30 Gorgeous Coffee Table Books That Double as Conversation Starters

This interior design book centers on the taste and collections you already have, rather than trying to convince you of something new. It’s a great conversation point for guests, featuring guiding questions like: “What do you already love?” “What’s the one thing you really don’t like?” “What do you already have?”

Who says coffee table design books have to focus on interiors? Try a celebration of the spaces outside your front door with this book. It’s packed with inspiration and tips to create your dream patio.

The genius organizing duo behind The Home Edit shares their professional tips in this book. It’s like a Pinterest board come to life, with practical advice for the entryway, garage, and other clutter magnets in the home.

Mercury Stardust is an expert in all things home renovation and repair. Her latest book is the ideal housewarming pick for a first-time homeowner. It gives easy-to-digest advice on all the hurdles you’ll hit, featuring her own success stories. (And her first book, Safe and Sound, is a must-read for any renters.)

If you’ve ever looked at a movie set and thought “that’s my dream home,” this is the coffee table book for you. It combines strategic architectural planning with pop culture references, from a designer who knows how to make “1970s Sofia Coppola in Palm Beach” come to life.

Joel Holland’s city illustrations are a love letter to the stories behind brick-and-mortar institutions. Start with the ones in the Big Apple, from the 18 miles of books at The Strand to Katz’s Deli to When Harry Met Sally fame. Don’t forget to check out his Paris and London books, too.

Anita Yokota, the home therapist, penned this book for anyone who’s ever been confused by the phrase “biophilic design.” It breaks down exactly how to get that nature-inspired feel in your home, beyond buying houseplants.

Few designers have mastered a youthful take on traditional interiors like Corey Damen Jenkins. His second book walks you through ten stunning projects, but the book itself is a work of art. Hiding underneath the jacket are a peacock-feathered cover and gilded page edges.

Babs, the internet’s favorite Grandma, reveals all of her homemaking secrets in this book. It’s all the home hacks your grandma never gave you, from getting stubborn stains out to effortless hosting.

Give your home that subtle aprés-ski look with this book. It features rich ranch design that would be welcomed in a Yellowstone episode. Take the lodge aesthetic well beyond knotty pine cabins.

Shea McGee’s tablescaping tips have already won over House Beautiful editors, and this is a treasure trove of them. Your next dinner party can look 10 times more fabulous with the recipes and design advice waiting inside.

Plant stylist Hilton Carter knows all about melding a houseplant haven with a home that you love. Learn new ways to display houseplants that you never even considered, all through his own Baltimore sanctuary.

This isn’t your everyday cocktail recipe book. It’s a home mixology guide from the pro bartenders behind Death & Co., so you can bring their speakeasy craft cocktails to your own happy hour. Plus, the black debossing makes it a subtle pick for the most minimalist decorators.

Take your design inspiration global with this celebration of Black architecture and heritage. Across the diaspora, from the West Indies to the United Kingdom, peek inside notable homes and the histories their walls hold.

If Nancy Meyers’ attention to detail has inspired your love for interior design, you’re not alone. It runs in the family. Annie Meyers-Shyer peels back the curtain on her own renovation story, drawing inspiration from her mother’s iconic set aesthetic. It combines California ease with English sophistication, just like The Holiday came to life.

Who says surf style has to stay on the coast? In this book, California-based interior designer Raili Clasen provides a guide to bringing the beach house aesthetic to your home, no matter where you're located. Flip through photos of colorful, striped, and checkerboard designs to get all the inspo you need for a laid-back home.

For little touches to add to your home that don't feel pretentious, flip through this for inspiration. HGTV's Lauren Liess shares an approachable decorating style full of simplicity. You can even just leave the book out as a reminder to give your abode that TLC when needed.

Joanna Gaines packed her eye for design and expert tips into a coffee table book that is sure to inspire. If you're a newbie to interior design, she walks you through the beginner steps, explaining the difference between farmhouse and modern decor and just what an entryway needs.