10 Interior Design Books That Transform Your Home Style

When Emily Henderson first shifted her focus from purely vintage styles to embracing riskier, more personal design choices, she reshaped how you might approach your space. This book walks you through every design decision — from paint colors and furniture placement to lighting and when to call in professionals — with practical examples and candid advice, like why marble countertops often fall short. You'll gain clarity on visualizing and executing your dream home, grounded in Emily's experience as a stylist and TV host known for blending personality with function. If you're ready to move beyond generic decorating tips and want a guide that respects your unique style, this book will be a solid companion.

When Frida Ramstedt first discovered that great interior design hinges more on "how" you decorate than "what" you decorate with, she set out to share this perspective with a wider audience. Drawing from her experience coaching Scandinavian homeowners, she breaks down design principles like the golden ratio, ideal furniture proportions, and lighting heights, all illustrated clearly in dedicated chapters. You learn not just to replicate trends, but to understand why certain arrangements feel balanced and inviting. If you're someone who wants to style your space thoughtfully rather than follow fleeting fashions, this book offers practical insights that fit any style or home size.

This personalized interior design blueprint provides a detailed exploration of strategies tailored to your unique space, style preferences, and goals. It focuses on delivering a personalized framework that helps you navigate key design elements such as spatial planning, color coordination, furniture selection, and lighting optimization. By cutting through generic advice, it offers targeted methodologies that fit your specific home context and personal aesthetic. The book also addresses practical implementation tactics, helping you create harmonious and functional interiors that reflect your individuality with precision and clarity.

When Corey Damen Jenkins first rethought traditional interiors, he challenged the idea that classic means predictable or muted. Drawing from decades of experience blending vibrant colors, architectural details, and fashion-inspired elements, Jenkins teaches you how to refresh traditional rooms with youthful energy and personality. You'll explore chapters like "Bold Standard" for unexpected color use, "Good Bones" focusing on architectural features, and "Age Appropriate" for designing family-friendly spaces. This book suits anyone eager to infuse timeless style with modern zest, especially those who find conventional traditional design too restrained or stale.

Stephanie Hunt, a seasoned writer deeply immersed in Southern culture and a regular contributor to Veranda, draws from her intimate knowledge of the region to explore its varied interior design styles. This book invites you to experience 27 distinct Southern homes, each reflecting a unique blend of classic charm and modern edge, emphasizing how designers weave personality and landscape into their creations. You'll encounter diverse aesthetics—from a rustic Tennessee cabin to elegant historic estates—offering a nuanced understanding of Southern style that defies stereotypes. If you’re fascinated by regional design nuances or seeking inspiration that balances tradition with innovation, this book offers a thoughtful look into how 'home' is crafted across the South.

When Amber Lewis first realized that true livability in interior design comes from embracing the natural aging of materials and mixing diverse elements, she crafted this book to share that philosophy. In "Made for Living," you will learn how to layer patterns, textures, and objects to create spaces that feel both timeless and comfortable, with practical guidance on paint selection, countertop finishes, and eclectic styling. This book benefits anyone seeking to design a home that reflects personal style without feeling staged—especially those drawn to a laid-back, California-inspired aesthetic. Amber’s signature approach encourages you to embrace imperfection, making your home uniquely yours rather than a copy of someone else’s vision.

This personalized interior design guide provides a tailored framework focusing on daily, actionable steps to enhance your living space within a 30-day period. It emphasizes a structured yet flexible sequence of tasks that suit your unique style preferences, home layout, and skill level. By cutting through generic advice, this book delivers targeted strategies to incrementally improve aesthetics, functionality, and ambiance. It addresses key elements such as space optimization, color coordination, furniture arrangement, and decor selection with a personalized approach that fits your specific context. The result is a practical, step-by-step design system that balances inspiration with achievable daily actions, helping you transform your home efficiently.

When Jake Arnold first discovered how to blend English tradition with California's laid-back luxury, he crafted a style that feels both timeless and fresh. In this book, you get an intimate tour through nine carefully designed homes, each illustrating Arnold's idea of comfort as a balance of elegance and tactile pleasure. You’ll find detailed sketches, material samples, and essays on his design philosophy that illuminate how thoughtful choices shape inviting spaces. If you’re drawn to modern minimalism with warmth and personality, this book offers concrete insights into creating interiors that feel both chic and deeply comfortable. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to understand how subtle design elements work together to redefine living spaces.

Drawing from his background as a fine artist and director, Hilton Carter brings a unique eye to styling indoor plants that go far beyond mere decoration. You learn not only how to care for a wide variety of houseplants—including watering, potting, and propagation techniques—but also how to arrange them thoughtfully to enhance your home's atmosphere. For example, he demonstrates combining different leaf textures and sizes, like placing a fiddle-leaf fig between a monstera and a bird of paradise, to create dynamic visual displays. If you’re someone looking to transform your living space into a verdant, inviting environment while mastering plant care basics, this book offers a hands-on, artistically informed approach.

When Hilton Carter shifted from seeing plants as mere decoration to understanding their role in interior harmony, he redefined how you might integrate greenery into your living spaces. This book doesn't just show you which plants to pick; it teaches you how to create a living, breathing atmosphere that reflects your personality and adapts to your home's unique environment. For example, Carter guides you through selecting plants suited for specific rooms, like humidity-loving varieties for bathrooms and shade-tolerant ones for bedrooms, blending practical care with style. If you want to deepen your connection with plants while elevating your home's design, this book offers a focused and approachable journey through creating lush, vibrant interiors.

When Julius Panero first realized how much time interior designers lose navigating scattered standards, he helped create a single reference that condenses essential design and space planning data into one massive volume. You’ll find detailed guidance on selecting furniture, lighting, colors, and layouts backed by precise scale drawings and technical details such as HVAC and electrical options. This book suits professionals and students aiming to streamline decisions and improve workflow efficiency, especially when balancing residential and commercial projects. Its 1000 pages serve as a practical resource rather than theory, helping you focus on creativity instead of hunting down specs.

When Amanda Brown first discovered the transformative power of upholstery, she saw beyond mere furniture repair; she envisioned a way to infuse personality into your living spaces. Drawing from her experience as owner of Spruce, a furniture redesign studio in Austin, she breaks down complex upholstery techniques into approachable projects, complete with over 900 photographs. You’ll learn how to strip, sew, and reassemble sofas, chairs, and ottomans, while developing an eye for fabric and texture choices that reflect your style. This book suits anyone eager to revive worn-out furniture with confidence, though it demands some bravery to tackle the specialty tools and detailed processes involved.