I love sitting down and immersing myself in a lovely new book all about interior design. This spring we are spoiled for choice! So many of my favourite interiors writers, Instagrammers and bloggers have brought out a new book. Here’s a round up of the ones I am looking forward to getting inspiration from this year.
Everything: A Maximalist Style Guide by Abigail Ahern
Welcome to the ‘more is more’ world of decorating. Abigail is an influential tastemaker who is consistently ahead of the design trail, whether she’s pioneering faux flowers or dark, inky colour palettes. In her new book, Abigail introduces us to maximalism, the style that says goodbye to Scandi minimalism and embraces the all-out: beautiful colour palettes, luxurious textiles, patterns and embellishment. Abigail teaches us how to break the ‘rules’ of interior design, experiment with different periods in a single room and have fun with our interiors to create an eclectic look full of personality and style.
A Pop of Colour by Geraldine James
Give your home a bright makeover using simple practical ideas. Geraldine was a home buying manager at Selfridges department store in London for many years and has an innate understanding of what people want in their homes. Her straightforward, fun, simple and low-cost ideas to bring a pop of colour into your interior spaces using paint, wallpaper, flowers, plants, cushions or throws will give you the confidence to transform your home. Encouraging us to experiment with different ways to embrace colour whatever our chosen palette, Geraldine offers advice and inspiration to get experimenting.
Mad About The House Planner: Your Home, Your Story by Kate Watson-Smyth
Interiors expert Kate Watson-Smyth has brought out a mix of journal, diary and little black book for everything you need to know when renovating your home, whether it’s a forever home, a fixer-upper or just one room. Packed with Kate’s knowledge and enthusiasm, this journal offers ways to renovate your home room by room, with a focus on sustainability and money-saving tips. Also included are accounts pages to note down what you’re spending money on – and when – as you renovate; an address book for useful contacts and tradesmen; checklists for all the essentials in each room; grid pages for drawing floorplans; and space to jot down favourite shops, inspiration and websites.
Modern Rustic by Emily Henson & Joanna Simmons
Gone are the days when rustic style meant fusty dried flower arrangements, antlers over a stone fireplace and acres of tartan. At its heart, the modern rustic look celebrates the fabric of a home, from the roof beams to the brickwork. This style revels in earthy colours and rich textures; in natural materials such as wood and stone; and the handsome bones of a building. In this book, stylist Emily Henson – who used to work for Anthropologie and now works for Ikea and Graham and Green – leads you through modern rustic, pure rustic, bohemian rustic and retro rustic. She explores textiles, furniture, fabric and display and then shows us how Modern Rustic style translates beautifully to every room in the house, and even outdoors.
Simply Scandinavian by Sara Norrman
Sara grew up in Stockholm, where her style was shaped by the capital’s beautiful scenery, her family’s 19th-century summer house and numerous trips to Ikea. Sara has worked for lots of print and digital publications including Wallpaper*, Livingetc and Houzz Sweden. Scandinavian interior design is admired the world over for its simplicity and understated elegance. Rooms are typically airy, light and bright. Furnishings are modern classics from the key names of Scandinavian design mixed with pretty antique and vintage pieces. The beauty of natural materials, especially wood, is celebrated. It’s a style that’s entirely in tune with our current desire for calm, comfortable and uncluttered spaces to live in. The homes in this fbook are presented as case studies, with chapters including Elegant Simplicity, Vintage-Inspired, Pared-down Modern and Contemporary Rustic.
How we Live Now by Rebecca Winward
Rebecca is an interiors journalist whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including House & Garden, Elle Decoration and Evening Standard. How We Live Now is an inspiring guide to making the most of every square inch of your space. This practical, problem-solving book will help you look at your home and work out how to make the most of every room. Perhaps you’re trying to carve out more space to accommodate a growing family, or maybe you’re wondering where you can squeeze in a home office, a utility room or a kids’ playroom. She explores open-plan living, opting for more flexible room configurations, and using pockets of ‘dead space’ that have unrecognized potential. Multi-tasking furniture and smart storage both have their role to play, as does versatile lighting.
Winter Living by Selina Lake
Popular stylist and bestselling interiors’ author Selina Lake brings her signature pretty, vintage, romantic style to the most atmospheric and beautiful of seasons. Discover the cheerful yet intimate style and soft textures and tones of Homespun; the gentle palette and elegant vintage style of Faded Grandeur, striking the perfect balance between opulence and charm; the mid-century simplicity and timeless appeal of Rustic with its rich colours for the darker months; the Scandinavian feel of Winter Whites, with its whitewashed floorboards, natural wood and stone, and finally, a chapter on Festive Celebrations, with enchanting ideas for decorations, as well as inspirational ideas for cosy and vintage Christmas celebrations.
Bohemian Modern: Imaginative and Affordable Ideas for a Creative and Beautiful Home by Emily Henson
Emily Henson has another book out that I recommend. Emily explores the elements that come together to create this eclectic, colorful, and contemporary look and draws inspiration from an array of real-life homes. The Bohemian Modern home is a place where creativity, individuality, and a mix of color and pattern meet in a modern environment. Whitewashed walls and polished concrete floors are brought to life by vibrant Moroccan rugs and wall hangings, wicker chairs draped with tactile throws, and a jungle of house plants—clustered in pots, hanging from the ceiling. The style certainly gives a nod to ’70s chic, with its use of shagpile rugs, cheese plants, and macramé, but it stands firmly in the present day by boldly contrasting with sleek modern art on the walls and bold pops of colour.
Resourceful Living: Revamp Your Home with Key Pieces, Vintage Finds and Creative Repurposing by Lisa Dawson
Lisa Dawson) is an award-winning interiors writer and blogger who shares her inspirational advice and weekly blogs on revamped vintage and sustainable interiors on Instagram. Resourceful Living is packed full of brilliant ideas for revamping your home by creative repurposing on a budget – and without waste. Lisa outlines her methods for avoiding ‘the trend trap’ with tips on how to develop a personal style by mixing old and new, using inventive restyling and careful sourcing, while maintaining a flexible approach to your space. She then covers activities such as Sleeping, Living, Eating, Dining and Outdoors, offering simple solutions on how to create your style, from furnishing focal points to decorating tips for small spaces.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this round up of some interiors books I am excited to dip into this year. If you have seen something you love in any book, please get in contact with me and I can work with you to create a similar look in your own home.
