10 Best Books for Interior Design Beginners

Introduction

For beginners, stepping into the world of interior design can be a daunting task. And with an infinite number of ideas, styles and principles to grasp…where even do you start? This is because, books are among the best methods for learning––they are in depth … they do not cost an excessive amount of and you can take your personal pace. So here is my beginner list of the must-read books for all aspirant interior designers. No matter if you are a first-time home decorator or just wanting to refresh your memory with some basic principles, these reads will ensure that whether you love them or hate them everyone else thinks they’re stylish.

Let Us Learn the Fundamentals of Interior Design

What is Interior Design?

Interior design goes beyond decorating a space — it is about creating attractive environments that are functional and in line with the people that use them. It incorporates art, science and pragmatism to determine how spaces both look and work. New to Interior Design: You have to know your color theory, how furniture arrangement affects a space, and what balance means. These are the basics that you need to master and it will be a support for your design knowledge.

Why Start with Books?

There really is no better resource for early designers than books. Books provide structure and depth in a way that social media and online searches can not compete with. Many are written by seasoned pros who spill their timeless tips — from creating mood boards to styling a room. Also allows you to come back and review them when ever you desire as you grow in your design experience.

Top 10 Best Books for Interior Design Beginners

1. The Interior Design Handbook” by Frida Ramstedt

This book really sets itself apart as it focuses on the design principles than short lived trends. Frida Ramstedt reveals the scientific reasons why we feel comfortable with certain interior design decisions: a perfect book for anyone who is new to this. The topic is about scale and proportion to understanding how colors affect moods, lighting which shapes both mood and functionality. On the other hand, Ramstedt is analyzable but approachable giving all of us some tools to construct a harmonious and beautiful home. Recommended for those who are seeking to develop a solid foundation in interior design.

Key Points:

• Adheres closely to tried and true principles over trends for a timeless tradition.
• Covers base concepts such as scale, proportion and lighting
• Balances analysis and readability — great for foundational design skills.

2. Domino: The Book of Decorating by Deborah Needleman

Domino, by Deborah Needleman In Domino the editors of domino magazine have broken down its decorating philosophy into a detailed nuts-and-bolts approach. It is room by level detailed so you can easily use any of the tips to your own house. This post is sponsored by Crown, inspired by Domino Quick Fixes and published with Permission from Clarkson Potter. Great for newbies needing that mix of some real work learnings and a Pinterest-like level of visually appealing content. Or just the thing if you are redoing an entire house, Domino is your guide to creating domestic spaces that look great and work wonderfully.

Key Points:

• Provides decorating tips — room by room with great photos
• To help you out, here are some tricks on how to arrange furniture and the kind of statement pieces that would serve your plush sofa set.
• Functions as a guide to designing elegant and practical living areas.

3. Homebody by Joanna Gaines

Description Joanna Gaines announces Homebody (November 6), which will serve as an in-depth guide to design for the Fixer Upper star variety that goes beyond looks and into spaces with real personality. Intentional design which marries useful architectural with an avant garde aesthetic is something Gaines preaches. Here, she shares tips on the steps you can take to find your signature look in design with inspirations from establishing personal style to material choice and layout that speaks louder of who you are. For the beginner who is looking for an authentic, welcoming home this book can be a relatable and empowering resource with tons of real-life examples as well as practical advice.

Key Points:

• After finding an interest in creating personal and meaningful spaces.
• Gets practical with examples of how this works in practice
• Works with readers to create spaces that reflect their unique individuality.

4. Styled by Emily Henderson

One of the final steps in decorating can be one of the most challenging — finishing touches, and Emily Henderson takes that on with Styled. The book does a great job of breaking down the accessorizing and styling process them for you so that your space feel done. Henderson delves into details like achieving the ideal proportion, mix textures, and also adding personal touches that are reflective of your lifestyle. She even includes some super-fussy advice on furniture placement and hitting that elusive magazine look. Her advice is practical, uplifting and easy to apply for any beginners.

Key Points:

• Committed to the art of getting in a space.
• Offer Step-by-Step Instructions for Furniture and Accessory Arrangement
• Guides on How to Get a GMC Magazine Finish.

5. Elements of Style: Designing a Home

Professional interior design advice meets real-life, personal anecdotes in this cockatoos to coco — equal parts dishy decorating tell-all and delicious deaign book that promises the best of both worlds. Elements of Style — pretty much everything from DIY projects to the workings of how entire family homes are designed Gates draws from her personal journey, sharing stories and struggles of which readers may find traces in their own lives. The combination of humor, honesty, and wisdom found in the book makes it an enjoyable read for beginners who want some useful tips beyond real world examples.

Key Points:

• Combines professional advice with interesting personal stories.
• Its full of things from DIY to family friendly design.
• Shares humour, honesty and helpful stay positive tips.

6. Design the Home You Love by Lee Mayer and Emily Motayed

It is a collaborative book about how to find your own style, indeed another daunting thing for most designers I know in the design process. Last but not least, Mayer and Motayed encourage you to create a space that is uniquely your own — one that helps cater to the aspects of life (and guests) for which gathering places exist. They take you step by step through choosing colour schemes, laying out furniture and designing rooms that are equal parts good looking and practical. With the book successfully covering everything to do with collaboration, whether between family members, roommates or professionals it provides another level of understanding and is a well rounded resource for beginners.

Key Points:

• Helps you to discover your unique style
• Guides on how to choose colour & furniture together.
• Coin center = Gets Collaborated for designing Places where people share their living spaces

7. The New Design Rules by Emily Henderson

The New Design Rules: Our Fave Decorating Book of the Summer ADVERTISEMENT With her latest tome, The New Design Rules (Rizzoli), published under both titles in June and July respectively here an ocean apart Henderson channels that expression has never alternately seemed more pertinent or appropriate. It touches on modern trends and timeless design principles, making this book appropriate for those who crave a hybrid of the old versus new school. Henderson explains everything from how to select paint colors and the perfect pieces to optimize your room layout, with plenty of practical advice on styling beautiful (and functional) spaces. For beginners, her clear explanations and chic samples are a godsend.

Key Points:

• The step-by-step guide to modern design concepts.
• Highlights on current trends, with a conservative touch of classical principles.
• Ideal for readers looking for a fresh, updated perspective

8. Habitat: The Field Guide to Decorating” by Lauren Liess

Habitat, by Lauren Liess Most of the more recent interior design books published through traditional publishers tend to be photo-heavy and not always practical. Her way of doing this is by making the somewhat complex process really easy, using textures, patterns and colors that are sincere. Part of this win is practical tips for such things as mixing materials to add layers, and leafier ways you can enliven a room. Liess is so down-to-earth, and her book feels like it was written by a good friend who knows how to make your space feel more warm + inviting without making you overwhelmed.

Key Points:

• Stresses on raw and organic ingredients in design.
• Simple guidance on how to weave textures and colors
• Ideal for warm and inviting interiors with a grounded vibe.

9. Design*Sponge at Home by Grace Bonney

Overflowing with ideas, DIY projects, and home tours to inspire the creatives among you is DesignSponge at Home* (Grace Bonney) With the book encouraging readers to have a go at trying different styles and techniques, it is perfect for beginners who like to get hands on with their creativity. Bonney writes in an accessible way and recognizes the importance of individuality — she teaches readers to take a chance, embrace their personal style currentNodey endforeach. Whether you want a few eye-catching items to decorate your home, or plan games on how best changes could describe the house in this guide for those who learn by doing.

Key Points:

• Filled with step-by-step DIYs and a collection of amazing home tours.
• Promotes trial and error with a creative risk-oriented mindset.
• Best for hands-on newcomers who value uniqueness.

10. Made for Living: Collected Interiors for All Sorts of Styles by Amber Lewis

Such is the spirit of Amber Lewis’s Made for Living, which encourages readers to experiment with mixing material, palettes and influences. Perfect Imperfect is about interiors that work and feel real, not contrived or over-styled. Lewis offers a number of common sense suggestions—how to layer your symbols and create spaces that celebrate the individual tastes Beautifully photographed and filled with wise reminders, Made for Living is a brilliant bedside book for anyone unfamiliar with this most thoughtful of hosts who believes incorporating home into life creates joy in both.

Key Points:

• Encourage readers to creatively mix styles, textures and colors.
• Rustic, well-loved interiors over styled perfection
• Mixes the practical aspects with beautiful photo examples to inspire your own creations.

How to Choose the Right Interior Design Book

How you learn best

Although books on interior design are an excellent source, not all of them should be treated as equals. Others are exceedingly text-heavy, with in-depth explanations. Would you rather learn with pictures or inform yourself about a theory in detail? It will allow you to pick the book that fits best with your preferred learning style.

Matching Personal Design Objectives

Are you a minimalist who likes sparse, neutral spaces or do your tastes run colorful and eclectic? It should be a book that aligns with your design goals. The New Design Rules but if modern trends are more up your alley, maybe The New Netrary is the one for you. DesignSponge at Home* is an excellent book that you can refer to especially it satisfies the hands-on part in you.

Advantages of Studying Interior Design via Books

Cost-Effective Learning

Face it — pro design courses are expensive. And books give you the same education for literally a fraction of this price. You may have to drop some cash, but you can build a foundation in the basic of principals for interior design.

Building a Strong Foundation

Books are fortunately organized simply from ground up which is a great beginner approach. They impart basic principles (lighting, furniture layouts, color theory — that sort of thing) to those just coming into the field. Once you know the basics well, it will make a lot easier for real life design projects to come your way.

Books are Not Enough, You Need to Practice

Experimenting at Home

Don’t just read—practice! Experiment in your own house and see what works for you. Feel free to rearrange furniture, experiment with color schemes and perhaps even tweak that shelf styling based on what you have taken from your handpicked books. Nothing reinforces what you have viewed as a lot “hands-on practices.”

Leveraging Online Communities

While books are a great place to start, remember that online communities can also be invaluable. There are countless platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram and Reddit to find the motivation you need. Sharing where you are at, asking for feedback and connecting with others on a similar journey.

Understanding How to Get the Most from Interior Design Books

Take Notes and Sketch

As you read, take notes on main points and sketch out ideas that pique your interest. This will allow you to see the concepts and start considering how they may apply to your space.

Create a Mood Board

Mood boards are an incredible way to display your ideas. Collate clippings, photos and fabric samples for a vision board of your dream space 3. Mood board making is a common exercise in several of the books listed above.

Conclusion

Your embark in the world of interior design can be pretty easy and delightful. The right books will help you to develop the basic principles, seek inspiration and give you confidence with starting to tackle design work on your own. These books below should be able to help everybody, as the styles of learning and disciplines are different among us. Grab the book, start experimenting and create wonders. Your dream space — only one page away

FAQs

1. What is the best way to get started with interior design as a beginner?

Take advantage of written language resources to get started. It will really lay the groundwork of design principles and you can play around with what they teach in your own home.

2. Which interior design book should I read?

Look at the way you learn and design. If you love visuals, choose books that have more illustrations. If you love getting more into the details, go with longer content books.

3. Do you need ONLY books to learn interior design?

Books: While books are a great place to start, hands-on experience and exposure to different styles will enhance your understanding. Go further by focusing practical projects and inspiring online.

4. How More Money Should I Spend On My First Interior Design Books?

There is no reason not to save an extra penny. Begin with a few of the top books and add to your collection as you move up. Buy used copies to cut costs.

5. Is there something that offers books for designing traditionally on digital?

Yes! The majority of design books are available as eBooks or even audiobooks. You will also find even more links to online courses, blogs and YouTube channels on the resources page.