My Top Five Interior Design Books

I’ve been collecting interior design books for years now and have a long list of design books that I love, each one for different reasons. But, if I had to pick just five favourites, here’s what I’d go with & why…

Flipping through a design book is one of my favourite ways to soak up interior design inspiration. Over the years, my collection of interior design books has grown exponentially because of it. There’s just something about curling up with a coffee and a book filled with the most beautiful spaces – I honestly can’t picture a better way to slow down. I swear, I could study a design book for hours – seeing these incredible homes through the pages of a book allows you to take in each space in ways that you just never could on a screen.

Design books are SO much more than a collection of pretty pictures though. Not only do they showcase photos of the most incredible spaces, but you can often find design tips, tricks and even paint colours noted throughout. Some interior design books will dive deeper into the specifics than others, but my favourites tend to be the ones that share stories, information and even advice. Reading through an interior design book is like your own little tour with the designer.

I understand that collecting + reading through design books isn’t a favourite pastime for everyone. While I’ve collected SO many beautiful interior design books and I’ve grown to love them all for different reasons, there are definitely some standouts for me. Some offer loads of brilliant advice, some list things to consider when designing each particular room, some even share favourite paint colours, but every single one shares the most incredible spaces that I can’t help but find inspiration in. Today, I wanted to share some of my favourites with you – if I had to choose just 5 interior design books, these would be the ones I’d go with (and in this order!)…

My Top 5 Interior Design Books

The Art of Home – If I was going to buy just one interior design book, this would be it! I love the way the chapters are broken up into rooms, making it easy to find inspo for whatever space you may be working on. In addition to that, the book includes a whole chapter about the process of designing a space. Finally, and perhaps my very favourite part, the book includes a style guide, which shares information and advice about things like upholstery fabrics, pattern mixing, rug sizing, mixing metals, choosing countertops, hanging artwork and even styling tips for every area you can imagine. This book is treasure trove of useful information and beautiful photography – it really is a valuable resource for any interior design enthusiast (and of course, any fan of all things McGee and Co!).
Call It Home – If I had to pick a favourite designer, or maybe just the designer that most resonates with my own style, I’d have to call it a tie between Amber Lewis and Heidi Caillier (although I could list so many others that I absolutely love!). So, it comes as no surprise that Amber Lewis’ latest book would be among my very favourite interior design books. The spaces featured in this book are some of my favourite rooms I think I’ve ever laid eyes on, so just looking through these photos gives me more inspiration that I think I could find anywhere else. But, even more, I especially love the way she walks you through each home – explaining the story of each space, the process of the design and the why behind each decision and detail. I found so much value in the descriptions shared throughout this book. On top of that, there is also a short chapter about “the hows and whys”, including advice about planning your own project. Finally, I love that she lists the sources for plumbing, tile, furniture, etc. for each of the projects shared on the “Resource” page at the back of the book. This is not only my favourite design book to flip through with my morning coffee, it’s a resource and source of inspo that I’ve come back to again and again as I plan out our own home renovations.
Memories of Home – As stated above, Heidi Caillier is my favourite interior designer and this book of hers is the best example of why. Her work is timeless, yet playful and eclectic and every space she designs evokes a cozy, collected feel that looks effortless, but is anything but. I’d say this book reads more as a picture book, though she did include a long-form description of each project to give a bit of a back-story behind the photos. What makes this book shine for me are the spaces, which is really what interior design is all about. I could spend hours looking through these photos, taking in each thoughtful detail and making sense of each element in the space and how they all work together to create magic.
Feels Like Home – This one is a bit of a mix between interior design paired with an exploration of some of the ways you can make your house feel like home – after all, isn’t that what we’re looking for in the end. I loved the beautiful rooms pictured in this book, I could wander these spaces for hours. Even more, I loved the way she explored the whys behind each little decision and detail within those spaces and tied it all back to how those decisions created a space that felt like home. While there are loads of beautiful photos to take in, this book shares just as much information through stories and descriptions as well. Definitely a valuable resource for anyone looking to make their house feel like home.
The New Design Rules – A how-to book walking you through how to decorate and renovate from start to finish, this is a valuable resource for anyone looking to design a room. There is SO much information packed into this book! The first half is broken up into chapters that dive deep into different aspects of a room – windows + doors, furniture, window treatments, hard finishes, cabinets, lighting, appliances, and so much more. The second half is filled with chapters devoted to different rooms, walking you through how to design each space and exploring all of the different elements you’ll need to consider. This book is filled to the brim with information and would be an invaluable resource to anyone designing a room, going through a renovation or building a new home.