Books & Objects

Books are the most personal decorative object in a home — and one of the most effective. A well-chosen stack adds height, color, and the sense of a life lived, whether on a coffee table, a shelf, or under a lamp.

Decorative books are the styling secret that makes a room look collected rather than staged. Part of our décor and accessories collection, this category covers coffee-table books and how to style them as décor.

The best coffee-table books earn their spot on looks and substance both — a beautiful spine and cover, on a subject that says something about you (design, travel, art, a place you love). As styling objects, books are endlessly useful: stack them to add height under a lamp or a small object, lay them flat as a riser for a candle or a piece of pottery, or line them on a shelf broken up with objects and a little breathing room. Mix horizontal and vertical stacks on shelves to avoid the rigid, library look. The trick is to choose books you’d actually open — authenticity reads, and a stack of genuinely loved books looks warmer than a color-coordinated set bought by the foot. Guides to specific titles and styling are on the way.