Have you ever taken a glance at your coffee table and felt that it could use just a little sprucing up? Maybe, you have a few pieces on your coffee table but you feel that something is missing. Often, the coffee table gets piled with mail, electronics, food, and drinks to say the least. They in no way resemble the brilliant pieces of furniture that we once admired and had to have. After you’ve taken a second to declutter your coffee table, consider what items you want to live there. As with all tables, benches, and countertops if you are living with other adults and children it must be clear what is allowed to rest on the coffee table and what needs to be placed in the sink or drawers when you are done utilizing it. Now that we have that squared away, let’s talk coffee table books. They’re simple yet inherently stylish. And with their beautiful covers and graphic spines, they provide color and personality to the flat surfaces in your home. Coffee table books can help to tie in a room’s look and, in my opinion, are one of the simplest ways to add elegance to your space.
How to Decorate with Books
You can decorate your coffee table with a single book that makes a grand statement, such as the Tom Ford Hardcover or Architectural Digest at 100: A Century of Style. Similarly, you can stack books that speak to you, your style, or your interests. Like anything you purchase for your home, you should use books that you find interesting. Adding hardback books to a table or shelf will help to elevate, separate, and add interest to a particular space. Choose books that have an outside cover as beautiful and interesting as the contents inside. When you do this, your books will essentially be art on a table that will surely, wow you and others at every glance. When sourcing books to enhance the style of your space, book jackets matter. Countless books come in beautiful sleaves; when removed they reveal a not-so-impressive hardback. Since you will be removing the book jacket make sure that the actual hardback is just as artistically impressive as its sleave.
Here are a few tips on styling a coffee table, if you like the look of stacked books.
- Use your largest book as a base for stability, then add another two books on top (there’s something about odd numbers that people find more visually interesting). Accent your stack using an adjacent flower arrangement or candle.
- On a larger table, use your stack to separate sizable accessories, such as globes or vases.
The number of books you use is left up to your discretion and personal style. When decorating a coffee table with books I prefer a minimalist approach. One to three books and an accent piece. I prefer to place accent pieces adjacent to the books as opposed to on top of the book. A great deal of a home being inviting relies on functionality. Guest could feel that these pieces are off-limits or untouchable if they have accent pieces on top of them. You want your guest to not only see the elegance of your home but also experience it.
The Gift for Everyone
Everyone loves a beautiful book. If you’re like me, you’ve wrecked your brain for weeks over what to gift a friend that has everything or an acquaintance that you don’t know very well. When I figured out the answer to this dilemma I stocked up on books, books, books. So much more intimate than a bottle of wine, books are written on every topic imaginable. You only need to know the slightest detail about a person’s interests, and you’ll have so many gift options that you’ll find it difficult to choose. Does your friend fancy a charcuterie? Try Savor by Kimberly Stevens. Is your loved one spiritual or appreciates inspirational thought? Try this beautiful bible – Book of Proverbs. The beauty of a coffee table book as a gift is that, even if the receiver is not an avid reader, they will still love to impress their inner circle by owning one of these works of art. They’re great conversation starters, giving visitors and dinner guests some insight into our interests. And, let’s face it, some of these books are priced to impress.
Trust me Olives, once you catch the bug for collecting these interesting beauties, you’ll never look back. Pace yourself and don’t go crazy making book stacks into side tables. Keep all of your coffee table books in heavy rotation by switching the warm and cozy books of fall and winter for the radiant covers of spring and summer. With a simple adjustment, you’ll have an updated room for every season.
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