7 Best-Selling Decorative Design Books Millions Love

When W. and G. Audsley compiled their designs and patterns from historic ornament, they created a resource that has resonated for over a century with anyone interested in decorative design. You’ll find more than 250 large-scale line drawings that bring together architectural motifs, textile patterns, and ceramic decorations from diverse cultures, including Egyptian, Greek, Celtic, Japanese, and Moorish traditions. The book’s clear presentation and identification of origins and colors make it an excellent reference if you work in commercial art, architecture, or scenic design. While it doesn't offer modern techniques, its thorough catalog of classical motifs provides a foundation that anyone seeking to understand historic ornamentation will appreciate.

After decades as a respected interior designer, Alexandra Stoddard revisits the foundational ideas of Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman Jr., updating them for modern living. You learn to approach your home not just as a space, but as an extension of yourself, mastering fundamentals like scale, proportion, color, and texture. The book guides you through practical considerations—flooring, furniture, lighting, fabrics, and art—offering a flexible framework adaptable to any budget or room size. If you want to cultivate a personal style that feels authentic yet refined, this book provides clear-eyed perspectives without overwhelming jargon.

This tailored book explores the rich world of historic ornamentation, diving into classic motifs and patterns that have shaped decorative design through the ages. It examines the origins, cultural significance, and stylistic details of timeless decorative elements, offering a personalized journey that matches your background and interests. By focusing on the patterns most relevant to your creative projects, this book reveals how historic design principles can inspire and elevate your work. Combining broad scholarly knowledge with a tailored focus, it invites you to engage deeply with ornamental traditions and discover how to thoughtfully incorporate these enduring designs into your decorative ventures.

David A. Hanks and Jennifer Toher explore the transformative role of Donald Deskey in shaping modern American decorative arts and interiors. Through a detailed examination of his designs, the book reveals how Deskey blended innovation with craftsmanship, influencing both aesthetics and functionality in interior spaces. You’ll gain insight into specific design elements and historical context that framed his work, such as his approach to materials and form. This book serves those interested in the evolution of interior decorating and the legacy of key figures in decorative design, offering a grounded understanding rather than abstract theory.

Sena Runa's transition from HR specialist to passionate paper artist led her to craft Quilling Art as both an instructional guide and an inspiration for modern papercraft enthusiasts. You’ll learn to master quilling techniques through 20 projects varying from simple shapes like hearts to more intricate designs like butterflies, with clear templates and step-by-step photos guiding your progress. The book’s vibrant use of color and detailed instructions offer you a chance to develop skills that extend beyond the projects, empowering you to create personalized, eye-catching quilled art. If you're drawn to decorative crafts and want a contemporary approach to a traditional art, this book fits perfectly. However, those seeking purely advanced techniques might find the range more suited to developing and intermediate quillers.

Drawing from his expertise in design literature, Richard Hofmann curated a collection that revisits floral and foliate motifs from a rare 19th-century German archive. This book offers you 124 stylized designs that echo early northern Renaissance fabric patterns, ideal for adding decorative flair to graphic projects, textiles, leatherwork, and metalwork. You'll find inspiration not just in the motifs themselves but also in their simplicity and versatility, which can enrich your creative endeavors without a hefty price tag. Whether you're a graphic artist or a craftsperson, this resource equips you with timeless patterns that remain relevant across various mediums.

This tailored book explores practical interior decoration principles designed to refresh and personalize your home environment. It covers essential decorative concepts, blending timeless design knowledge with your unique preferences to create a living space that truly reflects your style. The content examines color coordination, spatial arrangement, texture use, lighting effects, and material choices, all crafted to focus on your interests and address your specific goals for home styling. By combining proven decorative insights with a custom approach, this book offers a focused learning experience that guides you through transforming your home step-by-step. It reveals how to harmonize aesthetics and function, making your personal space inviting and expressive through a tailored exploration of interior design essentials.

William H. Varnum's deep engagement with early 20th-century design principles shines through in this detailed exploration of the Arts & Crafts movement. The book serves as a manual on mastering the blend of function and simple beauty in materials, color, and techniques, illustrated with examples like Stickley furniture and Rookwood pottery. By revisiting universal rules for good design, Varnum offers you a chance to apply foundational principles that shaped Craftsman aesthetics before World War I. This text benefits anyone invested in historical and practical aspects of decorative design, particularly those interested in the craftsmanship behind industrial arts.

Drawing from their deep expertise running the nation's foremost antique hardware store, Liz Gordon and Terri Hartman explore the subtle art of using hardware to define interior spaces. You learn to appreciate how knobs, handles, hinges, and locks can transform a room's character, whether you're working with Victorian charm or sleek contemporary designs. The book reveals the history behind beloved hardware styles and offers inspiration through richly photographed examples, showing how small details anchor a home's design narrative. If you want to add a unique, historically grounded touch to your interiors, this book guides you through selecting pieces that blend beauty with function, making it ideal for anyone passionate about home renovation or preservation.