Interior designers are inspired in a number of ways—social media, design blogs, even taking a walk outside. Still, a great way to deepen your understanding within the industry and get creative is by picking up a book.
These five interior design books are staples in the field:timeless resources designers can refer to over and over again.
1. Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers, Ali Hanan, and Debi Treloar
Chalmers and Treloar provide information and advice about furnishing homes with “found” objects instead of new items. Flea Market Style finds a fresh and unexpected use of second-hand pieces, mixing old and new items with flair.
The book is divided into two parts, and closes with an extensive list of suppliers. “Flea Market Finds” discovers household goods, how to find special objects, and identify quality, character, resilience and texture. The second part, “Putting It All Together” shows how to incorporate style in every room.
Every designer will love how this book subtly mixes style, pattern, colour, and beauty in objects that have already seen a little bit of life.This book will educate you on matching high-end basics with thrift finds for great décor.
2. Decorate by Holly Becker and Joanna Copestick
Becker, founder of design blog Decor8, published this book with Joanna Copestick, a lifestyle writer. The two authorscreate a stunning result by combining beautiful ideas with the nuts and bolts of design. Of all interior design books, this start-to-finish resource is a must-have for your bookshelf, showing any designer how to create stylish spaces and make the most of any home.
Decorate includes 500 colour photos, checklists, and floorplans, which together make it easy to get started. What’s more, the authors include insight from the world’s top designers and décor experts, sharing professional tips, ideas, and solutions for every room and budget
3. The Big Book of Chic by Miles Redd
Touted as a mainstay in interior design books, Redd’s volume is complete with lavish illustrations and a diverse selection of interiors to inspire anyone with eclectic design taste. Redd is known for his quirky brand of cozy glamour, which shines through in this book, providing a glimpse into inspiration that fuels the author and pleasures of living life in a beautiful way.
Redd covers a range of projects from his town and beach house to Atlanta, Houston and Locust Valley. The Big Book of Chicuses bold colour combinationswith antiques and flair for the quirky and unexpected.
4. A La Carte by Sherrill Canet
Sherril Canet is a New York-based interior designer whose hallmark aesthetic is to create rooms with gusto. Her vision consists of choosing a room’s essential elements, keeping comfort and function in mind and mixing antiques with fine details to create a timeless and classic appeal.
Canet takes readers through disparate periods and regions with eighteenth-century English and French antiques, Art Deco, and homes along the Gold Coast of Long Island, New York. Her book also includes a tutorial in decorating on a range of styles, from Old World traditional to chic and tailored, teaching interior designers how to decorate (or redecorate) every room, from furniture placement to fabric selection.
5. The New Bohemians by Justina Blakeney
Bohemians are the creative individuals: boutique owners, artists, and entrepreneurs who embrace the free spirit and no-rules lifestyle. L.A.-based designer Justina Blakeney redefines bohemian, offering design ideas in office, showroom, photography studios, and restaurants.Her mantra is brought to all areas of existence, including the home.
The New Bohemians visits 20 homes on the east and west coast, accompanied by interviews from its creative owners. Blakeney defines bohemian through various personas in six chapters: from sweet nostalgia and family tradition, to more is more, to clean lines and functionality. With 12 DIY projects andan Adopt-an-Idea section, this book will provide help every designer through general décor tips, styling guidelines, and shopping tips.
