5 Best Interior Design Books
To be completely honest, when we started HomeVision VR, I didn't know much about interior decorating. I'm a tech junkie and don't really have a natural talent for it. But, over the last 3 years, I had to stage many of our virtual tours. So, I read a TON of books to better understand interior design and style and want to share a list of books that really helped me by explaining key concepts that can be applied in any home. We're using a lot of the information from these books to help train our AI Interior Stylist & Layout Assistant - ISLA!
BEST BEGINNER BOOK
Home Decor Cheat Sheets: Need-to-Know Stuff for Stylish Living
Get your copy on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2Zsw3hu
Home Decor Cheat Sheets is by far the BEST beginner interior design book! It literally explains everything you need to know from living room furniture layouts to hanging the perfect photo collage with PICTURES! The illustrations simplify topics that I would have not realized were important to the design (ie. bed pillows). I absolutely loved the "Good", "Better", "Best" layouts. It's my go-to reference book. If you are someone that doesn't know how high to hang pictures (I didn't) - start with this book!
BEST INSPIRATIONAL BOOK
Elements of Style: Designing a Home & a Life
Get your copy on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3hnWhIr
Elements of Style is one of the most popular interior design books. It's a beautiful book that we actually use quite often in our virtual staging projects as part of the decor! Erin shares her personal stories to explain her designs. There are beautiful photos, practical ideas, and the best interior design advice I've heard so far - while there are rules, tips, and tricks that you can follow to make a home stylish and functional, the most important thing is to make sure to pick things that reflect your personality. We've put a few easter eggs in each of our projects. If you do get this book, I would highly recommend the hardcover over the kindle edition - it's a great looking book on a coffee table or bookshelf!
BEST DIY BOOK
Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves
by Emily Henderson and Angelin Borsics
Get your copy on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3bSNNYk
Styled is written especially for the DIY decorator. There are loads of tips and advice to help readers discover their style - there's also a quiz. I translated some of the steps to help identify my client's style. This book does do a fantastic job demonstrating and explaining the different labels for each style (which is very important when training an AI). Before this book, I didn't know the difference between Bohemian and Eclectic, Traditional vs. Transitional... you get the idea. It's also another book I would recommend getting the hardcover for. I've used it to decorate so many of our virtual model homes.
BEST PAINT COLOR BOOK
Farrow & Ball How to Decorate
by Farrow & Ball, Joa Studholme, and Charlotte Cosby
Get your copy on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2ZuR7Uy
Farrow & Ball is a paint company founded in 1946 by a chemist and an engineer. The company produces paints using and wallpapers using its original process (without plastics). Their creative team shares its expertise with a very thorough list of color styles used over the years. This book takes a deep dive into colors, almost exclusively dedicated to paint and wallpapers. There are beautiful full-page photos illustrating how to choose the right shade of white, tips on selecting colors for trim, exteriors, and more. It's perfect for both professionals and beginners wanting to learn more.
BEST BOOK FOR PROFESSIONALS
The Interior Design Reference & Specification Book: Everything Interior Designers Need to Know Every Day
by Chris Grimley and Mimi Love
Get your copy on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2ZxIbOp
From project management, how to read CAD drawings, laying out design boards, and using rendering software - The Interior Design Reference & Specification Book reviews everything else interior design entails. This book is a perfect reference book for professionals or students in the field.
BEST BEGINNERS BOOK: Home Decor Cheat Sheets: Need-to-Know Stuff for Stylish Living
BEST INSPIRATIONAL BOOK: Elements of Style: Designing a Home & a Life
BEST DIY BOOK: Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves
BEST PAINT COLOR BOOK: Farrow & Ball How to Decorate
BEST BOOK FOR PROFESSIONALS: The Interior Design Reference & Specification Book: Everything Interior Designers Need to Know Every Day
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