The Ten Interior Books On My Coffee Table I Love The Most

A list of my very favourite interior books amassed over the last 20 years that I find particularly inspiring when planning my home.

I've always had a thing for a glossy coffee table book.  The whole concept of a beautiful book to peruse whilst relaxing on the sofa with a cup of coffee is, for me, the ultimate in luxury.  Well, obviously two weeks in Mauritius might top it but if you've got a quick half hour to yourself and time for a browse then you can't beat a good interior read.   The best thing about interior publications is the whole visual element of the pages, the immediacy, the glossiness.  In a time when social media is a key element when it comes to how we gain inspiration for our homes, it's still wonderful to be able to pick up an interiors magazine or a book when we have a moment for ourselves.  

I'm not going to lie, I've got a few.  More than a few.  I have stacks of Livingetc and Elle Decor dating back 15 years. But I never get bored of them, I can always find something in them that makes me think twice (I’m currently working on a post about incorporating these ideas from almost two decades ago into my own space).  And my collection of interior books should really be catalogued, it’s so extensive, ha. I own every one of the books I've listed here in my Top Ten and the ideas within them always inspire me.  The premise of all these books is individual style, not trend driven, not telling you what to do.  They encourage you to work the ideas into your own home to reflect your own personality.

They are all available via Add To Bag on Amazon, which has a hell of a lot to answer for when it comes to my interior book collection.  Particularly the fact that you can buy preloved at a mere fraction of the original cost (this has been invaluable to me when replacing ruined cook books, a regular occurrence) - tap the button under the main price box and it will give you multiple second hand options at an excellent price point. In fact, you’re basically helping the planet. And why order just one thing when you can order two, three or ten and get Prime Delivery?  It's like fairy magic, with the fairy being a heavy breathing, fragrantly challenged delivery driver who throws boxes at your front door.  Mine knows me so well that he brings biscuits for the dog.

Anyway, I can categorically say that all of my interior volumes are excellent investments. Some of these I've had for many years (in fact, barely any of these are under five years old), but they are all keepers. Here are my favourite Top Ten interior books that reside on my very own coffee table.