Once you know the rules of interior design, there’s no reason why you can’t get stuck into decorating your home yourself and interior design books can be a great place to start, offering hints, tips and inspiration.
Whether you’re looking for help with creating the clean lines and muted tones of Scandinavian styling, have often wondered how best to work a dark scheme into a small space or want to experiment with colour, pattern and texture, but don’t know how, our pick of the best interior design books for style inspiration should help you get started.
And, of course, you can find loads more design ideas and advice on our dedicated hub page.
Award-winning blogger Kate Watson-Smyth shares an insight into her experiences with interiors and home design, helping you make the most of your home (no matter how big or small).
Packed full of ideas and inspiration, Mad About The House combines handy tips and design tricks that cater for every budget and interiors style, covering everything from the rules of rug layouts to getting lighting right.
Learn how to decorate your home with style and confidence, select colours that work, make the most of small spaces and create the perfect zones for relaxation, entertaining and work sometimes all in the same space.
Self-acknowledged ‘design junkies’ Lucy St George and Jane Rockett launched their online interiors store in 2007. Ten years on, Rockett St George has revitalised the interiors market with their quirky, glamorous and distinctive collections.
Their book, Rockett St George: Extraordinary Interiors: Show-stopping looks for unique interiors, offers and insight into creating magical, inviting and imaginative interiors that reflect personality.
Inspired by her move to Sweden over ten years ago, Niki Brantmark comments on the distinctive nature of Scandinavian style and helps you to replicate it in your own home.
The book features interior examples from a range of beautiful homes, which should give you the confidence to develop your own take on the popular design theme.
The problem with buying from a department store is that you know that someone, somewhere, is displaying the same wall art, the same cushions and the same furnishings.
As Tamara Maynes explains, there is a way to make your home completely unique – you decorate it with things you have made yourself. Luckily, she shows you just how to do it in this crafty book.
You may not be able to afford the same interior designer as pop stars or fashion icons but you can take inspiration from their homes. Featuring exclusive images of houses owned by some of the biggest names in the world, this book provides you with plenty of inspiration for your own home.
The book recalls some of the best interior design stories that have previously featured in Vogue, giving you a round up of the most influential styles of recent times.
Combining practical guidance, professional photographs, illustrations and personal essays, this book will help you to create a home that reflects your personality and life ambitions. Whether it’s the ideal kitchen countertop, the best way to decorate a nursery or how to tackle the shops when you’re just starting out, this is the best all-rounder for those who need a friendly voice to help them out with a bit of everything.
Choosing a colour palette is important to any design theme. But what kind of colour palette? Darker colours, lighter colours, or how about a complete contrast? To ensure you get the foundations of any interior makeover right, Farrow & Ball have put together a guide to choosing the best colours; from the right colours for a north-facing room to that all-important feature wall.
Whether you’re hosting an entire reception or a gathering of your favourite people, this joint effort by Holly Becker and Leslie Shewing will certainly enable you to dress your home to impress. From colour palettes to styles, lengthy projects to quick transformations, make sure your home is ready for when the guests arrive with this incredibly useful guide.
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Main image: Furniture Village showing Shoreditch Coffee Table, £669; Carnaby Corner Chaise Sofa, £3,745; Varrick Wool Rug, £379; Shoreditch Lamp Table, £399