The Interiors Books We Loved This Year

BEST FOR DESIGNER INSIGHTS: Rose Uniacke At Home by Rose Uniacke

Learn from the best in the business. In her first book, Rose Uniacke shows off her work via her own home – which is airy and light, delicate and robust, grand and intimate, all at once. Exquisitely photographed by François Halard, the book unfolds gatefold after gatefold to give the reader a truly inside look. 

Visit RoseUniacke.com

BEST FOR MONOCHROME FANS: Curate by Ali Heath, Lynda Gardener & Marnie Hawson

The first book from interiors stylist and writer Ali Heath is an exploration of monochromatic interiors. Far from cold and stark, these real homes are inviting and comforting. Through showing us textured spaces in edited hues, Curate demonstrates the passion Ali and Lynda have for monochrome interiors, the joy of natural imperfections and an obsession with filling their homes with unique, treasured finds.
 
Available from Waterstones.com

BEST FOR PLAYFUL DETAILS: Every Room Should Sing by Beata Heuman

There’s no doubt 2021 has been an exceptional year for interior designer Beata Heuman. In this book, her innovative approach is broken down by individual design principles, with each chapter offering a fresh way to think about decorating your home, finding your style, making ordinary details extraordinary, and forging a truly unique space.  
 
Visit BeataHeuman.com & Shoppa.BeataHeuman.com

BEST FOR DESIGN PURISTS: A Modern Way To Live by Matt Gibberd

Since establishing The Modern House estate agency in 2005, Matt Gibberd has seen thousands of successfully designed homes. From cleverly planned bijou flats to listed projects, Matt soon noticed they all tend to share the same five principles: space, light, materials, nature and decoration. In this book, he explains how to apply them all to your own home.

Visit TheModernHouse.com

BEST FOR MINIMALISTS: Minimalista by Shira Gill

A step-by-step guide to designing a better home, wardrobe and life, Shira Gill’s book delivers its minimalist manifesto with plenty of practical advice for making it a reality in your home. Guided by the dual principles of editing and organising, Shira aims to help you remove the clutter through a process that promotes sustainability, achieves lasting results and can work for anyone, regardless of their property or space.

Available from Waterstones.com

BEST FOR INSPIRATION: Andrew Martin Interior Design Review

Dubbed ‘the Bible of interior design’, Andrew Martin’s annual review has become a much-anticipated catalogue of what the world’s top 100 designers are up to. Both a reference book and global source of inspiration, it showcases the most renowned, innovative and exceptional interior design and architecture of the past year, richly illustrated with over 1,000 colour photographs spread across 500 pages.

Visit AndrewMartin.co.uk

BEST FOR CHILLED LIVING: Calm: Interiors to Nurture, Relax and Restore by Sally Denning

Guided by the principle that your home should be your sanctuary, Calm is designed tp help you create a restful, restorative interior space. In the book, stylist Sally Denning explores the essential foundations of a tranquil, comforting home before going on to present a mix of real homes, from city dwellings to country retreats, all of which share a soothing atmosphere.
 
Available from Waterstones.com

BEST FOR MODERN MAXIMALISTS: Collected Interiors: Rooms That Tell A Story by Philip Mitchell

For nearly 20 years, Philip Mitchell has designed homes around the world by combining elegant, clean classicism with eclectic pieces. An array of beautiful photographs in this book take readers on a detailed tour of nine projects, including an elegant Upper East Side pied-à-terre and a country cottage in Nova Scotia.  

Available from Waterstones.com

BEST FOR VINTAGE LOVERS: Hill House Living by Paula Sutton

Blogger, stylist and creator Paula Sutton is known as Hill House Vintage on Instagram, and her first book is a practical guide to creating a happier home. Filled with hundreds of simple, stylish and thrifty tips, the book is beautifully illustrated to give you a glimpse into her own home, along with some life lessons she’s learned throughout her two-decade fashion career – as well as her move from city lover to country dweller.

Available from Waterstones.com

BEST FOR AMERICAN STYLE: New York Interiors by Simon Upton

In his first book, renowned interiors photographer Simon Upton explores some of the most fashionable addresses in New York, including the homes of Aerin Lauder, Steven Gambrel and Michael S. Smith. Divided between City and Getaway, the book also reveals the weekend destinations where New Yorkers relax.

Available from Waterstones.com

BEST FOR BRITISH STYLE: Modern English Interiors by Todhunter Earle

Todhunter Earle Interiors is renowned for creating beautiful, sensitively considered interiors across a hugely diverse mix of projects which range from traditional country estates to contemporary town houses. In this book, the design process behind 18 private house projects is fully explained, showcasing the team’s talent, passion and versatility.

Available from Waterstones.com

BEST FOR DESIGN ADVICE: Living Well By Design by Melissa Penfold

World-renowned interior designer Melissa Penfold and her team showcase a mix of homes and projects which encapsulate 30 years of industry experience. The myriad styles will help you refine your own individual style, demystify what it takes to nail good design, and master some basic decorating principles along the way. One for serious interior design fans looking for fresh inspiration.

Available from Waterstones.com

BEST FOR HOME RENOVATION: Mad About The House Planner by Kate Watson-Smyth

Part planner, part journal, part little black book, the latest offering from journalist and blogger Kate Watson-Smyth is the stylish way to keep track of checklists, to-do lists, budget charts and room plans (yes, it even has graph paper). Interspersed between the practical pages is Kate’s wit and wisdom for every room in the house – an essential companion to those embarking on home improvements.

Available from Waterstones.com

BEST FOR BOLD TYPES: Living In Colour by Stella Paul & India Mahdavi

Brighten up your coffee table with this beautiful hardback book. An ode to colour, it takes the reader on a visual journey, showcasing some of the best contemporary residential interior-design schemes in every shade and hue. There are 200 interiors from 130 designers, including living, dining, sleeping and bathing spaces from around the world.

Available from Waterstones.com