The Best Interior Design Books Designers Actually Use
I finally made my way through a stack of books that have been sitting patiently on my coffee table. Lately, I’ve been craving that more than anything… turning physical pages, taking notes, sitting with an idea for longer than a few seconds on a screen. It feels grounding in a way scrolling never does. I shared recently that media has been feeling a bit overwhelming this season, and getting back to my roots and more in tune with my creativity has been good for my soul. Books have always been part of that for me. They’re where I go when I need inspiration that feels thoughtful, not rushed. Today, I wanted to share the best interior design books I actually use and love. I own every single one linked in this post, and I’ve edited this list down to the ones that continue to inspire me. Some are by designers I’ve admired my entire career, some are written by authors I’m lucky to call friends, and a few are newer releases that have impressed me. If you’re building your own collection, these are worth the investment. Click through to check out my favorite interior design books. I’m also sharing five ways to use design books (other than the obvious).
My Favorite Interior Design Books Right Now
01: Ralph Lauren A Way of Living // 02: Pacific Natural at Home // 03: Heidi Caillier: Memories of Home: Interiors // 04: Kelly Wearstler: Synchronicity // 05: DISC Interiors: Portraits of Home // 06: Eight Homes: Clements Design // 07: Thomas O’Brien: Library House // 08: Féau & Cie // 09: Joseph Dirand: Interior // 10: The deVol Kitchen // 11: The Great American House // 13: Redefining Comfort // 14: Sacred Spaces // 15: Made For Living // 16: The Nature of Home // 17: Arranging Things // 18: The Perfect Kitchen// 19: Houses: Atelier AM // 20: Jean-Louis Deniot: Interiors //
I happened to be touring a lighting showroom at the same time as Kelly Wearstler’s book signing for Rhapsody, so I got to meet her and she gifted me a signed copy. As a fan, it was a pretty fun moment to meet her and chat briefly… I think because of that experience, Rhapsody has always been a favorite design book in my collection. As I previously mentioned, everything linked here feels particularly inspiring, so you can’t go wrong with any of these.
Why These Interior Design Books Are Worth Owning
Not all design books are created equal. Some are beautiful but don’t offer much beyond that. The ones I keep coming back to tend to do more. They teach you how to see a space differently. They offer ideas you can actually apply. If I’m not reaching for a book during a project or flipping through it when I feel stuck, it doesn’t stay in my collection. These have all passed the test.
5 Ways I Use Interior Design Books
1. Read Them
Obviously books are best for reading. That goes without saying. I’ve purchased so many design books throughout my career because I enjoy reading about a topic I’m passionate about.
2. Style Them
Books really are the easiest and best home styling accessory. I love displaying books all over our home, and I don’t limit myself to shelves or built-ins. You can tell a lot about the home’s inhabitants based on the books that fill their interior (hobbies, interests, etc). Read my blog post: how to style a bookshelf: easy designer-approved tips for a curated look for styling inspiration.
3. Design Exercises
I touched on this in other posts, but reading design books has made me a better, more observant designer. I love taking notes, journaling inspiration, and practicing design exercises. It’s one of the best ways to sharpen your instincts.
4. Start Conversations
Coffee table books aren’t just for looking pretty- I love when friends or family come over and begin flipping through my books (styled on tables, tucked into shelves, etc). Books are the best conversation starters!
5. Reference
If I’m feeling stumped or uninspired, sometimes all it takes is flipping through a book I haven’t visited in a while. You’ll never see me get rid of my books. I often reference favorites from my library.
A Quick Note on Styling with Books
Biblio-Style is actually all about styling with books… so if you’re unsure how to incorporate them into your home, that’s a great book to buy first! I tend to keep things simple. A small stack of books, something sculptural on top, maybe a candle or organic element layered in. It doesn’t need to be complicated to feel intentional. I almost always start with books as the foundation for styling any surface.
Building Your Own Interior Design Book Collection
If you’re just starting your collection, I’d recommend beginning with a small, thoughtful mix rather than buying everything at once. Choose one book that teaches fundamentals, one that inspires you visually, and one that feels aligned with your personal style. From there, build slowly. Here are my tips for how to thrift books like a designer. I’ve definitely made the mistake of buying books that looked impressive but didn’t reflect how I actually design. Those are the ones that end up collecting dust.
Questions?
That is the Blind Contour Drawing from my shop, Tuesday Made.
Yes, especially if you want deeper inspiration and a more thoughtful approach than what you get from digital platforms. I have a curated collection of interior design books ready for you on my Amazon storefront.
Absolutely. Studying spaces in detail helps train your eye and build a stronger sense of composition and balance. How to find your home design style is a blog post I wrote to help lead you there.
It’s hard to choose. A Way of Living is probably my favorite interior book of the decade (seriously), but then again- I’ve always been inspired by all things Ralph Lauren. It’s a BIG book filled with imagery from multiple homes, aesthetics, catalog shoots, interiors, exteriors, fashion, lifestyle imagery, RL history, etc. Trust me when I say- it’s one you’d also probably like. Beneath the dust jacket, it’s neutral and easy to style (pictured below), so all-in-all… it gets a 10/10 from me.
Related Posts
- How to Style a Bookshelf: Easy Designer-Approved Tips for a Curated Look
- The Best Interior Design Books for Timeless Home Inspiration
- My Favorite Cookbooks
- Design Discussion : Shelf Styling with Books
- 10 Tips for Shelf Styling with Lots of Books
- 10 Decorating Mistakes Designers Never Make
- The Designer Guide to Styling Built Ins
- Timeless Home Decor: Accessories Designers Love
Do you own any of the books I shared? Are you also into page turning? I’m proud to have a great collection of design books. They make me happy, provide inspiration, and it has been fun collecting wonderful titles from talented friends and designers over the years. Do you have any I should add to the list? I’d love to hear in the comment section! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!
That is quite a selection! I really do prefer the turning of pages to scrolling; that’s why I have so many saved magazines! I never tire of looking through them. Those Steven Gambrel volumes would provide endless inspiration. I definitely loved the peek into the Perfect Kitchen book, too. And I can’t imagine that the Mark D. Sikes work would be anything but lovely. Here’s to the purposeful perusal of paper pages! 💜
Wishing you focus and productivity as you prepare for family! How fun that it’s your MIL’s first visit.
I used to collect magazines (old Domino, Kinfolk, and AD) and I need to get back into that! I only save the really good ones these days (or rip pages and recycle), but I love how a GIANT stack of magazines looks styled. Steven Gambrel is a design genius- all of those books are stunning, exactly as you’d imagine. Thanks Peggi! We’re excited to see family :) I hope your week is off to a wonderful start!! xo
What a list!! I’m excited to look deeper into some of these and add them to my amazon list. I own none, as you know, but would love to change that! I love the way coffee table books look styled in a home, and I love that they can be unique conversation starters. Question: do you know of any design books written specifically about Mediterranean home styling? Having a book to reference for some Mediterranean inspiration would definitely be at the top of the list! Thank you for rounding these up Sarah! I’m glad you were able to disconnect this weekend…sometimes that’s all you need to feel rejuvenated. Have a happy Monday!
SO many good books to kick off the week! I actually have a couple Mediterranean specific home books for you… The New Mediterranean Home and Saint-Tropez: The Ultimate Mediterranean Home. I think you’d really enjoy both of those! It was an awesome weekend over here. I hope you had a wonderful weekend as well :) xo
Yesss!! I knew you would have some recommendations!! Added to Amazon list! You’re the best Sarah! Thank you! 😘
What’s strange is that we question the positive effects of staying off social media and returning to real life. Watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix! Yes a film recommendation in exchange for your book recommendation post ha! Thank you for this list, I see a few birthday gifts to myself on here!
I have zero doubts about the positive effects of spending time away from social media. It’s such a strange balance since it’s part of my job and how I make a living. Emmett & I definitely have The Social Dilemma on our list to watch soon. I’m worried it’s going to give me anxiety, so I’ve kind of been avoiding it… but I really am interested in watching & learning. Haha! Happy reading, Rebecca :) xo
I truly enjoy “One Man’s Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood”. He is primarily an antiques dealer/collector. He composes and styles his rooms in such an original way and I find such inspiration in how he mixes antiques and the architectural elements he has added to his homes during his renovations.
That’s a new one to me! I’ll have to add that to my cart. Thank you, Kristen! I’m all about mixing antiques, vintage, and one-of-a-kind items into our house. This sounds like a book I’d really enjoy :)
I own a few already but now I need more! I also need the deets on the black marble table next to your couch…is that new?! I don’t remember it. I looked back in the shop my house and I don’t see it there either…can you share please?!
I actually scored TWO of those nero black marble side tables on Facebook Marketplace, Rose! Thanks for admiring them… they were a lucky find in July. You can see more of them and read the entire story in this post: https://roomfortuesday.com/idyllic-moments-july-2020/ xo
I love books and magazines and still prefer them as my main source of inspo. My 3 favourite books I refer to again and again are “Styled” by Emily Henderson, “Homebody” by Joanna Gaines and “The Home Edit ” by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin. I like those books because they offer practical tips that fit my crazy household which consists of 3 kids, 2 dogs and 1 disorganized and sometimes messy husband, lol.
Me too, Kerri! I happen to have all three of those beautiful books :) Practical tips are always welcome and helpful. Great recs! xo
Again, sorry for responding so late to this post. I love books, magazines…beautiful pictures of homes. I hope they never stop printing magazines or books. You shared a good selection of books.
“House Atelier” and “The New Southern” (maybe because Im a very southern girl) has me intrigued. I also have 2 in my Amazon cart: McGee and Co’s new book (coming out later) and Jeff Dungan’s “The Nature of Home”.
Thank you Sarah for the collection and insight into these decorating books. I know what I can get my mom for her birthday!
You and I both, Danna! I love printed copies. Those two books are really beautiful. I claim to be a southern gal, but Emmett keeps telling me coming from Kentucky doesn’t count. Haha! I’m also looking forward to the McGee book. I’m so glad this post inspired some birthday ideas for your mother :) Have a great week! xo