7 Best-Selling Interior Decorating Books Millions Love

Amber Lewis, rooted in a laid-back West Coast aesthetic, shares her approach to designing homes that feel effortlessly lived in. The methods she developed while building her design firm focus on layering textures, patterns, and objects to strike a balance between comfort and visual interest, demonstrated through over 250 photographs of her signature interiors. You’ll discover how to select paint shades, mix patterns boldly, and choose durable materials that age gracefully, making your space uniquely yours rather than a copy of trends. This book suits those wanting to cultivate a warm, eclectic home that reflects personality without rigidity or formality.

Shea McGee's years of hands-on experience as co-founder of Studio McGee shine through in this guide that demystifies high-end interior design for everyday homes. You’ll learn how to thoughtfully design every major room—from entryways to kitchens—while balancing sophistication with warmth. McGee’s approach encourages you to embrace your personal style alongside practical tips illustrated by her own projects and stories. This book suits anyone eager to elevate their living space with style that feels inviting, not intimidating, making it a fit for homeowners and design enthusiasts alike.

This tailored book explores battle-tested interior decorating methods, combining popular proven knowledge with your unique style and preferences. It covers essential design principles, color theory, space optimization, and furniture selection, all focused on your individual background and goals. The content examines how to blend aesthetics with functionality to create inviting, personalized living spaces that reflect who you are. By focusing on your interests and skill level, this personalized approach reveals decorating insights that millions have found valuable, adapted to your specific needs. It offers a custom exploration of reader-validated design ideas, helping you gain confidence and practical know-how for transforming your home.

What started as Joanna Gaines' own quest to craft a home that truly feels like a sanctuary became a detailed guide for anyone eager to transform their living spaces. Drawing from her experience co-founding Magnolia and her deep connection to creating homes that tell stories, Gaines breaks down how to explore your personal style and bring it into every room. You gain insight into blending design elements, with chapters dedicated to practical exercises and even a design template to sketch your ideas. If you want to move beyond generic decorating tips and create spaces that reflect who you are, this book offers a hands-on approach that’s thoughtful and accessible.

Frida Ramstedt challenges the conventional wisdom that interior decorating is solely about choosing the right pieces. Instead, she guides you through the fundamental principles that shape harmony and balance in your living space, such as the golden ratio and optimal furniture proportions. You'll learn how to think about why design decisions work, not just what looks good, with clear examples like perfect coffee table sizing relative to sofas and the ideal height for lighting fixtures. This book suits anyone eager to develop a thoughtful, timeless style rather than chase fleeting trends.

Athena Calderone, known for her lifestyle site EyeSwoon and a James Beard award-winning cookbook, brings her keen design sensibility to this exploration of interior decorating. She draws on an international network of creatives to dissect how thoughtfully layered textures, patterns, and personalized collections shape inviting homes. You’ll find detailed examples including two of her own residences, with insights into why certain design choices work and how to apply them yourself. This book benefits anyone looking to move beyond surface-level decoration toward creating spaces that truly feel like home.

This tailored book offers a unique journey through interior decorating, focusing on a step-by-step plan designed to rapidly elevate your living space within 30 days. It explores essential design principles and practical techniques, while tailoring content to match your background and specific style preferences. By blending time-tested decorating concepts with your personal tastes, the book creates a tailored approach that hones in on what matters most to you. Each chapter reveals focused actions that simplify decision-making and inspire confident styling choices, making interior decorating both accessible and enjoyable.

Erin Gates's decade of experience as an interior designer and blogger led her to create a guide that blends personal storytelling with practical home design advice. You gain insights into creating spaces that truly reflect your personality, with chapters organized by rooms and filled with examples from her own home and client projects. The book covers everything from selecting materials to styling beds and nurseries, making it ideal whether you're tackling a kitchen renovation or decorating a nursery without clichés. If you want a design book that feels like a candid friend sharing both successes and mishaps, this offers a relatable, down-to-earth perspective.

What started as a detailed exploration of Victorian-era aesthetics became a foundational guide for anyone interested in traditional interior design. Charles L. Eastlake, an architect and designer, offers precise guidance on furnishings, color schemes, and decorative objects that defined 19th-century homes. You learn how to create spaces that balance beauty with function, illustrated by over 100 detailed engravings that demonstrate proper arrangements and stylistic choices. This book benefits decorators, architects, and history enthusiasts who want a deep dive into Victorian household taste without modern reinterpretations.