25 Best Books on Interior Design

We have compiled a list of the Best Reference Books on Interior Design, which are used by students of top universities, and colleges. This will help you choose the right book depending on if you are a beginner or an expert. Here is the complete list of Interior Design Books with their authors, publishers, and an unbiased review of them as well as links to the Amazon website to directly purchase them. If permissible, you can also download the free PDF books on Interior Design below.

1. Basic Interior Design

 
1."Interior Design: Interior Design Basics - Learn How to Decorate Your Home To Look Gorgeous!" by Kelly Joseph
“Interior Design: Interior Design Basics – Learn How to Decorate Your Home to Look Gorgeous!” Book Review: This book is a comprehensive guide on DIY home decoration, providing practical tips and advice for those who prefer to undertake interior design projects themselves without the need for a professional decorator. The book is divided into different sections that cover topics such as color, accents, design elements, budgeting, and cost-saving strategies. Additionally, the book includes a quiz that helps readers identify their personal decorating style and approach. This book is suitable for beginners who want to create their own unique interior spaces.

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2."Interior Design: The Essential Beginners Guide - Tips And Ideas To Decorate Your Home On A Budget (Interior Design, Decorating Your Home, Feng Shui)" by Luke Graham
“Interior Design: The Essential Beginners Guide – Tips and Ideas to Decorate Your Home on A Budget (Interior Design, Decorating Your Home, Feng Shui)” Book Review: This book offers advice on achieving an attractive interior design for a house without spending a lot of money. It emphasizes the use of department store purchases, yard sales, and second-hand stores. Additionally, it provides tips on renting partially furnished homes and offers basic knowledge about cooling and heating. The book is a valuable resource for those who are curious about creating a beautiful home on a limited budget.

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3."Perspective for Interior Designers: Simplified Techniques for Geometric and Freehand Drawing" by John Pile
“Perspective for Interior Designers: Simplified Techniques for Geometric and Freehand Drawing” Book Review: This book presents various methods for drawing the interior of a house by hand in a simple and easily comprehensible manner. It covers topics such as one-point perspective, circular forms, reflective images, and light effects. In addition, it discusses freehand perspective, camera techniques, case studies, and reviews of computer-aided techniques. Each topic is demonstrated step by step to enhance understanding. This book is an ideal resource for novice designers and architects seeking to improve their skills.

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4."Basic Interior Design: Be your own interior Designer" by Denise Smith
“Basic Interior Design: Be your own interior Designer “Book Review: This book presents essential design techniques and cost-effective ways to create beautiful interiors. It covers design elements, drawing up simple plans, furniture arrangement and storage solutions. The book also discusses the art of combining colours, changing the ambiance of a room, and lighting effects. Additionally, it features current trends widely used by many. The book is suitable for anyone who wants to personalize and upgrade their interior design.

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5."Basics Interior Design - 1: Retail Design" by Lynne Mesher
“Basics Interior Design – 1: Retail Design” Book Review: This book provides guidance on creating a spacious and welcoming environment for customers in retail spaces. It helps people to attract customers to their shops by creating a familiar and engaging experience. The book covers various topics, such as branding and identity, different retail sectors, retail sales, the retail environment, space organization methods, and design details. The concepts are illustrated with clear illustrations, and each chapter concludes with case studies for a better understanding of the subject matter. This book is beneficial for retailers seeking to enhance their interior and increase their sales.

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6."Interior Design Basics: Basics of Interior Design" by Shirley Dianne Lise
“Interior Design Basics: Basics of Interior Design” Book Review: This book presents an introduction to the fundamentals of interior design and offers practical ideas and advice on how to decorate one’s home. It covers topics such as designing a furniture layout, selecting color schemes, choosing wall fabrics, window treatments, and lighting arrangements. Additionally, it provides guidance on kitchen and bathroom layouts and designs. The book is supplemented with black and white illustrations to enhance understanding. It is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to decorate their own home.

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7."Basic AutoCAD for Interior Designers Using Release 14" by Jin Feng
“Basic AutoCAD for Interior Designers Using Release 14” Book Review: This book provides a comprehensive guide to using AutoCAD software for interior design purposes. The book covers topics such as floor planning, dimensions, drawing and elevation, building 3D models, and many others. It provides a step-by-step approach to learning interior design using AutoCAD. The book includes numerous examples of current design trends and explanatory notes. Additionally, it features projects and task-based tutorials to encourage students to learn and practice their skills. The book is highly recommended for junior-level interior design students and some undergraduate engineering students.

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8."Basics Interior Architecture 03: Drawing Out the Interior" by Ro Spankie
“Basics Interior Architecture 03: Drawing Out the Interior” Book Review: This book offers an introduction to interior architecture through drawing and modeling, providing diverse techniques and methods for interior design. It covers various chapters, such as drawing conventions, concept board, sketching, measuring, scaling, and projection, as well as orthographic projection, drawing space, perspective, animation, texture, and patterns. Additionally, it features drawings and sketches from renowned designers. This book is suitable for interior design students who wish to learn and improve their skills.

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9."Transformation: Basic Principles and Methodology of Design" by Roland Knauer and James Gussen
“Transformation: Basic Principles and Methodology of Design” Book Review: This book explains the fundamental elements of the design process and covers topics such as complex and uniform drawings, as well as the fundamentals of designing and art. It provides several examples of architecture, design, and art for better comprehension. Additionally, each section is separately bound, making it easier to reference later. This book is ideal for architects and designers who want to improve their design skills.

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10."Basics of Interior Design" by Ann Ross Wallach and Paul Ross Wallach
“Basics of Interior Design” Book Review: This book is a user-friendly guide for beginners in programming. The book covers various topics such as data types, operators, control statements, functions, arrays, strings, file handling, and problem-solving techniques using the C language. Each chapter includes practical examples and exercises to enhance understanding. The book’s clear explanations and step-by-step approach make it easy to grasp fundamental programming concepts. It is an excellent resource for students preparing for O-Level exams or anyone interested in learning programming using the C language.

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11."Lighting for Interior Design (Portfolio Skills)" by Malcolm Innes
“Lighting for Interior Design (Portfolio Skills)” Book Review: This is an insightful book that focuses on the important role of lighting in interior design. The book covers various topics related to lighting design, including the principles of light, different types of lighting fixtures, and how to create effective lighting schemes. It explores concepts such as color temperature, light distribution, and shadow play. With detailed explanations and stunning visuals, this book provides practical knowledge and inspiration for designing well-lit and visually appealing spaces. It is a valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of interior design.

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12."Interior Design Master Class: 100 Lessons from America's Finest Designers on the Art of Decoration" by Carl Dellatore
“Interior Design Master Class: 100 Lessons from America’s Finest Designers on the Art of Decoration” Book Review: This book presents a broad range of design styles from classic to modern, featuring the expertise and insights of design legends. It serves as a guide for design students, home decorators, and design professionals alike. The book includes a collection of essays from America’s greatest designers, along with practical considerations and illustrated images.

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13."Interior Design Materials and Specifications" by Lisa Godsey
“Interior Design Materials and Specifications” Book Review: This book provides information on selecting materials for interior design, and it has been recently updated to include the latest industry changes. It focuses on materials and trade resources from the perspective of a working designer. The book describes the characteristics of each material, including specifications and installation processes. It teaches students how to assess, choose, and specify materials, considering factors like code compliance, building standards, sustainability, human needs, and the bidding process. Students will also learn effective communication with suppliers and vendors and how to adaptively reuse materials in various project management scenarios.

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14."Elements Of Interior Design And Decoration" by Sherrill Whiton
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15."Interior Design: Practical Strategies for Teaching and Learning" by Katherine S Ankerson and Jill B Pable
“Interior Design: Practical Strategies for Teaching and Learning” Book Review: This book offers a comprehensive teaching approach that specifically focuses on interior design instruction. It effectively integrates theory with practical application and numerous examples related to interior design. The book’s theme of compilation has gained prominence in design education. For those who lack formal training as teachers, especially in interior construction, this book serves as a primary and specialized resource. It is a valuable, up-to-date reference for both new and experienced teachers who encounter challenging situations and require a fresh perspective to teach a concept in a different way. The book includes case studies, rubrics, and student analysis, academic jargon explanations, tables and graphs, photographs of teaching-related activities and spaces, and bibliographies for more information on teaching and learning topics.

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16."500 Decoration Details: Minimalism (Interior Design)" by Simone Schleifer
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17."Interior Design Illustrated" by Francis D K Ching and Corky Binggeli
“Interior Design Illustrated” Book Review: This book offers a comprehensive guide to interior space design and presents complex design concepts in a visually appealing format. From utilizing the elements of design to planning building systems and incorporating sustainable materials, this book emphasizes that beauty and function are interconnected. The updated edition includes the latest information on energy conservation, designing for longevity, adaptive reuse of existing buildings, LED lighting, workplace design, color use, and computer modeling software. It explores new advances in materials, lighting, and wireless technology and emphasizes sustainable, long-lasting, and energy-efficient design.

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2. Furniture in Interiors

 
1."Contemporary Kitchens" by IAG
“Contemporary Kitchens” Book Review: This book is a comprehensive guide to modern kitchen design. The book explores various chapters and topics related to contemporary kitchens. It covers kitchen layouts, color schemes, materials, appliances, and lighting. The book also discusses innovative storage solutions, functional design elements, and the latest trends in kitchen technology. With beautiful photographs and detailed explanations, it offers inspiration and practical advice for creating stylish and functional kitchens. Whether you are a homeowner or a design enthusiast, “Contemporary Kitchens” is a valuable resource for designing your dream kitchen.

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2."A History of Interior Design and Furniture in Italy - A Collection of Classic Articles on Interior Design and Home Furnishing" by Various
“A History of Interior Design and Furniture in Italy – A Collection of Classic Articles on Interior Design and Home Furnishing” Book Review: This book offers insights into the art of classical interior design and home decoration in Italy. It covers topics such as tools and equipment, living room arrangements, paintings, and interior design. The book includes detailed images and explanations of the techniques used in creating these designs. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about the classical work of Italian interior design.

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3."Furniture in History: 3000 B.C. - 2000 A.D" by Dr Leslie Pina
“Furniture in History: 3000 B.C. – 2000 A.D” Book Review: This book provides an overview of the evolution of furniture and interior design spanning from 3000 BC to 2000 AD. It covers themes, chronologies, historical highlights, and designer contributions. The book contains numerous photos and illustrations sourced from the Cleveland Museum of Art. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in delving into the history of furniture and interior design.

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4."Neoclassicism In The North: Swedish Furniture And Interiors 1770-1850" by Hakan Groth and Fritz Von Schulenburg
“Neoclassicism In The North: Swedish Furniture And Interiors 1770-1850” Book Review: This book presents the development of neoclassicism by Crown Prince Gustaf, and showcases various furniture pieces, detailed decorations, and furnishings of houses and apartments. It includes original drawings and plans of the buildings created by architects and designers, along with black-and-white and colorful images. The book is an ideal resource for individuals interested in learning about neoclassicism, Swedish furniture, and interior design.

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5."Starting Your Career as an Interior Designer" by Thomas L Williams and Robert K Hale
“Starting Your Career as an Interior Designer” Book Review: This book serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals aspiring to become interior designers. It covers various topics such as the current state of the industry, design semantics, and designing for retail environments. It also includes chapters on marketing, defining goals, pricing strategies, and fees. The book provides practical knowledge through case studies and real-world examples. It is an invaluable resource for students pursuing a career in interior design.

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6."Furniture For Small Houses: Everyday Interior Design in the 1920s" by Percy A Wells
“Furniture For Small Houses: Everyday Interior Design in the 1920s” Book Review: This book explores the principles of selecting furniture suitable for small houses. It showcases a variety of furniture designs specifically tailored to fit small living spaces. The content is illustrated with images, which makes it easy to understand. The book is a valuable resource for individuals interested in purchasing furniture for small homes, as well as for furniture designers seeking inspiration for creating space-saving furniture designs.

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7."Creative Design In Furniture, Wood, Metal, Glass And Plastics" by William H Varnum
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8."Wood Pallet Workshop: 20 DIY Projects that Turn Forgotten Wood into Stylish Home Furnishings" by Danny Darke
“Wood Pallet Workshop: 20 DIY Projects that Turn Forgotten Wood into Stylish Home Furnishings” Book Review: This book explores different design approaches for creating furniture using wood. It covers a variety of designs such as end tables, deck chairs, towel racks, door handles, serving trays, wine racks, wall-mounted coat racks, pallet arrow wall art, outdoor flower boxes, and painted wall art. With step-by-step instructions and colorful images to aid comprehension, this book provides a total of 20 designs that can be created using affordable and eco-friendly materials. This book is beneficial for individuals interested in building household furniture on a budget while prioritizing sustainability.

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We have put a lot of effort into researching the best books on Interior Design and came out with a recommended list and their reviews. If any more book needs to be added to this list, please email us. We are working on free pdf downloads for books on Interior Design and will publish the download link here. Fill out this Interior Design books pdf download" request form for download notification.

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