Books are now objects of desire for intellectuals and aesthetes alike. Celebrities frequently showcase their home libraries in the pages of magazines such as Architectural Digest, and the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld loved books so much—he owned over 300,000—that he opened his own bookstore called 7L. Prestigious publishers such as Assouline and Taschen have also made a lucrative business out of creating stylish books for public and private spaces that are as alluring on the outside as they are informative on the inside.
“Books are a powerful visual key to a homeowner’s areas of interest. They convey an immediate message about a person’s passions… they are a subtle but effective way to shape the audience’s image of the person,” says Valériane Moyersoen, international sales director at Taschen.
As books have become more of a stylistic device, creating the perfect coffee table “vignette,” as Djerejian-Shiever calls it, takes some practice. While personal interests should always guide your selections and can cover a wide range of topics, from art and design to fashion and food, visual elements are just as important.
Unlike a working library, which would typically be categorized by alphabet, subject or author, there are no rules when choosing your coffee table. Although it’s become popular to group or stack books by size or color—bright, rainbow-colored book collections like Assouline’s Travel Series are extremely Instagrammable—experts advise opting for a less contrived look.
“I like the idea of organized chaos. I prefer to put together specific collections and consciously break the rules with different sizes and colors,” says Alexandre Assouline, Chief of Operations, Brand and Strategy at Assouline.
“I also like to place objects next to the books, whether arranged horizontally or vertically. This approach adds an eclectic and visually appealing element to the area and creates a dynamic and unique presentation,” he says.
While candles and air fresheners are welcome, small plants or flowers can also add height and color, while pottery and other artwork can further express your personality. Djerejian-Shiever recommends adding board games if space allows—they often encourage conversation and keep people engaged just as much as the books themselves.
“Remember that your coffee table is the centerpiece of a social space. I suggest that clients look at the table from above to get a better idea of size and proportions. Your table shouldn’t look too cluttered, after all, it needs to be functional too. You should have room for a glass,” she says.
If you have the space, books can serve as an interesting styling element, not just as a coffee table or shelf, and can even double as furniture. Trends include stacking “pillars” that highlight other important objects in the room, such as a fireplace. Place a wooden board on top of your stack of books to form a makeshift console. They can also be used as stylish risers to highlight objects on shelves, such as sculptures, plants or vases.
There’s no reason why your book collection should be limited to living rooms or libraries. Today, more than ever, people are putting their favorite books in unexpected places like kitchens and even bathrooms. Experts recommend choosing more cheerful choices for these areas, such as Taschen’s Gourmand range.
“I love seeing cookbooks or even books about food in the kitchen, between stacks of cups and plates. The bathroom is a great place for joke books and travel books. When guests come to visit, there’s nothing better than personally selecting a few books for them to browse through while they’re in their room,” says Djerejian-Shiever.
And last but not least, don’t be afraid to switch things up and change your ads from time to time.
“‘Never bore, always delight’ is one of our favourite sayings and I believe it is an important and relevant style lesson today,” says Moyersoen. “Books should not sit still and collect dust: they should be treated like living objects and replaced at your heart’s content. You can have a book in sight, discover it, get tired of it, put it on a shelf and replace it with another, only to remember it later and rediscover it.
Tips for styling your books at home
1. Old and out-of-print titles appear less artificial, while novels add more personality to your exhibitions.
2. Instead of color-coded displays, experiment with a monochrome palette or books with unique or textured covers.
3. Don’t underestimate bookends. They allow you to play with different heights and depths and are available in modern materials such as acrylic.
4. Combine vertical and horizontal backs for a less organized look.
5. Turn your book collection into a pedestal to display other decorative objects.
