Taking a moment to “judge a book by its cover” might just pay off, especially when it’s wrapped in an alluring design that promises to add a touch of magic to your surroundings. Chances are, you’re catching on that we’re set to discuss the aesthetic world of coffee table books.
Have you ever thought about how the books on your coffee table reflect your personality, just like your choice of clothes or furniture? It’s true! They showcase a splash of your intellect for all to see. And color, being the most immediate visual cue, plays a crucial role in tying it all together.
Our blog post has gathered the best coffee table books organized by color to help you bring style, culture, and inspiration into your home. Whether you’re looking to revamp your living space or find the perfect gift for a book lover, our post promises to leave you feeling inspired and informed and, perhaps, a little bit more in love with the world of books.
1. RED
More Is More: Get Loose in the Kitchen
A vibrant culinary journey packed with mouthwatering recipes, colorful photography, and unapologetically bold flavors that promise to liberate your cooking style and become the centerpiece of your kitchen conversations.
Vogue Paris: 100 Years
Discover the evolution of Parisian style through Vogue Paris over 100 years, with captivating photography, insightful text, elegant drawings, and historic magazines showcasing its cultural influence.
The Stanley Kubrick Archives
This book offers an immersive exploration of Stanley Kubrick’s cinematic universe, showing a treasure trove of visuals, including film stills, rare finds, promotional posters, detailed set designs, and props, complemented by insightful essays, candid interviews, and other exclusive materials that illuminate the director’s thorough and creative process.
Atlas Obscura, 2nd Edition: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders
Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras and Ella Morton
An interesting book that contains over 700 of the world’s most peculiar and fascinating places and celebrates the weird and wonderful with vivid descriptions, stunning photographs, charts, and maps for every region of the world – perfect for armchair travelers or die-hard adventurers!
Ferrari: From Inside and Outside
James Allen, Rainer Schlegelmilch and Ercole Colombo
Explore the world of Ferrari Formula 1 through the lenses of two legendary photographers, featuring countless impressive and rarely-seen photographs.
Aphrochic: Celebrating the Legacy of the Black Family Home
This book celebrates Black homeownership by dаepicting inspiring homes and family histories of notable Black Americans while also exploring the obstacles faced for generations.
2. YELLOW + ORANGE
Dalí: The Paintings: 1904-1989
Gilles Néret and Robert Descharnes
This book is about the art of Salvador Dalí, a famous and quite strange artist from the 1900s. It has lots of paintings that no one has seen before. The book also talks about other things Dalí did, like ballet and movies, to help understand his paintings better.
Women Holding Things
It’s a wonderful collection of words and paintings that meditate on the beauty and complexity of women’s lives, as revealed in the things they hold. This visual compendium features bright images and intimate anecdotes, celebrating the significance of objects in our lives.
LEGO: The Art of the Minifigure
From its humble beginnings to becoming a global cultural phenomenon over 40 years, dive into the colorful history and everlasting impact of this beloved and iconic LEGO Minifigure. It’s a must-have for all LEGO fans, young and old alike.
Feast for the Eyes: The Story of Food in Photography
Delve into the rich history of food photography, exploring its artistic, commercial, and cultural significance with astonishing images and insightful commentary.
Dream Baby Dream
Jimmy Marble
Filled with fashion and lifestyle images, including celebrities like Ariana Grande, this book is a whimsical celebration of Marble’s colorful aesthetic and fashion sense. With its tactile appeal and sunny California vibe, it makes the perfect gift for photography enthusiasts or fans of all things Los Angeles.
African Art Now: 50 Pioneers Defining African Art for the Twenty-First Century
This deluxe hardcover book includes profiles of 50 up-and-coming artists, offering engaging insights and splendid full-color reproductions of their work. It’s an essential read for artists, collectors, educators, students, and anyone curious about this vibrant artistic landscape.
Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion
An enthralling mix of incredible photographs and insightful commentary that delves into the fascinating relationship between high fashion and basketball, chronicling the evolution of NBA style from its early days to the present, presenting iconic looks worn by NBA players throughout history.
Flower: Exploring the World in Bloom
Phaidon Phaidon Editors, Anna Pavord and Shane Connolly
This book explores the diverse and fascinating ways artists have depicted flowers throughout history and across different cultures. It’s a comprehensive collection of floral beauty in art, featuring dazzling visuals and interesting pairings that offer new insights into the world of flowers.
Strikethrough: Typographic Messages of Protest
Silas Munro, Colette Gaiter and Stephen Coles
This coffee table book explores the use of lettering, type, and design in various protest movements from the 19th century to the present day, depicting over 120 signs and posters alongside profiles of influential designers.
3. BLUE
Pools From Above
Brad Walls
Check out a different view of pools with Pools From Above, where photographer Brad Walls captures the alluring beauty of swimming pools worldwide using aerial photography, showcasing their unique architecture and colors in a new light after three years of exploration in four countries.
The Life and Love of the Sea
The Life & Love of the Sea is filled with amazing underwater photos, taking you on a mesmerizing journey through the ocean’s beauty and wildlife, including whales, rays, clownfish, penguins, and octopi, alongside fantastic coastlines and island chains.
Destinations of a Lifetime, 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places
NatGeo’s book demonstrates gorgeous destinations worldwide, offering inspiration and practical tips for your next adventure. Packed with breathtaking photographs and insightful details, it’s the perfect guide to plan an unforgettable trip.
Let’s Get Lost: The World’s Most Stunning Remote Locations
Immerse yourself in a captivating collection of remote landscape photography to ignite your sense of adventure and wanderlust, featuring over 200 vivid images from off-the-beaten-path destinations worldwide.
Accidentally Wes Anderson
The book takes readers on an exciting visual journey to over 200 unique destinations around the globe, mirroring the enchanting worlds depicted in Wes Anderson’s films and sharing intriguing human stories behind each place.
Mid-Century Ads. 40th Ed
Explore vibrant American print ads from the ‘50s and ‘60s, showcasing bold campaigns and colorful designs that influenced consumer purchases. The book presents digitally remastered images with clear fonts and vibrant colors, offering an easy-to-understand view of midcentury marketing creativity.
Universe The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small
Discover 1,000 life-changing adventures across seven continents in this amazing travel book. Packed with bright photos and detailed information, it’s perfect for cultural discoveries, adrenaline-pumping activities, natural wonders, delicious cuisines, etc. Ideal for digital nomads or those planning sabbaticals or retirements.
4. GREEN
How to Live With Objects
Monica Khemsurov and Jill Singer
This anti-decorating book provides a fresh take on interior design and urges you to fill your space with objects you genuinely adore. The book presents captivating home tours and useful tips on collecting, guiding both beginners and enthusiasts toward a more purposeful approach to acquiring and living with objects.
By My Hands
Florian Gadsby, a renowned potter, shares his artistic journey and craftsmanship in this beautifully photographed book, sharing the small joys that enhance our daily routines. Through personal anecdotes and reflections on his work, Florian highlights the value of dedication to a craft while offering an inspiring testament to perseverance.
Very Merry Cocktails
A charming coffee table book with 50+ festive drink recipes for any holiday get-together or a relaxing evening at home. Whether you prefer classic cocktails, fun mocktails, or stunning photography, this book has something for everyone. It’s the perfect gift for cocktail enthusiasts and hosts during the holidays.
Of Cats and Men
A beautifully illustrated book demonstrating the bond between remarkable men and their beloved feline companions throughout history, offering charming profiles and anecdotes that honor their enduring love for cats.
All Is Possible
A great catalog that offers a comprehensive look into the artist’s life, vision, and art, from iconic looped-wire sculptures to rarely-seen work. The book provides new insights and showcases sixty-four works from Asawa’s spectacular oeuvre, making it a must-have for art enthusiasts.
Places to Go, People to See
Packed with impressive photography and insightful tips, this book will inspire your next adventure and bring a touch of glamour to your everyday life.
5. BLACK
Black Futures
Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham
The book explores the experience of being Black in today’s world with a mix of images, essays, poetry, memes, and more. This collection offers a sharp-witted look at the creative contributions of Black creators today.
In the Black Fantastic
An illustrated exploration of Black culture, brimming with creativity, bold artistry, and important social insights. The book presents a wide range of artwork from the African diaspora, incorporating mythical and imaginative aspects to revolutionize views on race, gender, and identity.
Apollo Remastered
Explore space like never before with amazing, restored images of the first missions to the Moon in this instant Sunday Times bestseller. With newly available digital scans and state-of-the-art enhancement techniques, the book offers astounding new insight into one of our greatest endeavors.
1964: Eyes of the Storm
Paul McCartney and Jill Lepore
The book shows 275 unseen photographs taken by Paul McCartney, offering an intense and dramatic record of The Beatles’ explosive rise to international fame in 1963-1964 and the radical shift in youth culture that followed, accompanied by personal recollections from McCartney, an essay by Jill Lepore, and dazzling images from six legendary cities.
Glamour: 30 Years of Women Who Have Reshaped the World
Glamour Magazine, Samantha Barry, Yara Shahidi and Anna Moeslein
An inspiring book highlights the remarkable accomplishments of extraordinary women from the magazine’s Women of the Year legacy, offering motivation and insight for today and tomorrow. Featuring contributions from influential personalities such as Michelle Obama, Shonda Rhimes, and Reese Witherspoon, this book presents a captivating display of female empowerment spanning three decades.
Animal: Exploring the Zoological World
Phaidon Phaidon Editors, James Hanken and Giovanni Aloi
Discover the wonders of the animal kingdom through over 300 vivid images, a visually mesmerizing and comprehensive survey enjoying humanity’s enduring fascination with animals throughout history.
Wine Folly: Magnum Edition: The Master Guide
Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack
A comprehensive guide to wine crafted by James Beard Award winners for passionate wine enthusiasts and beginners alike. This hardcover book features over 100 grapes and wines color-coded by style, detailed maps of wine regions, food and wine pairings, along with essential tips to enhance your knowledge in a practical yet enjoyable way – an ideal gift for any wine lover.
It’s So You: The Joy of Personal Style
Kate Spade New York’s highly anticipated coffee table book on style celebrates self-expression and individuality, offering lively conversations, helpful hacks, and idea-a-thons to inspire readers to see their style in new ways and build a wardrobe they love.
Fashion in Film
Dive into the amazing world where fashion meets film, featuring iconic costumes that have left a lasting impact on cinema, accompanied by striking film stills and behind-the-scenes sketches for an immersive experience – perfect for fashion history and cinema enthusiasts.
6. WHITE + NEUTRAL
Good Dog: A Collection of Portraits
Randal Ford and W. Bruce Cameron
A heartwarming collection of 150 dog portraits that beautifully captures the warmth, humor, and unconditional love shared between humans and their canine companions, with proceeds benefiting Emancipet’s mission to make veterinary care accessible for all pets.
Pop Art
Klaus Honnef and Uta Grosenick
Discover the exciting realm of Pop Art, a movement that emerged in the 1960s and challenged societal norms through its exploration of consumer culture, celebrity, and mass media. This coffee table book depicts iconic works while offering insight into the profound impact of this influential modernist movement.
Beaches
Beaches, a New York Times Bestseller, showcases breathtaking aerial beach photographs from around the globe captured from doorless helicopters, encapsulating travel, adventure, luxury, and artistry across twenty cities on six continents – an ideal coffee table addition or gift for beach lovers and wanderlust enthusiasts.
Make Ink: A Forager’s Guide to Natural Inkmaking
Jason Logan and Michael Ondaatje
This table book explores the history and science of creating inks from natural, urban materials, offering readers an engaging journey into the art and craft of ink-making with practical guidance on foraging for materials and transforming them into vibrant inks.
Tiny Pantone Objects
A charming visual exploration of everyday items, containing miniature objects in nature and human creations alongside their corresponding Pantone colors, creating a beloved collection reflecting the colorful essence of our world.
Architectural Digest at 100: A Century of Style
Architectural Architectural Digest, Anna Wintour and Amy Astley
Architectural Digest at 100 features celebrity homes like those of Barack and Michelle Obama and David Bowie, alongside iconic designs by Frank Gehry and Frank Lloyd Wright, offering inspiration for future home projects.
Better Living Catalog
Pippa Garner
A witty and creative parody of American consumer culture, displaying humorous inventions that playfully poke fun at our society’s fixation on convenience, relaxation, and luxury. Originally released in 1982 as a mail-order catalog with photographed prototypes, this iconic publication garnered significant acclaim from various media outlets and remains relevant today with its clever perspective on consumer goods.
Japanese Interiors
Mihoko Iida and Danielle Demetriou
Discover the diverse Japanese residential interiors with an insider’s look at interior design, featuring twenty-eight exemplary homes across Japan, natural landscape integration and influences.
The Art of the Flower
Jeff Leatham and Kim Kardashian
The book demonstrates renowned florist Jeff Leatham’s stunning floral arrangements, offering readers an exclusive glimpse into his extravagant creations for celebrities and luxurious settings through vibrant full-color photography and insider tips.
Sticker Book
A delightful collection of over 500 stickers featuring blooming flowers, charming critters, and darling forest animals curated by renowned designer John Derian. This book offers a touch of beauty for any surface and is a standout pick for both adults and children.
7. PINK
The Wes Anderson Collection: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Matt Zoller Seitz, Anne Washburn and Wes Anderson
This coffee table book in The Wes Anderson Collection series gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the Oscar-winning film The Grand Budapest Hotel. It includes insights into the film’s creation, unpublished production photos, personal stories from the set, and influences that shaped the screenplay and visuals.
30:30 Landscape Architecture
Check out the designs of 30 up-and-coming architects worldwide, complemented by more than 500 visuals. This book presents a current perspective on modern landscape architecture, delving into the influences, design methods, and significant challenges encountered by today’s and tomorrow’s landscape architects.
This Book is Literally Just Pictures of Animals Silently Judging You
This coffee table book captures the sassy side of our animal friends, offering a humorous and judgmental perspective on human life choices through silent yet expressive photographs.
Lifeguard Towers: Miami
Tommy Kwak and Karen Taylor Quinn
Tommy Kwak’s alluring photography book delves into the essence of Miami Beach, highlighting over 30 lifeguard towers that symbolize South Florida’s resurgence after Hurricane Andrew, using striking visuals to show their vibrant colors and distinctive shapes.
Atlas of Mid-Century Modern Houses
A bright collection featuring over 400 glamorous homes from around the world, including works by renowned architects like Marcel Breuer and Richard Neutra, essential for design enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Assouline Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh
A great addition to the Classics Collection, highlighting designer Virgil Abloh’s groundbreaking creativity at Louis Vuitton. With 250+ iconic images and personal reflections from Abloh’s inner circle, including Naomi Campbell and Kid Cudi, this book chronicles a partnership that reshaped fashion’s language.
Taylor Swift: And the Clothes She Wears
Experience the captivating journey of Taylor Swift’s global influence through stunning imagery and insightful fashion revelations, presented elegantly in a hardback book – the perfect gift for fans and fashion enthusiasts alike.
What Makes a Good Coffee Table Book?
A coffee-table book usually comes with a lot of pictures and is designed to be looked at rather than to be read properly. It is often placed where people can see it easily, like on a coffee table. Feel free to read our post about Creative Coffee Table Books Decor Ideas.
But what makes a good coffee table book? Is it the mesmerizing imagery that draws you in or the fascinating stories behind each page? Is it the magnetic allure of striking photography, the appeal of luxurious bindings, or the subtle seduction of a well-matched palette? Perhaps it’s all about finding that perfect balance between aesthetics and substance. Below, you’ll find 10 qualities that make a good coffee table book:
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Engaging Visuals:
- High-quality, striking photography or illustrations.
- Eye-catching cover that invites people to pick up the book.
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Thought-Provoking Content:
- Interesting, compelling subjects that draw in a wide range of readers.
- Informative and accessible text that complements the visuals.
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Quality Production:
- Thick, glossy pages that feel good to flip through.
- A durable cover that can handle frequent use.
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Size and Shape:
- Large enough to make an impact but suitable for a standard coffee table.
- Unique dimensions or shapesl.
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Theme and Style:
- A coherent theme that ties the whole book together.
- Reflecting contemporary design trends.
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Conversation Starter:
- Content that encourages discussion or curiosity among guests.
- Diverse subject matter, from travel and art to fashion and history.
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Cultural or Artistic Value:
- A showcase of cultural richness or artistic creativity.
- An embodiment of current or historical movements or trends.
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Personality and Character:
- Reflective of the personality or interests of the owner.
- Able to evoke a specific mood or feeling in the room.
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Relevance:
- Topics that are timeless or relevant to current social discourse.
- Inclusion of diverse and underrepresented voices and perspectives.
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Browsing-Friendly:
- Easy to dive in for short bursts of reading, making it perfect for casual browsing.
- Organized in a way that readers can start from any point in the book.
Bottom Line
Coffee table books do more than decorate—they tell the stories of our lives in vivid color and engaging content. But achieving that cultured look doesn’t mean overspending. With BookScouter.com, you can compare prices with ease, ensuring that your next gorgeous coffee table addition is as affordable as it is aesthetically pleasing. So go ahead, let your coffee table make a statement, and let BookScouter handle the savings. Happy book hunting!
