Design Books For Inspiration - Why We Love Them
Kylie here this week!
Many people ask designers, “Where do you find inspiration?” It can be COMPLETELY overwhelming to sift through all of the possibilities. One can easily go down the rabbit hole and get lost amongst all that inspiration. How do you find your perfect fit? (That is why we are here!) There are so many places to seek inspiration, such as Pinterest or through your travels. No travel right now (thanks pandemic), so we look to an old-school tool: BOOKS.
MULTIFUNCTIONAL
If you’ve ever been in a designer’s home or seen photos of one, you’ll likely see stacks of design books used for styling. No, it’s not just used for a pretty picture (although it definitely helps). Those books are a treasure trove of ideas. We always showcase them in our client homes, but we also let them shine in our own homes. We can’t tell you how many times we find ourselves sitting in our living rooms after the kids have gone to bed and picked one up, just thumb through it, and then BAM, an idea hits us. Don’t take our word for it! So many designers do this. If I pull up any of our favorite designers such as Mark Sikes, Charlotte Moss, Kit Kemp, Mario Buatta, you’ll always see a stack of books nearby!
We use them too. When we’re styling a photoshoot, we bring in our favorites - why? Because they bring in a splash of color, texture, and pattern, all the layers that make a space so attractive. See what a great addition they make on this coffee table below, or on a side table, an ottoman, wherever!
Books also show off your style and your personality. They tell your story and give hints about your hobbies and interests. Your home should tell your story, what you are passionate about, your goals, what you collect, and your dreams.
BEE APPROVED
The Bees certainly have favorites. And of course, ours are more classic because we’re classic girls at heart! That doesn’t mean that there aren’t a TON of options out there. Find the ones that give you joy. You know, when you first open it up, and you’re like, “HOLY CRAP - I want that room and that room and that room….” Well, that’s when you know you’ve found the right one. But here’s some that I have sitting on my coffee table.
Don’t get me wrong. I have MANY more (my husband says I have a problem, but what does he know?! Besides, I am sure Mary has more). All of our books give us inspiration and joy when we look through them.
STYLING
Ok, you've got a few fantastic books, now what? You don't want those gorgeous beauties hiding on a bookshelf or in a closet somewhere. You want to show them off! Well, there's another reason why these design books are called "coffee table books." You guessed it; they can go on a coffee table, a side table, an ottoman, or any place you'd like to showcase their beauty.
See what we mean, just picture this space without all those lovely antique books, its just not the same!
I personally love how The Every Girl explained how to style these books:
Stick to odd-numbered groupings (three will always work!) and consider the book's jacket's colors and how it compliments the overall combination. If you prefer, you can take the jacket off and just go with the bare book cover.
With a round coffee table, think of your space as a triangle. Stack your coffee table books in one corner, a floral arrangement in another, and then a tray or candle in the last, creating a balanced and dynamic table vignette.
With a larger, square coffee table, opt for quadrants, and don't be afraid to keep it simple and have four clean stacks of books — and nothing else!
Layer it up and add a tray or decorative accessories on top of your books — a candle, vase, bowl, whatever suits your style. This will create more interest and also add more height.
So simple, yet so impactful!
I also really like Waiting on Martha and her advice on styling coffee table books and mixing them with other elements. She even goes a little further for those of you who have a green thumb.
Light the fire, fill your glass, grab that book. Ahhh, a little slice of heaven, to warm both body and soul on a wintry day!
When styling a coffee table, I’ve found there is a formula that tends to always work no matter the size or shape of your table. It’s really quite simple and only requires four components. Books + Flowers + Trays + Depth.
Flowers add life to any space. While I know fresh flowers on a weekly basis can be expensive might I suggest a small plant instead? We have a little Jade plant that adds the perfect touch of green for our house, plus it’s beyond easy to take care of.
Source: Waiting on Martha
Do you have favorite design books that you love? Where are they? GET THEM OUT and show them off!!! Share them with us and tag us in your book-styling photos! We can’t wait to see!