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7 Interior Design and Decor Books to Transform Your Home
Switch up your space with advice from experts on everything from decluttering to creating a farmhouse vibe / BY Athena McKenzie / November 4th, 2021
It’s that time of year when we start to cocoon, so take a page out of these books, switch things up a little – or a lot – and turn that reading nook from drab to fab. We’ve got insider tips on adding colour to neutral rooms, design trends, decluttering and creating one-of-a-kind spaces that will spark joy during the dreary month of November.
Obsessive Book Buyers: Zoomer editors have carefully curated our book coverage to ensure you find the perfect read. We may earn a commission on books you buy by clicking on the cover image.
1A Pop of Color: Inspiring Ideas to Bring Color Into Your Home James, the former home-buying manager for Selfridges, a high-end UK department store, sets out easy, inexpensive ways to bring splashes of colour into neutral spaces with plants, pillows, rugs and accent walls. She walks readers through lessons on adding single colours, contrasting colours, multicolors and a living colours, demonstrating practical solutions for décor conundrums that often stymie amateur decorators.
Insider Tip: “Paint a chair or stool. You can find inexpensive pieces at charity shops/thrift stores, online auctions and flea markets. Give them a facelift using leftover sample pots or spray paint.”
James, the former home-buying manager for Selfridges, a high-end UK department store, sets out easy, inexpensive ways to bring splashes of colour into neutral spaces with plants, pillows, rugs and accent walls. She walks readers through lessons on adding single colours, contrasting colours, multicolors and a living colours, demonstrating practical solutions for décor conundrums that often stymie amateur decorators.
Insider Tip: “Paint a chair or stool. You can find inexpensive pieces at charity shops/thrift stores, online auctions and flea markets. Give them a facelift using leftover sample pots or spray paint.”
2Minimalista: Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Better Home, Wardrobe, and Life Gill, a California-based influencer and professional home organizer, helps clients all over the world to put everything in its place. Her new book breaks down her toolkit, built around five steps: clarify, edit, organize, elevate and maintain. Then she gives examples for projects for every room in the house, from the entryway to the attic.
Insider Tip: “One of the most common questions I hear is, ‘But what if I need it one day?’ This question is generally useless and will encourage you to hold onto everything ‘just in case.’ It feels so much better to believe that your life is abundant, that you are resourceful, and that you will always be able to buy (or borrow) the thing you truly need.”
Gill, a California-based influencer and professional home organizer, helps clients all over the world to put everything in its place. Her new book breaks down her toolkit, built around five steps: clarify, edit, organize, elevate and maintain. Then she gives examples for projects for every room in the house, from the entryway to the attic.
Insider Tip: “One of the most common questions I hear is, ‘But what if I need it one day?’ This question is generally useless and will encourage you to hold onto everything ‘just in case.’ It feels so much better to believe that your life is abundant, that you are resourceful, and that you will always be able to buy (or borrow) the thing you truly need.”
3Modern Farmhouse Made Easy: Simple Ways to Mix Old & New As this Nashville-based, home-and-lifestyle writer knows, farmhouses are having a moment as people embrace the rustic look. Part of the appeal? The farmhouse style is designed to be lived in, not just admired. Whether you live in a real farmhouse or want to incorporate some warm and inviting elements into your urban dwelling, McKenzie offers lots of inspiration.
Insider Tip: “Even a plain-Jane kitchen can get an inviting makeover with the introduction of an antique sign. For an especially fitting accent, look for those sporting grocery and food references. And the more patina, the better!”
As this Nashville-based, home-and-lifestyle writer knows, farmhouses are having a moment as people embrace the rustic look. Part of the appeal? The farmhouse style is designed to be lived in, not just admired. Whether you live in a real farmhouse or want to incorporate some warm and inviting elements into your urban dwelling, McKenzie offers lots of inspiration.
Insider Tip: “Even a plain-Jane kitchen can get an inviting makeover with the introduction of an antique sign. For an especially fitting accent, look for those sporting grocery and food references. And the more patina, the better!”
4150 Best New Interior Design Ideas This coffee-table worthy treasury of current décor trends, collected by the Barcelona-based design writer, is more than eye candy. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own space, the author shows, through images of projects by renowned architects and designers, how they use colour, texture and finishes to create one-of-a-kind spaces.
Insider Tip: “The bathroom has gone from being just a functional corner to a luminous space where functionality, technology, and design come together to offer an infinite universe of decorative possibilities. The new concept of the bathroom speaks to us of environments with a spa soul.”
This coffee-table worthy treasury of current décor trends, collected by the Barcelona-based design writer, is more than eye candy. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own space, the author shows, through images of projects by renowned architects and designers, how they use colour, texture and finishes to create one-of-a-kind spaces.
Insider Tip: “The bathroom has gone from being just a functional corner to a luminous space where functionality, technology, and design come together to offer an infinite universe of decorative possibilities. The new concept of the bathroom speaks to us of environments with a spa soul.”
5Home is Where You Make It The Australian DIY influencer might be a darling of the millennial set, but her tips and tricks work across many spaces, whatever the age of the owner. Her latest book is best summed up by its lengthy subtitle: DIY Ideas & Styling Secrets to Create a Home You Love, Whether You Rent or Own. Chapters, sorted by rooms, include: The Entryway – Make it Welcoming; The Kitchen – Make it Functional + Beautiful; and The Bedroom – Make it a Sanctuary.
Insider Tip: “Large pieces of unique artwork can completely transform a space, but can sometimes be impractical or expensive to purchase. Another option for an art display that speaks volumes (without a huge cost) is a gallery wall. I love creating gallery walls as either the focal point of a room or a facelift for an empty corner that needs a bit of love.”
The Australian DIY influencer might be a darling of the millennial set, but her tips and tricks work across many spaces, whatever the age of the owner. Her latest book is best summed up by its lengthy subtitle: DIY Ideas & Styling Secrets to Create a Home You Love, Whether You Rent or Own. Chapters, sorted by rooms, include: The Entryway – Make it Welcoming; The Kitchen – Make it Functional + Beautiful; and The Bedroom – Make it a Sanctuary.
Insider Tip: “Large pieces of unique artwork can completely transform a space, but can sometimes be impractical or expensive to purchase. Another option for an art display that speaks volumes (without a huge cost) is a gallery wall. I love creating gallery walls as either the focal point of a room or a facelift for an empty corner that needs a bit of love.”
6Style Comfort Home Howard, a popular Florida-based interior designer, knows his field can be intimidating for the average homeowner and wants to find the middle ground between high-end architectural books and the DIY approach. His new book presents easy-to-adopt design ideas for refreshing your space.
Insider Tip: “Change pillows – or even just their covers – to completely transform a space. Swapping out your throw pillows every few years, or even each season, brings in new hues. It’s a great way to dip your toe into color, if you’re afraid of going all in.”
Howard, a popular Florida-based interior designer, knows his field can be intimidating for the average homeowner and wants to find the middle ground between high-end architectural books and the DIY approach. His new book presents easy-to-adopt design ideas for refreshing your space.
Insider Tip: “Change pillows – or even just their covers – to completely transform a space. Swapping out your throw pillows every few years, or even each season, brings in new hues. It’s a great way to dip your toe into color, if you’re afraid of going all in.”
7Collected: Colour + Neutral, Volume No 3 This Toronto-based interior designer and HGTV star knows selecting a palette for your home can be difficult. Do you go with bold tones or calming, soft hues? Her latest book is filled with projects and expert advice, framed by the colour vs. neutral debate.
Insider Tip: “Green is a wonderful choice for a dining room. It plays well with warm wood tones, is friendly, and exudes energy even when no one’s in the room.”
This Toronto-based interior designer and HGTV star knows selecting a palette for your home can be difficult. Do you go with bold tones or calming, soft hues? Her latest book is filled with projects and expert advice, framed by the colour vs. neutral debate.
Insider Tip: “Green is a wonderful choice for a dining room. It plays well with warm wood tones, is friendly, and exudes energy even when no one’s in the room.”