Generally speaking, a living room is the family hub, filled with family dinners, celebrations, and memorable moments. The living room may have several focal points; however, the coffee table is among the most important.
The idea of a coffee table has a vibrant history. It started with the Ottoman Empire, where people used low tables for tea and coffee ceremonies. Later, between the 18th and 19th centuries, people used taller tea tables in drawing rooms.
However, with coffee gaining popularity amongst people as well as seating areas becoming more relaxed, this prompted the idea of lower tables accommodating sofas’ and chairs’ heights, which led to a prototype of a modern coffee table idea. A first “coffee table” was designed by E.W. Godwin in the late Victorian Era, around 1868.
The popularity of coffee tables peaked in the mid-20th century, beginning in the 1950s. They became a living-room staple, as TV and sofa-centred living rooms made a low coffee table in front of the couch feel essential.
With the popularity of coffee tables, coffee table books emerged, with art publishers like Skira, Harry Abrams, and others beginning to publish large-format, heavily illustrated art books in the 1940s. Later, in the 1960s, the term “coffee table book” appeared in Arts Magazine and in titles such as The Coffee Table Book of Astrology (1962).
To this day, coffee table books have an important role in creating a perfect setting for any occasion. Coffee table books are great low-effort decoration solutions, adding colour, texture and structure to the surface. They are ideal for conversation starters; alternatively, they can also tell a story without you having to talk. They are a fantastic source of inspiration and phone-free entertainment, making them perfect for kids and guests of all ages.
With this knowledge in mind and the Festive Season coming up, I created a coffee table book guide for different ages and interests, selecting books based on highly acclaimed reviews and at various price points to suit every budget. I hope you enjoy it and find it helpful when choosing presents for yourself, your loved ones, special events, or just for fun.
Table of Contents
Perfect Coffee Table Books for New Homeowners, Nesters & Serial Brunch Hosts
1. Humans of New York — Brandon Stanton (Photography / Portraits)
A bestselling photography book born from Brandon Stanton’s street project, it pairs full-page portraits of New Yorkers with short, often deeply personal stories that range from funny to quietly devastating. It’s a perfect gift for reflective readers of any age, anyone who loves real-life storytelling, people-watching and feeling connected to the broader world.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Waterstones UK • US: Amazon US
2. The World Atlas of Coffee (3rd Edition) — James Hoffmann (Coffee / Global Guide)
An updated, richly photographed tour of 49 coffee-growing countries, written by World Barista Champion and coffee educator James Hoffmann. This updated third edition maps growing regions, explains processing and roasting, and demystifies brewing in a way that’s both geeky and accessible. It’s a perfect gift for coffee obsessives, new homeowners, coffee-obsessed partners, new parents running on espresso, or remote-working professionals who want to level up their daily ritual, or even an engaged couple building a grown-up kitchen who want a definitive, beautiful coffee reference.
Australia/NZ: Booktopia (AU) • Europe: Blackwell’s UK • US: Amazon US
3. The Coffee Book — DK (Coffee / History & How-To)
A visual DK guide that covers coffee from botany and global history through to brewing methods and drink recipes, with lots of diagrams and photos for visual learners. It’s a perfect gift for recent grads, young professionals or true coffee enthusiasts who’ve just invested in a coffee machine and want a friendly, picture-led way to understand their daily cup.
Australia/NZ: Booktopia (AU) • Europe/US: Blackwell’s UK
4. The Coffee Dictionary — Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood (Coffee / Reference & How-To)
Written by a three-time UK Barista Champion, this A–Z guide breaks down hundreds of coffee terms—from bean varieties and regions to roasting and brewing techniques—into short, browseable entries. It’s a perfect gift for a recent grad, young professional, or budding home barista in his 20s–40s who loves geeking out over the details behind his pour-over.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Blackwell’s (UK) • US: Colonna Coffee
5. Coffee Art: Creative Coffee Designs for the Home Barista — Dhan Tamang (Coffee / Latte Art)
Authored by a champion latte artist, this book walks step-by-step through milk texture, basic patterns and then playful designs, turning a home espresso setup into a mini art studio. It’s a perfect gift for coffee lovers, especially creative types or new homeowners, who already have the gear and now want to serve café-pretty flat whites at brunch.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe/US: Blackwell’s UK
6. Whisky: The Manual — Dave Broom (Drinks / Whisky How-To)
Instead of treating whisky as something you must sip neat, this compact guide groups whiskies by flavour “camps” and offers practical tasting notes plus advice on mixing them with soda, tea, and classic cocktails. It’s a perfect gift for anyone who is whisky-curious, whose bar cart is just starting, or someone who wants confidence ordering (and serving) more than “just a Scotch.”
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Blackwell’s (UK) • US: Barnes & Noble
7. Taste: My Life Through Food — Stanley Tucci (Food / Memoir)
Actor and food obsessive Stanley Tucci tells his life story through meals, weaving Italian family memories, recipes, and his post-cancer relationship with eating into a warm, funny, very human memoir. It’s a perfect gift for the food or travel lover who’d happily read about dinner while planning the next one.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Blackwell’s (UK) • US: Barnes & Noble
8. Ottolenghi SIMPLE — Yotam Ottolenghi (Food / Everyday Cooking)
This hugely popular cookbook packages 130 of Ottolenghi’s vibrant, Middle Eastern–inspired recipes into “simple” categories—30-minute, one-pot, 10-ingredient, make-ahead and so on—without losing the flavour punch he’s known for. It’s a perfect gift for busy parents or time-poor professionals who want weeknight-friendly food that still feels restaurant-worthy and photogenic.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe/US: Blackwell’s UK
9. Half Baked Harvest Cookbook: Recipes from My Barn in the Mountains — Tieghan Gerard (Food / Comfort Cooking)
From the beloved Half Baked Harvest blog, this cookbook delivers cosy, visually lush comfort food—pastas, skillet dinners, salads and desserts—with styling that looks straight off Instagram. It’s a perfect gift for millennials/Gen Z, young couples, or young mums who love hearty, “crowd-pleaser” recipes and want their table to look as good as it tastes.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe/US: Blackwell’s UK
10. Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto — Aaron Franklin & Jordan Mackay (Food / Barbecue)
A New York Times–bestselling deep dive into Texas-style barbecue, this book bundles pitmaster Aaron Franklin’s step-by-step lessons on wood, fire, and meat with gorgeous photography from his cult Austin restaurant. It’s a perfect gift for a new dad who lives for weekend cooks, the backyard pit-boss in training, or any guy or girl whose smoker is his pride and joy.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe/US: Blackwell’s (UK) • US: World of Books
11. The Barbecue! Bible — Steven Raichlen (Food / Global Grilling)
With over 500 recipes from around the world, this award-winning classic covers grilling techniques, fuels, sauces, and dishes from T-bone steaks to fire-roasted banana splits. It’s a perfect gift for the homeowner with a new grill, the dad who always mans the tongs, or the social host who loves feeding a crowd outdoors.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Amazon UK • US: Barnes & Noble
12. Dessert Person: Recipes and Guidance for Baking with Confidence — Claire Saffitz (Food / Baking)
Claire Saffitz combines meticulously tested recipes with clear troubleshooting and process photos, helping bakers understand why things work so they can tackle everything from galettes to laminated doughs. It’s a perfect gift for “baking girls and boys”, whether that’s a uni student baking for friends, a new homeowner building their repertoire, or a retiree finally diving into more advanced projects.
Australia/NZ: Booktopia (AU) • Europe/US: Blackwell’s UK
13. Live Beautiful — Athena Calderone (Interiors / Design & Lifestyle)
In this design book, EyeSwoon’s Athena Calderone visits the homes of designers, stylists and tastemakers (and her own), then breaks down how each space came together and how to translate that to your own rooms. It’s a perfect gift for new homeowners, newlyweds or style-conscious professionals who spend Saturdays rearranging shelves and want their space to feel intentional, not accidental.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe/US: Blackwell’s UK
14. Eat, Drink, Nap: Bringing the House Home — Soho House (Interiors / Food & Entertaining)
Part interiors manual, part recipe and cocktail book, this Soho House volume distils the brand’s relaxed private-club aesthetic into advice on decorating, hosting and unwinding at home. It’s a perfect gift for homebodies, hostess types or couples who want their living room, bedroom and bar cart to feel like a chic, members-only retreat.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Blackwell’s UK • US: Amazon US
15. The Kinfolk Table: Recipes for Small Gatherings — Nathan Williams (Food / Lifestyle & Entertaining)
Rooted in Kinfolk’s slow-living aesthetic, this book profiles creatives around the world and shares their unfussy, seasonal recipes for laid-back dinners and brunches with a few close friends. It’s a perfect gift for creatives, new couples or gentle introverts who prefer intimate gatherings, candlelight and mismatched ceramics over big, formal dinner parties.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Blackwell’s (UK) • US: Amazon US
High-Style Coffee Table Books for Every Fashionista: Couture, Culture & Closet Inspiration
1. Chanel: Collections and Creations — Danièle Bott (Fashion / Brand Monograph)
Structured around Chanel signatures like the suit, camellia and little black dress, this book combines archival imagery with modern runway shots to show how the house constantly reinterprets its codes. It’s a perfect gift for fashion-obsessed individuals, particularly for milestone birthdays, new jobs, or retirements, when a dose of timeless Parisian glamour feels just right.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe/US: Blackwell’s (UK)
2. Iris Apfel: Colorful — Iris Apfel (Fashion / Memoir & Style)
Lavishly illustrated with over 300 photos and textile patterns, this “legacy book” mixes Iris Apfel’s life stories with her philosophy on collecting, dressing and embracing maximalism at any age. It’s a perfect gift for anyone reinventing their style, fashion-loving grandmothers, or retirees who want inspiration to dress more boldly and joyfully.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe/US: Blackwell’s (UK)
3. The Watch Book I — Gisbert L. Brunner (Watches / Luxury Timepieces)
This revised softcover edition of the bestselling The Watch Book celebrates teNeues’s 40th anniversary with a magnificently illustrated chronicle of the world’s finest wristwatches, including portraits of 18 premium manufacturers such as Patek Philippe, Rolex and Cartier, and more than 700 colour images. It’s a perfect gift for a mid-career professional, groom-to-be or seasoned collector who wants a visually rich, bookshelf-friendly introduction to haute horlogerie.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Blackwell’s (UK) • US: Barnes & Noble
4. Black in Fashion: 100 Years of Style, Influence & Culture — WWD; Tonya Blazio-Licorish & Tara Donaldson (Fashion / Cultural History)
Drawing on Women’s Wear Daily archives, this book spotlights Black designers, models, editors and style leaders across the last century, pairing essays with powerful runway and editorial imagery. It’s a perfect gift for fashion students, culture journalists or socially conscious readers who want a coffee-table book that’s both visually rich and historically significant.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Blackwell’s (UK) • US: Barnes & Noble
5. Great Women Artists — Phaidon Editors (Art / Women Artists Survey)
Billed as the most extensive fully illustrated book of women artists ever published, this hefty volume presents over 400 artists from more than 50 countries and five centuries, with a key work and concise text for each. It’s a perfect gift for art students, mid-career creatives, teachers or retirees who want their shelves to reflect women’s contributions to art history in a serious, permanent way.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Blackwell’s (UK) • US: Barnes & Noble
6. A World History of Women Photographers — Luce Lebart & Marie Robert (Photography / Global History)
This 500-page tome introduces 300 women photographers from around the world, with essays by more than 150 writers that situate their work in artistic and social context across 170 years. It’s a perfect gift for serious photography lovers, MA/PhD students or “lifelong learner” who want a substantial, reference-level book that centres women’s perspectives behind the camera.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Blackwell’s (UK) • US: Barnes & Noble
7. Louis Vuitton: The Illustrated World of a Fashion Icon — Megan Hess (Fashion / Illustrated Biography)
This richly illustrated biography traces Louis Vuitton’s journey from humble beginnings to founding the luxury house that now defines modern glamour, told through Megan Hess’s signature, whimsical fashion drawings. It’s a perfect gift for style-obsessed individuals—especially recent grads dreaming of a fashion career, mid-career professionals who adore luxury brands, or retirees who collect beautiful coffee-table fashion books.
Australia/NZ: Amazon AU • Europe: Blackwell’s (UK) • US: Barnes & Noble
FAQ: Coffee Table Books, Styling & Christmas Gift Ideas
What is a coffee table book?
A large, visually led book meant for home décor and easy browsing—think specialty coffee, luxury fashion, art history, BBQ or gourmet cookbooks. It doubles as a design object and a conversation starter.
Why keep coffee table books on display?
They add colour, texture and height (instant interior design upgrade), spark conversation, and encourage phone-free downtime. They’re also the easiest seasonal refresh for your living room.
How many books should I style at once?
Work in odd numbers: one tall stack or 3 mini clusters. For a standard table, 2–3 stacks of 2–3 books each keep things balanced without clutter.
What size should my coffee table be for good flow?
Aim for about ⅔ the length of the sofa, seat height or 1–2 in (2–5 cm) lower, and leave 16–18 in (40–45 cm) clearance for knees and walkways.
What’s the simplest styling formula?
Anchor (tray or book stack) + sculptural object + something alive (flower/greenery). Add a candle or bowl for remotes; keep ¼–⅓ of the surface clear.
How do I pick topics for a mixed household?
Blend interests: one stack each for specialty coffee/latte art, gourmet recipes/BBQ, and luxury fashion/Swiss watches or photography—so everyone finds “their” page.
Best Christmas gift ideas for new homeowners?
No-fail trio: The World Atlas of Coffee (elevates the home barista), Live Beautiful (instant home décor inspiration), and Franklin Barbecue or The Barbecue! Bible (weekend BBQ recipes). Add Chanel or The Watch Book I for a luxe flourish.
Where should I buy—AU/NZ, Europe, or the US?
Use the retailer links under each pick (e.g., Amazon AU, Blackwell’s UK, Barnes & Noble US) for regional stock, pricing and shipping.
Kid- and pet-friendly styling tips?
Choose sturdy hardcovers, keep fragile objects on a tray you can lift away, and swap open flames for LED candles. Wipe dust with a soft cloth; stand books upright weekly to shake loose crumbs.
How often should I rotate books?
Seasonally. Summer = travel/photography; Autumn/Winter = comfort food recipes, holiday baking, and cosy home styling; party season = cocktail and whisky titles for your home bar.