Top 9 Must-Reads for Interior Design Enthusiasts
- Mary Catherine Washo
- Jan 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 12
For home decor enthusiasts, books can serve as essential resources filled with inspiration, knowledge, and hands-on advice for creating stunning living areas. Below is a carefully selected list of nine must-read interior design books that are timeless. They are sure to spark your creativity and enhance your home decor knowledge.
1. Get Your House Right by Marianne Cusato and Ben Pentreath with Richard Sammons & Leon Krier (2008)
Did you watch The Crown? H. R. H. The Prince of Wales wrote the forward to this book. Enough said. Actually, it's not. One of the reasons why furniture looks so good in magazines is because of the architectural details of the rooms it's in. When you have good bones, little decorating needs to be done. So what makes good bones? Have you ever looked at a house and thought, wow, that McMansion is so ugly. But if someone asked you why, you couldn't articulate. This book explains it. It's a how-to (and how not to) that once you see, you can't unsee.
2. Design Rules by Elaine Griffin (2009)
The introduction nails it. There is a huge market of individuals who want to take their reigns on designing their own space. Elaine acknowledges this innate sense many of us share and provides practical advice for the order of operations and nailing scale, pattern, style and color.
3. Tom Scheerer, Decorates by Tom Scheerer (2013)
This book was a gift given to me by a very talented designer. She was clearly influenced by Tom's work and (lucky me), so am I now. Tom is very low profile and his approach to design speaks to my soul. There is a level of practicality in his choices that only highlight his impeccable taste. His online presence is scant. I've gone down the Google rabbit hole to find out all I can about him and his work. He's like the design industry's best kept secret, if you can find him.
This piece by BOH best sums up the man and his approach.
He was also featured on the Ballard Designs podcast How to Decorate Ep. 122.
And I mean, if this excerpt from Frederic Magazine doesn't convince you of his magnitude, I don't know what will.
"When Dabney, a former decorator who worked for David Easton and Charlotte Moss, first saw the 1950s bungalow-style house, she was nonplussed..."the only way I could see us buying this house was if Tom Scheerer decorates it.” "
The problem? She doubted that Scheerer, an A-list designer whose projects these days tend to be on the grander scale, would have any interest in taking on their comparatively modest project. Drastic measures would be needed. “So I had Rob fly to New York with a check in his hand and go knock on Tom’s door and try to charm him into coming to Palm Beach to look at our little house,” recalls Dabney.
4. Building a Timeless House in an Instant Age by Brent Hull (2014)
Brent offers incredible insight into the history of house building and how changes in materials, values, knowledge and technology have impacted how homes are designed and constructed. His understanding of proportion and scale in making beautiful homes, as well as the importance of craftsmanship provides a new way of viewing the built world around you.
5. Albemarle by Avery Chenoweth and Robert Llewellyn (2003)
This book beautifully captures the landscape of Albemarle county, a place that inspired one of America's original architects, Thomas Jefferson. The photographs are stunning and the understanding of the landscape and it's artistic influence influence on classic American architecture and design is worth the read.
6. Billy Baldwin decorates by Billy Baldwin (1972)
Classicdude's review on Amazon from March 23, 2008 stands the test of time and sums up most eloquently what you need to know about this book. It's no longer in print so check-out one from your library or snatch up a used copy before they're gone. For the uninitiated, some of the most striking aspects of the book are the still-stylish rooms and still-valid advice. One of the Fathers of American Decorating, Billy Baldwin gives his thoughts on interior design illustrated by drawings and photos, in black & white and in color, of his projects. The photo reproduction quality is not to the standards of today's glossy coffee table books, but the content makes up for the short fall. Chapters are Taste and Logic in Decorating, Rooms to Live In, How to Work With A Decorator, The Elements of Decoration, The Bones of a Beautiful Room, Decorating for How and Where You Live, Your Own Personal Stamp, and The Big Question of Change. Each chapter also has informative sub-chapters.
Some of his most famous projects are featured. Readers can draw their own conclusions as to the similarities of two of the most admired -- his own small studio apartment in a modern high-rise building on Manhattan's Upper East Side and Cole Porter's apartment in the Waldorf Towers which housed is late wife's collection of French furniture. Both iconic Bachelor Pads have inspired countless imitations, rightfully so. Although Mr Baldwin claimed that "if you can tell I did a house, I didn't", his sense of style was unmistakeable and a good lesson to us all. This book is a must-have for everyone interested in residential design.
7. The Slow Down by Leanne Ford (2024)
She considers herself a creator more than a decorator. The sources and her wisdom, integrated with the words of Elise de Wolfs are interesting. One of my favorite quotes from the book: "Time in itself is its own artist, its own creator."
8. Laurel Home by Laurel Bern (1996)
Ok, so technically this is not a book, but a blog. It's extremely informative to the lay person interested in high-end interior design and offers insight into some of the pitfalls and challenges (we're looking at your drapes!) of the decorating profession. The tone is fun and engaging even if high-brow.
9. Color Me Happy by Maria Killam (1999)
Well, you caught me again. Another blog. But there is so much good info here! Maria is an expert on color and perhaps the most accessible in terms of her design resources (hello, Homegoods) and approach to decorating. Many of the examples she uses address everyday dilemmas homeowners face with the finishes they've inherited in those dated kitchens and bathrooms. She is a clear communicator and offers lessons on decorating in a way that is similar to a teacher explaining concepts to a student.
Ignite Your Design Journey
A great interior design book educates and inspires creativity, unveiling the transformative power of well-designed spaces. Whether you're aiming to update your living room, embark on a major renovation, or explore sustainable practices, these titles will ignite your imagination and deepen your understanding of interior design. Each book brings a distinct perspective, offering invaluable wisdom that home decor enthusiasts will appreciate. Dive into these must-reads and discover innovative ideas to elevate your living space.
Leave a comment with your favorite design books to reference for inspiration and information!
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