Decorating & Design
23 Design & Garden Books For Your Summer Reading List
Updated on November 28, 2023
As we inch closer to summer, it’s time to start planning your summer reading list. If you’re looking for some visual eye candy, we’ve rounded up some of the latest design and garden books with something for everyone. These books will inspire you to add more color into your home, spice up your outdoor space, or just stare longingly at beautiful spaces.
Scroll down for 23 design and garden books to add to your summer reading list!
The Life Eclectic by Alexander Breeze
Just as the title suggests, this book is packed with eclectic homes and provides tips on how to achieve this look, from collections of objets to creative storage solutions. There are also, of course, lots of photos of beautiful homes from the likes of designer Valentine Buscicchio and artist Greg Irvine.
Atlas of Interior Design by Dominic Bradbury
This book takes you across nine continental regions, giving a peek inside 400 spaces from designers like Kelly Wearstler to the late Stéphane Boudin. It also provides historical and geographical context on each home.
Wonderland: Adventures in Decorating by Summer Thorton
Arranged by theme, such as Fearless Romantic and Super Saturated, this design book is all about decorating with wild abandon. Interior decorator Summer Thorton has always believed that ‘more is more’ which is evident in her latest book, that also features her own Chicago home.
Creating a Garden Retreat by Virginia Johnson
This artist looked to her own backyard for inspiration for her new book. After transforming her 20 x 24-foot city lot into a secret garden of sorts, Virginia is sharing all of her secrets on how to handle hardscaping, plant selection, care and more.
Embracing Natural Design by Stephanie Kienle Gonzalez
This book looks at natural design in every sense of the word. There are lessons on being more sustainable in your living space, using more organic materials such as stone and wood, and working with natural textures such as seagrass, bamboo and rattan.
Remodelista in Maine by Annie Quigley with the editors of Remodelista
Popular decorating website Remodelista is showing off the interiors of Maine through 10 picturesque interiors in the state. There is everything from an off-the-grid cabin to a 1740s farmhouse, plus tips on how to navigate flea markets in between.
Billy Cotton: Interior & Design Work by Billy Cotton and Mayer Rus
New York designer and former creative director of Ralph Lauren Home, Billy Cotton, uses the pages of this book to show off his work over the years, which includes his former studio, NYC penthouses and century-old farmhouses.
Hotel to Home by Sophie Bush
Trendy hotel interiors have inspired many designers and homeowners over the years to recreate the same look in residential spaces. Sophie Bush is tapping into that by showcasing places like the Soho House Chicago and Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles.
At Home with Designers and Tastemakers by Susanna Salk
Susanna Salk is the host of YouTube series Quintessence At Home With, where she goes into the homes of designers and creatives to see how they live and decorate when they’re creating a space for themselves. She is now bringing that same formula to this book, featuring homes from Hudson Valley, N.Y. to West Hollywood, Calif.
Living in Color by Phaidon Editors
Every hue and shade you can think of is featured in this hardcover, which features 200 rooms from 130 designers. There are living, dining, sleep and bathing spaces from all over the world in the deepest blues to the most vibrant yellows.
Pure Style in the Garden: Creating an Outdoor Haven by Jane Cumberbatch
This bestselling author applies her “pure style” philosophy to gardens in order to help readers make the most of their outdoor spaces, and escape noise, clutter and technology. Her book is filled with ideas that extend beyond just planting, as it takes color, scent and texture into consideration.
Small Garden Style: A Design Guide for Outdoor Rooms and Containers by Isa Hendry Eaton and Jennifer Blaise Kramer
This book delivers small space garden tips for your urban patio, tiny backyard and beyond. The pages start with a style quiz so you can figure out your own personal garden style.
Beachside: Windsor Architecture and Design by Hadley Keller
On a barrier island in Vero Beach, Florida there is an exclusive community called Windsor, that was founded by Canadians Galen and Hilary Weston more than 30 years ago. This book gives a peek inside those homes, which have been designed by A-list architects and top interior designers such as John Stefanidis, Steven Gambrel and Alessandra Branca.
Shawn Henderson: Interiors in Context by Shawn Henderson
Known for his serene and sophisticated interiors, this designer shows off city townhouses, lofts, farmhouses, country estates and even his own upstate New York home.
Workstead: Interiors of Beauty and Necessity by Workstead, text by David Sokol
The multidisciplinary design firm based out of New York put together a book about its first decade in the business, showing off one home for each decade.
Feels Like Home: Relaxed Interiors for a Meaningful Life by Lauren Liess
This is designer and HGTV host Lauren Liess’s third book, but this time she’s decided to get very personal, focusing on the emotional connection between how we decorate our homes and how we spend our time. She then turns this into practical design information and case studies.
Take it Outside: A Guide to Designing Beautiful Spaces Just Beyond Your Door by Mel Brasier, Garrett Magee and James DeSantis
The hosts of the TV show Backyard Envy have released a guide to making the best outdoor space possible, whether you have a small patio or large porch.
Pacific Natural At Home by Jenni Kayne
The creator of her namesake laid-back luxe California lifestyle brand, Jenni Kayne released her second book all about how to copy her style. There are lots of organic textures, intentional simplicity and a focus on natural landscapes, throughout.
Victoria Hagan: Live Now by Victoria Hagan
Acclaimed interior designer Victoria Hagan took 2020 as a chance to step back and reassess what home really looks like, through fresh eyes. She takes readers inside 12 houses in Sonoma, Palm Beach, Manhattan, Martha’s Vineyard and more.
Resident Dog (Volume Two): Incredible Homes and the Dogs Who Live There by Nicole England
Architecture photographer, Nicole England, has been capturing images of dogs in their natural habitats (our homes) for years, and they were often some of her favorite shots. She turned these images into a popular Instagram page with nearly 20,000 followers and now a book.
Safari Style: Exceptional African Camps and Lodges by Melissa Biggs Bradley
Take a walk on the wild side…from the comfort of your own home. This book combines wildlife photography with shots of amazing eco-camps that can inspire your decorating or just take you on a mental trip.
Belgian Modern: Architects & Interior Designers by Wim Pauwels
Belgian designers are known for being all about minimalism and they’re now sharing their secrets to mixing creamy walls, raw wood, lots of linen and sculptural furniture.
Love Pattern & Colour: The Essential Guide by Charlotte Abrahams
If you’ve ever wanted to add more color to your home, this is the book that’s going to help you do it. The book includes tidbits on abstracts, botanicals and animal prints and how to incorporate each into a home.