My Five Favorite Decorating Books

Being a designer, I follow a ton of my fellow designers on Instagram. Scrolling through beautiful images on my feed is a daily ritual that borders on addiction. But every now and then, I like to take a little “me time” and hunker down with a cup of mint tea and a big, beautiful interior design book. I love the glossy images and the stories behind the projects.

Here’s a list of my favorite interior design books.

1. Habitat: The Field Guide to Decorating by Lauren Liess

Local design celebrity (and a real sweetheart) Lauren Liess wrote this “field guide” for decorating beginners and it’s a design book you’ll actually read. It’s full of casual, livable rooms decorated in Lauren’s iconic, relaxed style of mixing textures of natural elements such as wood and stone with eclectic modern and vintage pieces.

2. Domino: The Book of Decorating by Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, and Dara Caponigro

I consider this book a classic. Even though it was published over ten years ago, it’s still inspiring, fresh, relevant, and fun. The book features the same iconic layout as Domino magazine and includes stories, tips and, drawings. This book makes home design accessible for everyone.

3. Elements of Style: Designing a Home & a Life by Erin Gates

Erin Gates is one of the original design bloggers. She started her award-winning blog Elements of Style way back in 2007. This is her first book and what I love about it most is that it’s personal, practical, and functional. It also provides a super helpful resource and shopping guide.

4. Storied Interiors by Patrick Sutton

Mark and I fell in love with Baltimore-based architect and interior designer Patrick Sutton while visiting the amazing Sagamore Pendry Hotel he designed on the Fells Point waterfront in Baltimore. (If you get a chance, book a night there!) His moody spaces are both inviting and intriguing, evoking a sense of travel and wonder. This is an excellent coffee table book!

5. Undecorate: The No-Rules Approach to Interior Design by Christiane Lemieux

I love how this book offers a fresh, unconventional approach to creating beautiful and comfortable spaces. It features 20 real homes. Christiane Lemieux is a big believer in infusing your own personality into your home by sharing your collections, your art, your quirks, and your imperfections. That’s how you make a space truly personal.

Design books do it all. They’re inspirational, full of great tips and tricks, give your eyes a rest from the “blue light” fatigue of screen scrolling, and the books themselves are great design accessories. One of my favorite ways to dress up a coffee table, console, or bookshelf is with a few great design books. Plus, they make the perfect gift for the design enthusiast in your life – even if that enthusiast is you!

Happy browsing!

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Suzanne Manlove

Principal Designer + CEO | Arlington Home Interiors

https://www.arlingtonhomeinteriors.com/

suzanne@arlingtonhomeinteriors.com

Suzanne is a DC-area native who lives in Arlington with her husband Mark, two children, a reclusive cat and a sweet rescue dog. After earning a B.S. in Graphic Design from the University of Maryland, she focused her artistic energies in top creative positions for Britches of Georgetowne and Time-Life Entertainment. WIth the birth of child number two, Suzanne decided it was time for a little self re-invention, so she founded Arlington Home Interiors. Interior design proved to be the perfect outlet for her talents, allowing her to share her love of design with others by creating beautiful living spaces for busy families. Her off-the-clock list of interests is a long one, including; encouraging regular family adventures, exploring new cities, trying new restaurants, browsing art galleries, practicing yoga, and taking long hikes with that previously mentioned sweet dog.

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It’s time to love your living space. And we’re here to help! Arlington Home Interiors has been creating casually elegant interiors for modern families in the DC area since 2007. From developing concepts to curating unique selections to managing custom installations, we confidently guide clients through each step of the design process. Contact us and let’s make something beautiful!

 

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