10 Decorative Design Books That Experts Trust for Stunning Spaces

When Emily Henderson first challenged traditional interior design norms, she reshaped how you approach decorating and renovating your home. Drawing from her stylist and design expertise, this book teaches you to confidently make choices about paint colors, furniture layouts, lighting, and even when to hire professionals like contractors or architects. You'll find detailed guidance on materials, like why to reconsider marble countertops, and practical measurements to ensure a cohesive space. If you want to create a home that truly reflects your personality without second-guessing your decisions, this book offers an approachable, richly illustrated road map from start to finish.

When Jake Arnold first reconsidered what comfort means in interior spaces, he challenged the usual notion that luxury must be ornate or ostentatious. Drawing from his British upbringing and years working in California, Arnold offers you a unique blend of warm minimalism that feels both elegant and inviting. Through detailed explorations of nine distinctive homes, including sprawling estates and seaside retreats, you’ll learn how subtle textures, thoughtful materials, and intentional layouts create environments where comfort and style coexist seamlessly. This book suits anyone wanting to grasp how contemporary decorative design can be both sophisticated and deeply personal without relying on fleeting trends.

This personalized book provides an in-depth exploration of decorative design fundamentals tailored specifically to your style preferences and creative objectives. It offers a structured approach to understanding key design principles such as color harmony, spatial composition, texture integration, and motif selection. By focusing on techniques that resonate with your unique aesthetic and functional goals, this tailored framework cuts through generalized advice, delivering focused insights that fit your specific creative context. Readers gain practical strategies for applying decorative elements effectively to transform spaces, supported by a clear pathway from foundational concepts to advanced stylistic decisions.

Sarah Campbell brings over five decades of experience as a pioneering textile designer to this richly illustrated guide on painting directly onto fabric. Drawing from her acclaimed career co-running a legendary design partnership, she guides you through creating unique patterns using brushes, stencils, and even unconventional tools like potato-cuts. You learn how to work with different fabrics—cotton, linen, silk—and develop a keen sense of scale, color harmony, and pattern organization. This book suits anyone eager to explore hands-on textile design beyond digital methods, particularly those who appreciate the artistic freedom of one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted fabric art.

When Shufunotomo Co., Ltd., a respected Japanese publisher known for crafting accessible lifestyle guides, developed this book, they tapped into the resurging interest in macrame as a decorative art. You’ll learn how to master four fundamental knots and apply them to create 20 stylish projects ranging from wall hangings to plant holders, all supported by clear photographs and precise diagrams. The book balances beginner-friendly instructions with designs satisfying enough to engage more experienced crafters, making it suitable whether you want a quick creative outlet or a new home decor hobby. If you’re drawn to hands-on design that enhances your living space with natural textures, this book offers a solid foundation without overwhelming you.

Pierre Yovanovitch's decades of experience reshaped how one might approach luxury interiors, moving away from ostentation toward a refined subtlety grounded in authentic materials and spatial mastery. This book reveals his signature style through detailed explorations of projects ranging from seventeenth-century châteaux to contemporary art museums, offering you insights into blending historical architecture with modern elegance. You'll gain a nuanced understanding of volume, line, and material interplay, particularly through chapters that showcase his work across Paris, New York, and the Swiss Alps. Whether you're a seasoned designer or an interior enthusiast, this richly photographed volume deepens appreciation for understated yet impactful decorative design.

This tailored book provides a structured, practical approach to rapidly enhancing your decorative design skills through daily, focused tasks. It presents a personalized framework that integrates foundational design principles with actionable steps, ensuring relevance to your unique style preferences and living environment. By emphasizing incremental progress, it cuts through generic advice and delivers strategies for effective space transformation within a 30-day timeline. The book covers essential concepts such as color coordination, furniture arrangement, texture layering, and lighting optimization, all while aligning with your specific goals and skill level. This tailored approach facilitates quick, tangible improvements in decorative aesthetics, making design enhancement accessible and manageable.

When Myquillyn Smith shifted from chasing trends to embracing minimalism, she redefined seasonal decorating with a fresh perspective. Drawing from her years of transforming a North Carolina fixer-upper, she teaches you how to style your home for each season without the clutter or high costs. The chapters guide you through simple ways to incorporate natural elements and sensory touches, helping you create inviting spaces that feel authentic year-round. This book suits anyone looking to enjoy a cozy, stylish home with less stress, especially those wanting to host confidently without overcomplicating decor.

Quilling Art introduces you to the ancient craft of paper quilling through the vibrant lens of Turkish artist Sena Runa. Drawing from her transition from HR to full-time artist, Runa offers 20 projects that blend traditional techniques with contemporary style, such as colorful butterflies and intricate hearts. You’ll find clear, step-by-step photos and templates that ease you into varying skill levels, making it accessible whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your technique. This book goes beyond mere projects, teaching you the foundational skills to design your own unique paper artworks, perfect if you want to explore decorative paper crafts with a modern flair.

When Kale James first realized the challenge artists face finding high-quality ornamental design references, he compiled this image archive tailored for practical use. The book offers detailed reproductions of motifs like cartouches, sconces, Rocaille ornaments, and chinoiserie panels, along with a unique digital download for scalable, print-ready files. You’ll gain direct access to diverse decorative elements perfect for graphic design, tattoo art, woodcarving, and collage work. This resource suits creators wanting authentic, ready-made decorative visuals without the hassle of sourcing or scanning, supporting both inspiration and precise craftsmanship.

Unlike most decorative design books that emphasize high-budget transformations, Farah Merhi's "Inspire Your Home" offers accessible, stylish solutions that balance glamour with coziness on a budget. Drawing from her experience founding Inspire Me! Home Decor amid a personal transition, Merhi guides you through practical choices like paint versus wallpaper, lighting, and room-by-room styling tips that reflect your unique taste. You’ll find actionable ideas for organizing and seasonal updates woven with personal anecdotes that make the advice relatable and easy to apply. This book suits anyone eager to elevate their home’s atmosphere without overwhelming complexity or cost.

When William Audsley first realized the enduring value of historic ornamentation, he set out to preserve and present these designs with clarity and respect. Unlike most decorative design compilations that rely heavily on photographs, this book offers over 250 meticulously executed line drawings, providing clean, scalable references from a diverse set of national traditions. You’ll explore motifs ranging from ancient Egyptian tomb ceilings to Celtic and Moorish patterns, each annotated with origins and color schemes. This makes it ideal for architects, commercial artists, and designers who want to ground their work in authentic, well-proportioned historical sources rather than generic reproductions.