Home Books Every Southern Hostess Should Have on Her Coffee Table By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on August 17, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Photo: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Southerners know that when it comes to interior design, a bare coffee table is just not an option. A wide open surface is usually begging for an assortment of sculptural accessories, trays, and books to be artfully arranged on top. (And, if you're interested, we've already put together a how-to on arranging said tabletop.) There's a genre of book designed just for this purpose—the aptly named coffee table book—and we bet you have a few in your collection already. The best coffee table books are both beautiful and useful, visually stunning and practical. They're filled with gorgeous photographs, compelling stories, and unexpected inspiration for hosting, design, travel, and beyond. With that in mind, we've chosen a few coffee table books we think are destined to be classics. A tabletop display should be inviting, which is why we've gathered some fun options we think Southern hostesses will love and guests will enjoy browsing. There are a few unexpected, pocket-sized picks too. There's something here for every taste and table. All are fun to flip through—and isn't that we're looking for in a coffee table book? 01 of 14 How They Decorated: Inspiration from Great Women of the Twentieth Century amazon.com by P. Gaye Tapp BUY IT: $48, amazon.com Peek into the homes of design icons from throughout the century in this coffee table book. It's easy to get lost in the photographs—and to borrow some of these ladies' ideas for your own interior designs. 02 of 14 The Finer Things: Timeless Furniture, Textiles, and Details amazon.com by Christiane Lemieux BUY IT: $40, amazon.com In this coffee table book, elegance is the name of the game. With each page, Christiane Lemieux explores the art of fine interior design. 03 of 14 House Dressing: Interiors for Colorful Living Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Mary Beth Wetzel by Janie Molster BUY IT: $43, amazon.com Designer Janie Molster is no stranger to color, texture, and pattern. In her new book, she shares past projects with insight on how to achieve the perfect balance in any space. 04 of 14 Foraged Flora: A Year of Gathering and Arranging Wild Plants and Flowers amazon.com by Louesa Roebuck and Sarah Lonsdale BUY IT: $24, amazon.com One flip through this lovely book will inspire you to gather your best vases and arrange something beautiful. 05 of 14 Home: A Celebration: Notable Voices Reflect on the Meaning of Home Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Mary Beth Wetzel by Charlotte Moss BUY IT: $45, amazon.com Charlotte Moss brought together creatives from multiple professions to share what home means to them. The book sales benefit No Kid Hungry. 06 of 14 The National Parks: America's Best Idea amazon.com by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns BUY IT: $34, amazon.com America's national parks take center stage in this stunning book exploring the history of the park system and its beloved places, including Acadia National Park, Denali National Park, and Everglades National Park. 07 of 14 ) Style Comfort Home: How To Find Your Style and Decorate for Happiness and Ease Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Mary Beth Wetzel by Andrew Howard BUY IT: $40; amazon.com Southern designer Andrew Howard finds the balance between high design and DIY in his new book all about achievable design. 08 of 14 In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs amazon.com by Grace Bonney BUY IT: $17, amazon.com You'll find inspiration on every page of this book, which is a timely and timeless compilation of interviews with entrepreneurs and artists from an array of fields. 09 of 14 The Well-Loved House: Creating Homes with Color, Comfort, and Drama Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Mary Beth Wetzel by Ashley Whittaker BUY IT: $45, amazon.com Designer Ashley Whittaker is known for her beautiful spaces across the country. In her new book, she shares how homes can be beautiful but also lived in. 10 of 14 Dogs amazon.com by Tim Flach and Lewis Blackwell BUY IT: $52, amazon.com Canines get their artistic due in this charming photographic celebration of our favorite four-legged friends. 11 of 14 Finding Home: The Houses of Pursley Dixon Rizzoli by by Ken Pursley and Jacqueline Terrebonne BUY IT: $55; amazon.com Architects Ken Pursley and Craig Dixon share fifteen homes that each represent a distinct style: from mountain escapes to waterside retreats. 12 of 14 Southern Living 50 Years: A Celebration of People, Places, and Culture amazon.com by Valerie Frasier Luesse and the Editors of Southern Living BUY IT: $29, amazon.com This hardcover celebration of the South includes road trips, memorable essays, stunning homes, and heirloom recipes from Southern Living. 13 of 14 Brave Enough anthropologie.com by Cheryl Strayed BUY IT: $11, amazon.com While it's not solely designed for the coffee table, we think you'll want to keep this pocket-sized book close by. It's filled with wisdom from writer Cheryl Strayed (Wild, Tiny Beautiful Things). 14 of 14 Pizzazzerie: Entertain in Style: Tablescapes & Recipes for the Modern Hostess amazon.com by Courtney Whitmore with Phronsie Dial BUY IT: $26, amazon.com Keeping this book on your coffee table will ensure that party ideas are always within arm's reach, as it's filled cover to cover with hosting inspiration—and plenty of pizzazz. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit