Books are not only something that bring us entertainment and pleasure, but they become art when displayed in our homes. Over the years, I have amassed a collection of home design books and they have become some of my most treasured objects. I pull them out and reread them. They look beautiful displayed. And I feel like they are a piece of my heart displayed in my home. They send out a little beacon of light that feels like it shines, ‘we love home.’

Top 5 Home Design Books | TINY BITS OF HAPPINESS

I get asked quite a bit what design books I recommend. There are a lot out on the market and not all are created equal. While I think many are so lovely, I don’t think all are a great place to start at. Maybe it’s my teacher heart, maybe it’s personal experience, but I think it’s good to start with books that can grip almost anyone. They are helpful in information, they inspire, and they create a sense of creating home that feels attainable.

homes should feel livable, lovable, and personal

Home design tends to have a bit of an air about it that it feels impersonal or high-end or out of reach or… too designed. Ya know? Like who lives in that house? Do they eat Cheetos in the kitchen? Have they spilled a glass of wine before? Has chocolate melted on their couch? Did they fall asleep with makeup on and wake up to the reminders of it on their pillow cases? (I can answer yes to all of these).

I am smitten with home design books that inspire any person to love their home better. Or figure out how to make their home feel more like them. I think that is the whole essence of home design— to create a home that feels livable, lovable, and personal. It reflects the people that live there, their rhythms of life, and brings with it all the emotions to connect all who pass through its doors.

Listed below are my top favorite, tried and true

THE ORGANIZED HOME

Remodelista’s book, “The Organized Home,” was my first home design book I ever purchased, read, and felt completely gripped by. It is the “gateway” book I recommend to anyone. It is relatable, applicable, educational, and can applied to any space. As the title states, it focuses on organizing your home, but also approaching your spaces with fresh eyes. It arms you with how to approach your spaces in a wiser and more eco-friendly way. Every single friend who I’ve lent the book to or recommend it to becomes absolutely and completely smitten with it. They also have an amazing website and you can check out all the goodness here.

REMODELISTA

Remodelista is written by the same dream team of authors, but this book is a bit more in-depth into home design and the objects that fill it. It’s split into three different sections which keeps things interesting, and varied, while covering lots of ground. The book starts with a collection of home tours in a variety of styles. They dig into the people, the homes, and ways to achieve it. The next section covers rooms and how to approach them with a variety of inspiration and tips and tricks. The last section a tried and true shopping section with wonderful goods that are thoughtful, beautiful, and functional.

I’ve owned this book for years and I am still so smitten with it. Remodelista also has a wonderful website that I frequent often. It is a database of thoughtful articles, inspiration, how-to’s, curated goods, and so, so much more. Can you tell how much I love them?

TRAVEL HOME

Travel Home is written by mother-daughter duo, Caitlin Flemming and Julie Goebel. This book is so lovely in so many ways. I encourage it for people who want to break out of the cookie cutter mold (don’t we all?) and create spaces that feel rooted in our lives and memories we’ve created. They highlight peoples homes and how they’ve created spaces in connection with their travels. They give insight into ways you can bring your travels back into your home and have your space reflect your wandering spirit.

HABITAT

If you are looking to learn more specifics about home design and the mechanics for setting up a space, Lauren Liess’ field guide-style book, Habitat, is the book for you! Lauren Liess is one of my favorite designers who is doing a bunch of amazing stuff with opening her own shop, Lauren Liess Co, designing a furniture line, rehabbing a cottage in the Outer Banks, and so much more. She has such beautiful approach to living and this book has become a guiding light for me. She also has another book that was recently released, Down to Earth, and I recommend that for anyone who is seeking that down-to-earth, laid back, casual style.

LIVE BEAUTIFUL

Athena Calderone's book, Live Beautiful, is rich, beautiful and so giving. The design is very elevated in this book, but she is generous with her thoughts, and insights, and sharing. Athena is a woman of many talents and her homes have been featured in Architecture Digest and she is a James Beard Award winner. If you love home design, then I can’t recommend this book enough. She also has a beautiful cook book called, Cook Beautiful. Check out all her goodies at her website or on her instagram page Eye Swoon.

If you are interested in other books, I have tons listed in my Amazon shop, or peruse the other favorites below!