Decorating Library Book Reviews – Personal Favorites
I’ve listed my five all-time favorite decorating books which was a difficult task considering I own over 50 decorating and interior design books and truth be known all of those books are in my decorating library because they are inspirational as well as informative. So picking only five did prove difficult but as you can see below, I did it 
Anyhow , I hope that my reviews and opinions help you decide which book is best suited for your home decorating needs.
Ruby & Begonia’s Christmas Style
by Sara Toliver, Jo Packham
I love this book for two reasons, first it was given to me as a gift from the author Jo Packham. I met Jo in NYC at the 52nd Annual Gift & Decorative Accessories Awards Gala where both of our companies where being honored. I was honored to meet Jo because she was the person who inspired me to create the captivating visual display vignettes that earned me a spot among the best of the best in our industry.
Of course, the second reason is that this book, like all of Jo’s books, is filled with beautiful inspirational photos and descriptions of stunning and unique Christmas decorating ideas. This book will definitely help stimulate your creativity and creativity is the most essential ingredient in decorating and design.
Nina Campbell’s Decorating Notebook: Insider Secrets and Decorating Ideas for Your Home
by Nina Campbell
Gorgeous pictures of the author’s apartment and her clients’ homes fill this 176 page book. Nina’s Notebook sections are used by the author to explain her design motivations behind each room’s design. The author uses an idea akin to a designer’s sample board and design notebook to give the reader a taste of the different decorating elements she used to create the finished room.
by Mary Gilliatt
This is a well organized 224 page full color design book, which is an excellent reference resource for the design professional and the aspiring interior decorator. This book provides the reader with decorating terms defined, design principles explained and images of beautifully decorated rooms are analyzed.
Use What You Have Decorating : Transform Your Home in One Hour With Ten Simple Design Principles — Using the Space You Have, the Things You Like, the Budget You Choose
by Lauri Ward
I consider this book a classic and encourage my students ( specially the ones attending my “High Style/Tight Budget” workshop) to make it part of their decorating libraries. Lauri Ward proves that you can create beautiful decor with quite a bit of what you already own through careful floor and design layout planning.
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Room Redux: The Home Decorating Workbook
by Joann Eckstut, Sheran James
Practical decorating advice is offered throughout the 263 pages of Room Redux. This artist illustrated book is a good basic design resource for those new to the world of decorating. Room Redux delivers on the promise of providing the reader with basic design principles. And the workbook format is also a wonderful learning tool for the do-it-herself decorator as she is actively engaged in the process.
