It’s almost Spring, which means there’s lots of exciting new interior design books coming out at the moment. Proving that print isn’t dead yet, publishing houses have a host of new reads and inspirational volumes for our coffee tables and bookshelves. There’s definitely a theme going on – concerned with how we can create a home and lifestyle that is both healthier for ourselves and our planet. More and more, we’re all looking to curate our own sanctuary away from the stresses of modern living and build a more meaningful life doing what we love.
So here’s a round up of 15 of the best new interior design books for 2020 – with a focus on simplicity and sustainability in the home. These beautiful tomes and practical guides offer everything you need to know about living mindfully and consciously. From decluttering and making more mindful habits, to bringing nature inside and growing your own fruit and vegetables, they offer simple tips for creating a more thoughtful home designed around both your values and your wellbeing. These are all the new titles that are on my wishlist…
1. Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone, published by Abrams, £30, Waterstones – the EyeSwoon creative taps into her network of interior decorators and tastemakers to showcase the thought that goes into these carefully crafted interiors, with beautiful photography from Nicole Franzen
2. Minimal: How to simplify your life and live sustainably by Madeleine Olivia, published by Ebury Publishing, RRP £12,99, currently £9.09 on Amazon [affiliate link] – blogger and youtuber Madeleine Olivia shares her insights on how to care for yourself in a more eco-friendly way, as well as how to introduce a mindful approach to your habits
3. Still: The Slow Home by Natalie Walton, published in May 2020 by Hardie Grant Books, RRP £30, pre-order on Amazon for £24 [affiliate link] – designer and writer Natalie Walton looks inside 20 inspirational interiors that take on the slow philosophy of living sustainably
4. How to make a house a home: Creating a Purposeful, Personal Space by Ariel Kaye, published in March 2020 by Penguin Random House, £17.99, pre-order on Amazon [affiliate link] – The founder of Parachute Home teaches you how to design a home that’s not only beautiful but mindful, functional, and uniquely you
5. Mad About the House: 101 Interior Design Answers by Kate Watson-Smyth, published by Pavilion Books, RRP £19.99, currently £11.99 on Amazon [affiliate link] – award-winning journalist Kate Watson-Smyth offers a practical how-to guide to all those interior questions you were afraid to ask
6. Biophilia: You + Nature + Home by Sally Coulthard, published 19 March 2020 by Kyle Books, £11.99, Amazon [affiliate link] – best-selling author Sally Coulthard demonstrates how to transform your living and working spaces into places that put you in touch with nature
7. The Joy of Living with Less: How to downsize to 100 items and liberate your life by Mary Lambert, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, £9.99, Waterstones – decluttering expert Mary Lambert explains how having too much clutter can stop you moving forward in life, and how learning to let go of items we neither love or need is liberating and fulfilling
8. The Iconic Interior: 1900 to the Present by Dominic Bradbury, published by Thames & Hudson, RRP £24.95, currently £19.96 on Amazon [affiliate link] – 100 of the world’s most important and influential interiors, by some of the great talents of the 20th and 21st centuries
9. The Elements of a Home: Curious Histories behind Everyday Household Objects, from Pillows to Forks, by Amy Azzarito, published on 17 March 2020 by Chronicle Books, £14.99, Waterstones – reveals the fascinating stories behind more than 60 everyday household objects and furnishings. Brimming with amusing anecdotes and absorbing trivia, this captivating collection is a treasure trove of curiosities
10. Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots: Planting Advice & Recipes from Great Dixter by Aaron Bertelsen, published by Phaidon, £24.95, Phaidon – Expert planting advice for growing fruit and vegetables in pots, whether that be a window box or a terracotta pot on a balcony, from the acclaimed English garden – with 50 delicious recipes
11. This is Home: The Art of Simple Living by Natalie Walton, published by Hardie Grant Publishing, RRP £30, currently £17.50 on Amazon [affiliate link] – Not a new book, it was published in 2018, but a beautiful read nonetheless. This is Home is about simple living – how to focus on our values to create authentic homes full of meaning and joy
12. The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide: Everything you need to know to make small changes that make a big difference by Jen Gale, published by Bloomsbury, £10.65, WHSmith – Easy, do-able, down to earth ideas and suggestions for everyone to help save the planet
13. Make a Living Living: Be Successful Doing What You Love, by Nina Karnikowski, published on 23 March 2020 by Laurence King, £14.99, Amazon [affiliate link] – for anyone who has ever wished they could build a successful career doing something they love with practical exercises to help readers learn how to trust themselves, take risks and develop the skills needed to achieve their ideal life
14. Bon Voyage: Boutique Hotels for the Conscious Traveler, by Clara Le Fort, published by gestalten, £29.75, Amazon [affiliate link] – the hotels that combine the best design and hospitality with the smallest ecological footprint
15. Eat Your Greens! 22 Ways to Cook a Carrot, 20 Methods of Preparing Brussels Sprouts, and 768 Other Delicious Recipes to Save the Planet, by Anette Dieng & Ingela Persson, published by gestalten, £18.25, Blackwell’s – Tasty and simple vegetable-based recipes to prepare at home
