Coffee Table Books

A coffee table book is furniture as much as reading. It gives a low table something to sit on, it raises a tray or a candle to a useful height, and it tells a visitor something about the house without anyone having to say it.

Stack in threes, largest at the bottom, and turn the spines to face the seating rather than the wall. Two stacks on a long table beat one tall pile. If a book is too handsome to hide, stand it face out on a shelf instead and change it when you get bored of it.

Titles here also appear in their subject collections, so go to Interiors & Architecture, Fashion & Design or Cookbooks if you are after something specific.

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Books · Interiors & Architecture Books · Fashion & Design Books · Gestalten · Coffee Table Styling

How many books should go on a coffee table?
Three is the usual answer, stacked largest to smallest, or two smaller stacks on a long table. More than that and the table stops being usable, which is the point at which styling has gone too far.

What counts as a coffee table book?
Large format, hardcover, heavily illustrated and made to be opened anywhere rather than read front to back. Size and paper quality are what separate them from an ordinary hardback.

Do you gift wrap books?
Yes, complimentary gift wrapping can be added to your order. Books are one of the easier things to give, since a good one rarely needs to be the right size.

Can I see inside before buying?
Product photography shows interior spreads wherever the publisher provides them. If you are in Mount Maunganui, most of the range is on the shelf at 270 Maunganui Road.