I love getting your blog post requests and I’ve had a couple of people asking after the best interior design books to buy. Whether it’s for pouring over and getting ideas for the home, or simply just to look pretty on the coffee table, I love having a house full of books that tell a story about my interests and passions. Yes, you can browse hundreds of beautiful homes online, but there’s nothing like flicking through a book with your hands, feeling the quality of the paper and going back to it time and time again.
Below I’ve rounded up 20 of the best interior design books for the minimalist lovers out there, all with a focus on Scandinavian style and well considered design. There’s a broad section of reading material, from monographs on famous designers and heavy architecture tomes, through house surveys and round-ups of the most beautiful homes, to lifestyle guides and more practical tips on how to make a house a home.
1. Dieter Rams: As Little Design as Possible, published by Phaidon, £59, COS – The definitive monograph on one of the most influential product designers of the 20th century, covering Dieter Rams’ life, work and ideas about how to live.
2. Scandinavian Style at Home, by Allan Torp, published by Thames & Hudson, £14.95 – A practical guide that shows how to create a tailor-made home inspired by Scandinavian design, one room at a time
3. Scandinavia Dreaming: Nordic Homes, Interiors and Design, edited by Angel Trinidad and Emma Fexeus, published by Gestalten, £40, Waterstones – A round-up of beautiful interiors, architecture and products that show the richness and variety of contemporary Nordic spaces
4. Breuer, by Robert McCarter, published by Phaidon, £100, The Design Museum shop – A comprehensive book on architect and designer Marcel Breuer examining in detail the houses, furniture and public buildings he designed in Europe and the United States
5. The Hard Life, by Jasper Morrison, published by Lars Müller, £35, SCP – A continuation of Morrison’s celebration of the ordinary and offers a new perspective on his design philosophy. It’s an homage to the beauty of ancient commodities.
6. Monochrome Home, by Hilary Robertson, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, £25, Cloudberry Living – Elegant interiors in black and white capturing a timeless Scandinavian style
7. The Monocle Guide to Cosy Homes, published by Gestalten, £40, The Monocle Shop – A book about quality of life, a pinch of ‘hygge’ and making homes where our lives can unfold
8. The Kinfolk Home Book, by Nathan Williams, published by Artisan, £20, Reiss – a survey of 40 homes around the world, all with a focus on slowing down and creating a more intentional, beautiful space
9. Eat Drink Nap: Bringing the House Home, £30, Liberty London – a contemporary living guide packed full of everything Soho House, from interior design tips to classic recipes
10. Lagom: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life, by Niki Brantmark, published by HarperCollins, £9.99, Waterstones – Uncover the secrets of the Swedish philosophy of life called Lagom – meaning `just enough’
11. Craft a Home, published by Gestalten, out in April 2018, $69, Amazon – With a focus on interior design and quality craftsmanship, this book presents exciting and thoughtful homeware, and the people who design them
12. The Scandinavian Home: Interiors Inspired by Light, by Niki Brantmark, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, £19.99, Waterstones – Discover classic and contemporary Scandinavian style with specially commissioned photography of homes in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland
13. Kitchen Kulture, published by Gestalten, £40, Waterstones – Whether traditional, Nordic, or futuristic, the kitchen is the new living room – a place to cook, eat and celebrate. This book showcases the latest interiors and kitchen concepts
14. Modern Architecture Since 1900 by William J R Curtis, published by Phaidon, £29.95 – An analysis of the modern tradition and its origins, tracing the creative interaction between old and new
15. Dialogues, by Frama and Our Food Stories, published by Frama, £50, Opumo – This book is Frama’s way of celebrating a half-decade of personal relationships and creative dialogues, focusing on the value of creative exchange and the power of listening
16. Remodelista: The Organized Home, by Julie Carlson, published by Artisan, £15.30, Amazon – a visual guide to orderly living and strategies for staying organised at home
17. A Frame for Life – The Design of Studioilse, published by Rizzoli, £35, Skandium – The renowned designer and style guru Ilse Crawford showcases her body of influential, holistic work for the first time
18. House of Plants by Rose Ray and Caro Langton, £20, The Hen House, via Trouva.com – a comprehensive companion, showing you how to nurture and enjoy plants, as well as stylishly arrange them in your home
19. Where to Drink Coffee, published by Phaidon, £16.95, The Design Museum shop – The insiders guide to where the world’s top 150 baristas and coffee officiandos go for the perfect cup
20. The Kinfolk Entrepreneur, by Nathan Williams, published by Artisan, £28, Berylune, via Trouva.com – Introduces readers to 40 creative business owners around the globe, offering an inspiring, in-depth look behind the scenes of their lives and their companies
I would love to know, are any of these on your reading list? Are there any you’d like to add?
All images Cate St Hill
