25 Stylish Coffee Table Books for the Ultimate Living Room Aesthetic
I like big books and I cannot lie.
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Be honest, you love snooping around your friends’ homes—tastefully and with tact, of course. You can learn a lot about anybody based on their décor, fridge contents, and furniture, but my favorite thing to browse is a person’s literary collection. I love to see what lines their bookshelves or which titles they consider to be the best coffee table books.
A carefully placed stack of table books is the true hallmark of a sophisticated home, not dissimilar to luxury candles. If you’re looking to elevate the style of your own space or round it out with the perfect finishing touch, a curation of tomes that meets your interests and tastes is absolutely the way to go.
Whether you relish in the wordy pages with trivia knowledge or you’re more of a picture person, table books are for readers and non-readers alike. From anime to cool sneakers, there’s a big book for quite literally every hobby and aesthetic, which means these also make for thoughtful gifts. Here, find 25 of the very best ones to add to your coffee table right now.
Taschen Andy Warhol Polaroids 1958-1987
Can you imagine being one of Warhol’s contemporaries and running in the same circles as the iconic artist? What a life.
Dimensions: Length: 11.81 inches; width: 9.33 inches; depth: 1.54 inches
Customer review: “Amazing look into Warhol's photographs. Very cool to see the crowd he hung out with: the Kennedys, Diana Ross, Jack Nicholson, Basquiat, and many more.”
Harry N. Abrams Slim Aarons Style
Call it nostalgic or call it aspirational, Slim Aarons’ photography is legendary and so, so chic.
Dimensions: Length: 12 inches; width: 10 inches; depth: 1.2 inches
Customer review: “We can dream, can’t we? Luxury living from days gone by…UNREAL!!”
Taschen The New York Times: 36 Hours World
This makes an ideal gift for the travel partner who makes sure to consult all the “Best of” lists and travel guides before planning an itinerary. (Speaking of travel guides, have you checked out ELLE Escapes?)
Dimensions: Length: 10 inches; width: 7 inches; depth: 2 inches
Customer review: “Purchased as a birthday gift for a friend, and it did not disappoint. The books are perfect for decorating but also incredibly functional.”
For anyone who isn’t tired of the Barbie trend—or for O.G. doll collectors—this title is full of never before seen photos and little known facts about the iconic figure’s 66-year history.
Dimensions: Length: 12.99 inches; width: 9.88 inches; depth: 1.53 inches
Universe The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small
Whether you’re planning your next big trip or you just like to live vicariously through others, this book is filled with ways—big and small—to get the most out of life.
Dimensions: Length: 9.2 inches; width: 6.98 inches; depth: 1.4 inches
Customer review: “What a fun way to consider new and undiscovered places to vacation. We have already bookmarked places for our bucket list.”
Yale University Press Chanel Catwalk: The Complete Collections
Eat your heart out, fashion lovers. In addition to Chanel, find runway collections from all your favorite labels, including Dior, Prada, and YSL.
Dimensions: Length: 11 inches; width: 7.75 inches; depth: 2.25 inches
Customer review: “I truly enjoyed the ability to view all these marvelous fashion designs throughout the years. This would be a wonderful book for any aspiring fashion designer or creative person.”
Taschen Los Angeles. Portrait of a City
Los Angeles is one of the most storied towns in the U.S. of A. See its dazzling history in color with this tome from Taschen.
Dimensions: Length: 13.6 inches; width: 10.4 inches; depth: 1.8 inches
Customer review: “Wonderful pictures, great information, a real pleasure to peruse—and a learning experience, as well.”
Princeton Architectural Press How to Split Wood, Shuck an Oyster, and Master Other Simple Pleasures
If you, like me, are interested in honing a well-rounded (albeit surprising) set of life skills, this is the book for you.
Dimensions: Length: 8.75 inches; width: 7.25 inches; depth: 0.75 inches
Customer review: “We consider this to be one of those staple books to have in your collection or a great coffee table book. Your guests will certainly find it interesting if you leave it out...highly recommend!”
Miami: It’s not just for Pitbull and displaced New Yorkers. This standout from Assouline’s collection of destination-based coffee table books is a visual love letter to America’s steamiest city.
Dimensions: Length: 13.1 inches; width: 9.8 inches; depth: 1.5 inches
Customer review: “A perfect companion for a trip to Miami with valuable tips and beautiful photos.”
Leibovitz is undeniably among the greatest photographers of our generation. Buying this book is like owning a piece of her work (at a very competitive price).
Dimensions: Length: 15.83 inches; width: 11.54 inches; depth: 2.4 inches
Customer review: “The greatest portrait photographer of the last 50 years! So smart, so funny, so evocative. Huge enough to be a bona fide coffee table monster. Beautifully produced!”
While some people don’t have much faith in the current era of Instagram artistes, true visionaries know better than to underestimate any medium. This book is perfect for anyone who loves scrolling through Pinterest boards on the regular.
Dimensions: Length: 10.3 inches; width: 8.5 inches; depth: 1 inches
Customer review: “This book is so pretty! I got it to add some color to my nightstand, and it’s perfect. Not to mention the pictures on the inside are beautiful and really fun to flip through.”
AMMO Books Locals Only: California Skateboarding 1975-1978
Do I know how to skateboard? No. Do I know how to surf? Also no. Do I wholeheartedly believe I would have thrived in this bygone era? Yes.
Dimensions: Length: 11.07 inches; width: 8.4 inches; depth: 0.63 inches
Customer review: “I absolutely adore this book. These amazing images take me right back to everything that was the best about being young in southern California in the 1970s. If you like skating, the ’70s, or excellent photography, you will love this book.”
Personally, this cover alone is enough to warrant purchasing it. Read all about Jeremy Scott’s inspiration and the stories behind some of the label’s most eye-catching ensembles as you lust over his more current designs.
Dimensions: Length: 15.28 inches; width: 13.78 inches; depth: 2.44 inches
Assouline Louis Vuitton: Virgil Abloh
Compared to Virgil Abloh, few people have made such a mark on the fashion industry in such a short period of time. This silk hardcover is a true celebration of Abloh’s paradigm-shifting creativity and career.
Dimensions: Length: 13 inches; width: 10 inches; depth: 1.7 inches
Customer review: “Another hit by the publisher. One immediately longs for what could have been with that continued vision...We are left with what he gave us. And it is magnificent. And inspirational.”
Phaidon Press Born to Party, Forced to Work: 21st Century Hospitality
This was the working title of my autobiography, but I guess it’s already been spoken for. Hear about some of the most unforgettable fêtes in modern history from the people who planned them.
Dimensions: Length: 11.3 inches; width: 8.85 inches; depth: 1.13 inches
Customer review: “I bought this book as a gift, but I have to say…I have kept it for myself! It’s stunning from cover to cover with interesting hosting ideas and epic photographs.”
It was an era of underground raves, cheap beers, and disco pants from American Apparel. If indie sleaze or Y2K grunge speaks to your soul, you need to know the Cobrasnake.
Dimensions: Length: 10.56 inches; width: 7.62 inches; depth: 1.06 inches
Customer review: “A beautiful time capsule of an iconic scene...I appreciated how the book focused on photos, while also including little notes and ephemera sprinkled throughout.”
Phaidon Press The Rihanna Book
Crafted by the queen herself, you’re not a real member of Rihanna’s Navy unless you’ve flipped through these pages.
Dimensions: Length: 22.05 inches; width: 17 inches; depth: 2.13 inches
Customer review: “I saw this coffee table book on Instagram and TikTok and knew I had to have it. Your life is complete once you have Badgalriri bless your living space. This book is massive, and the photos in it are absolutely gorgeous.”
Chronicle Books Houseplants and Hot Sauce: A Seek-and-Find Book for Grown-Ups
Houseplants and hot sauce? These are a few of my favorite things. This is basically Where’s Waldo?, but age-appropriate—and extremely well-reviewed by customers.
Dimensions: Length: 12.38 inches; width: 9.25 inches; depth: 0.5 inches
Customer review: “I absolutely adore this book and have purchased it for so many friends, family, [and] co-workers as an awesome gift. The illustrations are delightful, so much fun to dive in as an adult. Highly recommend as an awesome gift for you and yours!”
Taschen 1000 Record Covers
Collecting vinyl records is great, but this alternative is also solid.
Dimensions: Length: 7.7 inches; width: 5.8 inches; depth: 1.6 inches
Customer review: “Great book. Record album photos are clear and bring back many memories. There are album pictures on every page.”
I often wonder about party culture throughout the world and how it varies from town to town and continent to continent. Destination Dancefloor aims to answer that question and more, although I’m more of an experiential learner...
Dimensions: Length: 9.5 inches; width: 8.06 inches; depth: 0.99 inches
Customer review: “This book encapsulates many of those experiences, describing nights that set the stage for the respective countries. A collection of photographs set the mood for each, and whilst neither a photography portfolio nor a set of diary accounts, the book manages to capture the general vibe of each setting. It was well-written and very well-presented.”
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