room, with any design in mind. So go ahead! Start collecting and stacking, and don’t forget to get creative with it!

As promised, I’ve narrowed down my very favorites, which was easier said than done. I don’t plan on pairing back my collection anytime soon, but if I had to, here’s the 36 I would keep. Please don’t make me.

My Top 36 Coffee Table Books

1. Sacred Spaces $19

2. Living With Color $20

3. Made for Living $21

4. Habitat $22

5. The Kinfolk Home $24

6. Forest $25

7. Pacific Natural At Home $26

8. Down to Earth $26

9. The Art of Home $28

10. The Joy of Home $29

11. Live Beautiful $30

12. Feels Like Home $31

13. This is Home $32

14.The Nature of Home $32

15. Poetry of Place $32

16. The Art of Outdoor Living $34

17. Bill Cunningham: On the Street $35

18. Still: The Slow Home $35

19. Portraits of Home $35

20. Call it Home $36

21. British Designers at Home $36

22. The Most Beautiful Rooms in the World $36

23. Cabin Fever $38

24. Golden Light $38

25. Hide and Seek $41

26. John Derian Picture Book $42

27. A Tale of Interiors $43

28. The Finer Things $44

29. A Place to Call Home $46

30. Charm School $47

31. Romantics & Classics $54

32. Redefining Comfort $54

33. Memories of Home $54

34. Architectural Digest: A Century of Style $71

35. Leonardo Da Vinci: Complete Paintings $113

36. Ballparks Past and Present $110

Shop Coffee Table Books Under $34

Shop Coffee Table Books Over $35