Even the best of us need a good help book. The real problem is to find one that matches your style. Fortunately, we’ve already did the hard part for you.
“Domino: The Book of Decorating: A Room-by-Room Guide to Creating a Home That Makes You Happy” Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello and Dara Caponigro (Simon & Schuster, 2008, $32)
If you were a fan of the now-defunct Domino magazine, then you’ll love this book! In the signature style of the mag, the book offers tips on solving small-space dilemmas, how to mix and match styles and color, and layer patterns and textures.
“Absolutely Organize Your Family: Simple Solutions to Control Clutter, Schedules & Spaces” Debbie Lillard (Betterway Home, 2010, $16.99)
This book gives practical advice for tackling everyday clutter and inexpensive storage ideas. The author breaks everything down into problem, solution and the pros and cons.
“Vintage Vavoom: Romantic Decorating with One-of-a-Kind Finds,” Editors of Romantic Homes Magazine (Clarkson Potter, 2007, $35)
The style, vintage vavoom, is defined as mixing the best decorative looks of the past with the sensibilities and passions of today. The authors show how to use kitsch and color and combine contrasting elements with one another, and how to shop for vintage items.
“Crafting a Meaningful Home: 27 DIY Projects to Tell Stories, Hold Memories, and Celebrate Family Heritage” by Meg Mateo Ilasco (STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book, 2010, $24.95)
This book is filled with unique projects—dad’s patchwork quilt, love notes wall art and family crests—that allow you to prominently display intimate parts of your life in an artsy and deeply personal sort of way. Each chapter is dedicated to a single project and tells the story of the artist who created it.
