I've always thought the books people keep around their homes say quite a bit about who lives there. Whenever I'm visiting someone's home and spot a collection of books, I'm almost always curious to see what they've been reading. Our books tend to reveal the things we find interesting, beautiful, or worth knowing.

And as someone who loves both books and beautiful interiors, I'm a sucker for a good coffee table book. I recently had someone find it very odd that, in a world of technology, I love to keep so many physical books. But I told them for me, it's the experience of it. Grabbing some tea or coffee, curling up on a chair or couch, and opening a book.

Over the years, I've collected quite a few. Some I've been disappointed in—beautiful covers, but not much worth returning to. Others have become favorites that I find myself pulling off the shelf (or table) again and again, whether it's to admire the photography, find a little design inspiration, or simply enjoy a few quiet minutes flipping through the pages.

I also happen to think coffee table books make some of the loveliest gifts. They're often a little expensive to buy on a whim, which makes receiving one feel like such a treat.

So, whether you're looking to add to your own collection or find a thoughtful gift for someone else, these are the books I genuinely love and keep coming back to.

Patina Farm

One of my dearest friends, Taylor, gave me this book because she said it reminded her of me. Little did she know, the couple behind it, Brooke and Steve Giannetti, are some of my favorite designers. They've published several beautiful books, but Patina Farm remains my favorite.

It's filled with photos from their California home that I have pinned on Pinterest for years.

Sacred Spaces

First, I just love Carley Summers's heart and the way she approaches interior design.

Second, I love that this book takes you into homes around the world, sharing not only their beautiful interiors but also the stories of the people who live in them. It's a lovely reminder that a home is so much more than the furniture and decorations we put inside it.

Alabaster Psalms or Proverbs

I love being able to pick up a book and spend a few minutes reading through Psalms or Proverbs. Alabaster's editions are particularly lovely because they pair Scripture with beautiful photography and thoughtful design. They're simple, elegant, and beautiful enough to leave on a coffee table, where they're always within reach.

An American in Provence

I'm a sucker for almost anything French (you'll see as the list goes on, lol), but this book is especially lovely. Jamie Beck has such a distinctive gift for photography, and An American in Provence feels like a beautiful combination of art, poetry, food, and life in the French countryside. It's one of those books where you can spend several minutes studying a single photograph.

My French Country Home

I discovered Sharon Santoni's blog more than fifteen years ago, back when I was in college, and kept coming back to it. She was one of the first design bloggers I really loved, long before Instagram became the place everyone went for home inspiration. I remember seeing her kitchen and thinking it was my dream kitchen even in my early twenties. Her style is quintessentially French—elegant, earthy, collected, and never overly perfect. This book captures so much of what I love about French country living.

Romantic English Homes

I have French, English, and Irish ancestry, and of the three, I think English interiors might be my favorite. There's something so inviting about English homes. They're cozy, collected, full of character, and rarely feel as though everything was purchased at once. The photographs in this book are rich and atmospheric, making it the perfect book to curl up with over a cup of tea.

A Well-Kept Home

This is such a simple, lovely book. Inspired by the author's French grandmother, it shares traditional homemaking wisdom and natural ways of caring for a home. The photography is calming and kinda '90s, which I love, and the advice feels like the kind of knowledge that used to be passed down from one generation of women to the next.

La Vie en Rose

This book captures so many different sides of French interiors, from wonderfully elegant to highly eclectic. That's what I love about it. French design isn't just one look, and this book captures so much of its variety. There are photographs I can sit and study for design inspiration, noticing the little details, unexpected combinations, and beautiful ways things have been collected over time. Plus, the name looks so lovely on a book when you just see the spine of it.

The Complete Brambly Hedge

Yes, this is technically a children's book. And yes, I'm including it in my favorite coffee table books. The illustrations are just that beautiful.

If you're unfamiliar with Brambly Hedge, it follows the lives of little mice living in the most wonderfully cozy, whimsical homes. The working kitchens, overflowing pantries, charming bedrooms, and intricate little details are an absolute delight. You might even find yourself getting a few decorating ideas while reading it.

Mimi Thorisson's Cookbooks

Even if you aren't much of a cook, Mimi Thorisson's cookbooks are worth looking through for the photography alone. She doesn't simply show you beautiful food. She captures the entire atmosphere surrounding it. I have French Country Cooking, and flipping through the pages feels like stepping into another world. The old kitchens, the farms, the animals, the countryside, and the beautifully set tables are all so dreamy. They're cookbooks, certainly, but they're just as much about the beauty of everyday living.