Why Decorative Books Belong in Every Home
Decorative books are more than filler, they tell a story about the things you like. Whether it’s design, architecture, travel, or fashion, a curated stack reflects your personality and interests in a subtle way. They also add color and texture, blending into your palette or bringing a pop that feels intentional.
Beyond aesthetics, books are incredibly flexible. You can move them around from a coffee table to a shelf, layer them under a vase, or rotate them seasonally for a fresh look. They ground small objects, create balance, and instantly make a vignette look styled rather than accidental, proving that sometimes the simplest details make the biggest impact.
Below, we’ve put together a list of our 11 favorite decorative books to style in any home
Why we love it:
That turquoise cover alone feels like summer — bold, vibrant, and impossible to ignore. Inside, it’s a visual escape through the world’s most beautiful hotels and stories from icons like Sofia Coppola and Kate Moss, a reminder that good design and good travel share the same soul.
Why we love it:
The bronze cover feels timeless and architectural, perfectly echoing Mies’s minimalist spirit. Inside, it explores the legacy of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, whose glass-and-steel masterpieces reshaped modern architecture and continue to inspire how we think about design.
Why we love it:
This modern twist on Connect Four uses clear and milky green acrylic for a fresh, airy look. The translucent materials give off a playful glow, perfect for a beach house or modern living room. Childhood nostalgia, reimagined in chic.
Why we love it:
The gold cover feels as opulent and layered as Yves and Pierre’s world. Inside, it’s an intimate look at their private homes, spaces filled with art, charm, and personality — a rare glimpse into how true collectors lived surrounded by beauty and meaning.
Why we love it:
The terracotta and gold cover instantly evokes Rome’s timeless grandeur. Inside, every page celebrates the layers of history, art, and architecture. It is a visual love letter to one of the world’s most inspiring places.
Why we love it:
The black cover with bold white lettering is pure design perfection, sleek, confident, and iconic. Inside, it captures Tom Ford’s world of fashion, photography, and attitude, making it as striking styled on a table as it is to flip through.
Why we love it:
The caramel leather cover feels refined and bold, a perfect nod to Porsche’s craftsmanship. Inside, it’s a beautifully told history of design, innovation, and obsession with perfection, a book that feels as timeless as the cars themselves.
Why we love it:
The green linen cover and gold lettering instantly evoke Rolex’s signature elegance. Inside, it’s a celebration of craftsmanship and legacy, tracing the evolution of the world’s most iconic watch with stunning photography that feels as precise and timeless as the brand itself.
Why we love it:
The blush pink cover with deep burgundy type feels fresh yet timeless, just like the homes inside. Each page opens a door into spaces filled with personality and creativity, celebrating how real people live beautifully. This new version of the AD at Home saga is a must-have for anyone who loves design with soul.
Why we love it:
The deep chocolate cover with bold typography gives it a quiet confidence that feels right at home in any setting. Inside, it gathers some of today’s most inspiring interiors and conversations around design, making it both visually rich and deeply thoughtful, a book made for people who truly love beautiful spaces.
Why we love it:
The red and black cover is bold and electric, a perfect reflection of AC Milan’s energy and legacy. Inside, it’s a celebration of history, design, and passion, a striking tribute to one of the world’s most iconic clubs and a must-have for football lovers with a taste for style.
Arianna’s final take
Decorative books aren’t just for filling shelves. These picks prove you can love design and still make a statement. Whether you’re styling a coffee table, layering textures on a console, or curating the perfect bookshelf moment, each one adds warmth, color, and personality, and deserves a place that’s anything but hidden.
