What’s the first thing you notice when you walk into someone’s living space? Is it the art hanging on the walls, the curated objects on the shelves, or the scent in the air? All of these details reveal fragments of a personality. Eventually, though, you find yourself at the coffee table—that anchor of the room where people linger, chat, and reveal more of who they are.
In Chinese tradition, the philosophy of Feng Shui teaches that the way we arrange our surroundings—furniture, art, even books—directly influences the flow of energy, or chi, in our lives. Interior designers often borrow from this logic, and if you also subscribe to that idea, then the books you place at the heart of your living room shouldn’t just be decorative, they should be talismans of identity, culture, interests and mood.
The right set of coffee table books can set the tone for how your home feels and how you’re seen within it. Here’s Soigné’s edit of must-have collectibles, curated for every kind of taste.
For the Fashion Crowd
Costumes Of Saudia Arabia: A Heritage Of Fashion
This book unfolds like a pictorial journey through Saudi’s sartorial heritage, charting everything from hand-stitched embroidery to the silhouettes that define each region. More than a fashion record, it frames clothing as a way of cultural expression—ornamented, symbolic, and enduringly beautiful in its storytelling.
Louis Vuitton Catwalk: The Complete Fashion Collections
Stack this on your table and it’s instant credibility. Every Vuitton runway since ’98, all in one glossy archive—Marc’s audacity, Nicolas’ architecture, Virgil’s disruption. It’s fashion history disguised as décor, and it doesn’t just sit pretty—it flexes.
The Impossible Collection of Fashion
Think of it as fashion’s greatest mixtape.100 dresses that changed the world, bound like a museum piece. Dior’s New Look, McQueen’s theatre, Saint Laurent’s rebellion. Heavy, decadent, impossible to ignore—exactly the kind of object you want people to notice.
Jil Sander by Jil Sander
This book is a celebration of pure, pared-back style. Showcasing Sander’s signature clean cuts and modern tailoring, it captures why she’s considered the queen of minimalism. Easy to flip through, yet captivating enough to leave on display.
History and Art
Spaces That Remain
An exploration of now-vanished Dubai neighborhoods through compelling photography by Jalal Abuthina. Find yourself discussing and paying your respects to the heritage and urban memory of a city that has come so far.
Memories of Satwa
Featuring an introduction by Professor Yasser El Sheshtawy from the Urban Research Lab at UAE University, Memories of Satwa is a visual memoir documenting Satwa, one of Dubai’s oldest and most vibrant neighborhoods, now at the brink of gentrification. Compiled by Jalal Abuthina, it captures rare photographs of Satwa residents and landmarks, some of which no longer exist.
Reference Point: A History of Tashkeel and UAE Art
A beautifully produced chronicle of Dubai’s art and design evolution over a decade, this book is bilingual and culturally rich. It’s a must-have statement piece for any coffee table.
Louvre Abu Dhabi. A World Vision Of Art
This reference book to Louvre Abu Dhabi is a manifesto for the museum, consisting of analyses and reflections of its artworks by renowned art historians.
Frida Kahlo: The Complete Paintings book
A vibrant, powerful art book that offers discussions surrounding culture and the life of a visionary artist.
Design
Softer Volumes: Cafes Vol. 1
Highlighting over 80 cafés across 50 cities, including Dubai’s, this beautifully bound book explores design, ambiance, and the stories behind each space. A must have for design aficianados and those of us who really enjoy aesthetically pleasing cafés – it may sound like a niche but it’s not.
Contemporary Living in the Middle East
Dubai Wonder
This book is a dazzling tribute to the modern-day architectural marvels, growing arts scene, and historical value of the city of Dubai. Flip through vibrant photographs of historic neighborhoods, art districts, and more, as the narrative of a young city emerges.
