8 Best-Selling Home Decorating Books Millions Love

Trusted picks from experts including Martha Stewart Living and Publisher's Weekly highlight these best-selling Home Decorating Books with proven appeal.

Updated on June 24, 2025
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There's something special about books that both critics and crowds love, especially when it comes to home decorating. Millions of readers have turned to these best-selling titles to find inspiration and practical advice for creating spaces that truly feel like home. In an era where personalizing your living space matters more than ever, these books offer proven strategies that have stood the test of time and taste.

Martha Stewart Living, a respected authority in home and lifestyle, champions Amber Lewis's Made for Living for its dreamy, comfortable interiors that radiate California-cool style. Similarly, The Independent and Publisher's Weekly praise The Interior Design Handbook by Frida Ramstedt for its straightforward, easy approach to design principles that anyone can apply. These recommendations come from experts whose insights have helped shape the way millions approach home decorating.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific Home Decorating needs might consider creating a personalized Home Decorating book that combines these validated approaches with your unique style and goals. This way, you can build a home environment that’s both inspired and uniquely yours.

Best for layering and texture mastery
Martha Stewart Living, a respected authority in home and lifestyle, highlights how this book captures the essence of creating inviting, well-layered spaces that feel both stylish and comfortable. Their praise, "Made for Living invites you into dreamy homes that are light, bright, and—key these days—comfortable," reflects how Amber Lewis’s approach resonates deeply with people seeking homes that welcome and relax. This recommendation aligns with the broad appeal of the book, which offers readers a way to bring personality and ease into their living spaces through thoughtful decoration.

Recommended by Martha Stewart Living

Made for Living invites you into dreamy homes that are light, bright, and—key these days—comfortable.

Amber Lewis's decades of experience as a renowned interior designer shape this book into a practical guide on layering and blending décor elements to create spaces that feel authentically lived-in. You learn how to balance patterns, textures, and materials—from selecting paint shades to mixing stone finishes—to achieve that elusive 'just right' vibe that’s neither too new nor too old. With over 250 photographs showcasing her signature California-cool style, this book offers specific insights into making your home comfortable and stylish without following trends blindly. If you want to cultivate a home that reflects your personality and withstands changing tastes, this book offers a thoughtful approach tailored to you.

National Bestseller
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Best for foundational decorating principles
The Complete Book of Home Decorating stands out for its enduring appeal in the home decorating field, offering readers a chance to engage with classic design concepts that have influenced generations. This book's approach prioritizes foundational principles over passing trends, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to build a lasting understanding of interior aesthetics. By focusing on essential elements like color harmony and space usage, it helps you craft inviting and stylish environments that reflect personal taste and comfort. Whether you're beginning your decorating journey or seeking inspiration rooted in tradition, this book contributes meaningfully to the art of home decorating.
1899·Home Decorating, Interior Design, Color Coordination, Furniture Arrangement, Fabric Selection

Barbara Mayer's extensive experience in home decor shines through in this classic guide that explores timeless decorating principles. Unlike modern books that emphasize trends, this work offers foundational insights into creating harmonious living spaces, focusing on color coordination, furniture arrangement, and fabric selection. You learn how to balance aesthetics with comfort, making spaces both beautiful and livable. If you're passionate about understanding the roots of home decoration or seeking a solid base to inform your style choices, this book provides a thoughtful framework without overwhelming you with fleeting fashions.

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Best for custom layering plans
This AI-created book on texture layering is crafted based on your background and interests in home decorating. You share your experience level and desired focus areas, and the book is tailored to help you explore how textures and patterns can be combined in ways that suit your personal style. This personalized approach makes mastering the art of layering more accessible and directly relevant to your decorating goals.
2025·50-300 pages·Home Decorating, Texture Mixing, Pattern Coordination, Layered Design, Material Selection

This tailored book explores the art of combining textures and patterns to create inviting, cozy home interiors. It examines how layering different materials and designs can transform a space, focusing on your specific tastes and background. By blending reader-validated knowledge with your unique preferences, the book reveals how to balance visual interest and comfort effectively. This personalized guide delves into the nuances of texture contrast, pattern harmony, and tactile variety, offering insights that resonate with your decorating goals. It encourages experimentation within a framework that matches your style, helping you craft spaces that feel both dynamic and welcoming.

Tailored Guide
Pattern Harmony
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for approachable stylish interiors
Shea McGee founded Studio McGee with her husband in 2014, designing hundreds of homes nationwide and launching the successful e-commerce brand McGee & Co. Their Netflix series Dream Home Makeover, now in its third season, showcases their approachable yet elevated design philosophy. Drawing on this extensive real-world experience, Shea penned this book to share how beautiful, accessible design can be achieved by anyone, making it a trusted resource for those seeking to transform their homes with style and warmth.

What started as Shea McGee’s personal mission to make high-end design accessible has blossomed into a guidebook that demystifies creating a stylish home without intimidation. Drawing from her vast experience designing hundreds of homes through Studio McGee and her Netflix series Dream Home Makeover, Shea walks you through each room with practical insights—from crafting inviting entryways to functional yet beautiful utility spaces. She breaks down design principles into approachable steps, enriched by her own projects and stories that illustrate how to balance elegance with comfort. If you want to elevate your living space while keeping it welcoming, this book offers tangible ideas and inspiration that resonate beyond just aesthetics.

Instant New York Times Bestseller
Published by Harper Horizon
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Best for personal style expression
Joanna Gaines is the co-owner and co-founder of Magnolia, a New York Times bestselling author, editor-in-chief of Magnolia Journal, and co-creator of Magnolia Network. Raised in Texas and driven by an internship in New York City, she discovered how to bring beauty and warmth into homes, inspiring her own boutique shop in Waco. Her passion for design and family life deeply informs this book, offering you a thoughtful guide to creating spaces that feel genuinely yours.

Joanna Gaines challenges the conventional wisdom that home decorating should follow strict trends by encouraging you to create spaces that truly reflect your personality and story. Drawing from her own farmhouse and a variety of other homes, she guides you through assessing your instincts and preferences, then blending styles to craft inviting, authentic environments. The book offers detailed room-by-room insights and includes a removable design template to help you plan and sketch your ideas. If you want a hands-on approach that balances personal expression with practical design, this book can help you create a home you'll never want to leave.

#1 New York Times Bestseller
Published by Harper Design
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Best for practical design fundamentals
The Independent, a trusted UK news publication, highlights how this book offers a practical and accessible approach to interior design that resonates widely with readers looking to style their homes with confidence. Their endorsement of "[a] useful and easy approach to interior design" reflects the book's straightforward guidance on applying design principles effectively. This aligns with popular enthusiasm for the book’s focus on understanding what makes a space harmonious rather than just trendy. Additionally, Publisher's Weekly praises it as "a first-rate way to ensure decorating success," reinforcing its value for anyone aiming to elevate their home environment thoughtfully.

Recommended by The Independent

[A] useful and easy approach to interior design.

What started as Frida Ramstedt's mission to teach fundamental design principles rather than trendy décor choices became a go-to guide for anyone looking to understand the "why" behind interior aesthetics. You learn specifics like how to apply the golden ratio to furniture placement, the ideal coffee table size relative to your sofa, and the best height for hanging lighting fixtures. The book offers practical visuals and explains how to use mood boards effectively to harmonize your space. If you're someone who wants to move beyond guesswork and create a balanced, personalized home environment, this handbook will help you do just that.

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Best for fast room transformations
This AI-created book on home refreshing is tailored to your skill level and decorating interests. You share your background, the specific rooms and styles you want to focus on, plus your goals, and the book is crafted to guide you through fast, practical decorating steps. It makes sense to have a personalized guide here because refreshing a space is deeply personal — your style, your home, your pace. This book matches proven decorating knowledge with exactly what you want to learn, helping you transform your rooms efficiently and enjoyably.
2025·50-300 pages·Home Decorating, Home Refresh, Room Styling, Color Coordination, Furniture Layout

This tailored book explores a step-by-step approach to refreshing your home spaces quickly and effectively. It covers essential decorating principles while focusing on your interests and goals, providing tailored guidance that matches your background and style preferences. By integrating popular, reader-validated techniques with your personal tastes, it creates a uniquely relevant learning experience that reveals how to transform rooms with fast, practical steps. The book examines methods for efficient styling, space arrangement, and color coordination, enabling you to develop your decorating skills through a personalized lens. This tailored guide empowers you to make impactful changes to your home environment with confidence and creativity.

Tailored Guide
Room Refresh Expertise
3,000+ Books Created
Best for creative personalized decor
Athena Calderone is the creator of the lifestyle site EyeSwoon and the author of the James Beard award–winning cookbook Cook Beautiful. Living in Brooklyn, New York, she brings a refined eye and extensive experience to Live Beautiful, a book that explores how creatives design their living spaces. Calderone shares both her own homes and those of others, providing readers with insightful perspectives and practical guidance to help craft homes that truly feel personal and thoughtfully designed.
Live Beautiful book cover

by Athena Calderone··You?

While working as a lifestyle curator and design expert, Athena Calderone noticed how deeply personal and varied interior decorating can be. In Live Beautiful, she unpacks the stories behind creative individuals' homes, showing you how to combine layered textures, personalized collections, and curated vignettes to make a space distinctly yours. The book offers practical insights into design principles and resources, illustrated with stunning photography and detailed examples from Calderone's own residences. If you want to move beyond generic decor advice and learn how to thoughtfully craft a home that reflects your unique style, this book will guide you precisely.

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Best for stylish home organization
Nikki Boyd is a professional organizer and founder of athomewithnikki.com, where she shares creative and straightforward ways to bring beautiful order to homes worldwide. What began as a hobby has grown into a successful organizing business and popular online presence, with thousands seeking her guidance. This book reflects her expertise and passion, offering you proven steps to create an organized, stylish, and welcoming home environment.

What started as a personal passion for Nikki Boyd evolved into a distinctive approach to home organization that combines function with style. In this guide, she distills her experience as a professional organizer into five clear steps to help you transform every room into a calm, inviting space. You'll find practical guidance on decluttering alongside inspiring interior design ideas, supported by beautiful photography that illustrates how organization enhances both aesthetics and daily living. This book suits anyone looking to create a welcoming atmosphere that fosters meaningful family moments without sacrificing elegance.

Selected Best Coffee Table Book by Stylecaster
Featured in New York Times and Real Simple
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Best for Victorian style enthusiasts
Hints on Household Taste offers a unique window into 19th-century interior decoration, standing as a foundational text for those interested in Victorian aesthetics. Its detailed coverage of furnishings, color combinations, and decorative objects, illustrated with over 100 images, has made it a go-to reference for architects, manufacturers, and decorators alike. This book benefits anyone aiming to understand or recreate the proper and beautiful interiors of the Victorian era, providing a structured approach to home decorating that balances style with efficiency.
1986·400 pages·Interior Decoration, Interior Decorating, Home Decorating, Victorian Style, Furniture Design

Charles L. Eastlake's decades of architectural and design experience culminate in this detailed exploration of Victorian interior aesthetics. Rather than merely cataloging styles, Eastlake digs into the reasons behind choices in furnishings, color schemes, and decorative objects, offering insights into what constituted taste and efficiency in the 19th century. You’ll find practical examples such as how to combine carpeting with wallpaper or select proper cupboards, supported by over 100 illustrations that clarify his recommendations. This book suits anyone fascinated by historical design principles or looking to replicate authentic Victorian interiors with accuracy and style.

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Proven Home Decorating Methods, Personalized

Access popular decorating strategies tailored to your unique style and space needs.

Tailored design plans
Expert-approved methods
Effortless style guidance

Trusted by thousands of home decorators worldwide

Layering Secrets Blueprint
30-Day Style System
Design Code Mastery
Personal Space Formula

Conclusion

This curated collection of eight best-selling home decorating books reveals a few clear themes: layering textures and balancing comfort with style (Made for Living), grounding your work in timeless principles (The Complete Book of Home Decorating), and embracing personal expression without sacrificing function (Homebody). These books offer frameworks that many readers have found reliable and inspiring.

If you prefer proven methods, start with foundational guides like The Complete Book of Home Decorating and The Interior Design Handbook to understand key principles. For validated approaches that blend style with organization, Beautifully Organized and Live Beautiful provide actionable ideas. Alternatively, you can create a personalized Home Decorating book to combine proven methods with your unique needs.

These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in crafting homes that feel authentic, stylish, and inviting. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your space, these books offer a doorway into decorating with confidence and vision.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with The Interior Design Handbook for a practical, easy-to-follow foundation in design principles. It breaks down key concepts that will help you understand how to style your space confidently before moving on to more specialized books.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Home Decorating?

Not at all. Books like Homebody and The Complete Book of Home Decorating are great for beginners, offering clear guidance without assuming prior experience. They focus on approachable, timeless decorating fundamentals.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with foundational guides such as The Complete Book of Home Decorating and The Interior Design Handbook. Next, explore personal style and organization with Homebody and Beautifully Organized. Finally, dive into creative inspiration with Live Beautiful and Made for Living.

Should I start with the newest book or a classic?

Both have value. Classics like Hints on Household Taste offer timeless design wisdom, while newer books like The Art of Home provide fresh, approachable perspectives. Choose based on your interest in historical styles or contemporary approaches.

Can I skip around or do I need to read them cover to cover?

You can definitely skip around. Many of these books are structured to allow readers to focus on chapters or sections that interest them most, making it easy to find relevant advice regardless of reading order.

How can I get decorating advice tailored specifically to my style and home?

While these expert books offer valuable insights, personalized content can complement them perfectly. You might consider creating a personalized Home Decorating book that combines proven methods with your unique preferences and space, giving you a custom guide that fits your needs.

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