Well, hello, friends! It feels like it’s been awhile since I’ve chatted with you! We are coming off of a week of snow/ice days. It’s most definitely that time of year that has me longing for warmer days, filled with pool days, working in the flower garden, and eating popsicles with the girls. Do you guys feel the same way or are you loving this full winter we’ve been having?

Creatively, I’ve been pushing myself to educate myself in design more. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been interested in architecture, history, and interiors. And I love laying out collages for room designs! You guys will see many more of those this year.

So, today I’m rounding up 9 must-read design books that I either have read or plan to this year. There is so much more to learn! My Amazon wish list is full to the brim with these picks:

DOWN TO EARTH BY LAUREN LIESS – This book’s author, Lauren Liess, is an interior designer and founder of the blog Pure Style Home. Her designs all have natural elements, including wood and stone. This book takes a step beyond the basics (her book Habitat covers those) and invites readers to incorporate the main components of her familiar design aesthetic: nature, easy living, and approachability.

MADE FOR LIVING BY AMBER LEWIS – If I could pick ONE designer that speaks to me…. it’s Amber! Her interiors are absolutely DREAMY. She often hesitates to define her style as it’s more of specific mix of styles. Which I love! It’s a lived-in look… California-cool mixed with vintage mixed with nature. This book showcases a lot of her work and shares her tips and tricks. It’s actually schedule to be delivered from Amazon today 🙂 I can’t wait to dive in.

MAKE LIFE BEAUTIFUL BY SYD & SHEA MCGEE – I’m halfway through this book written by one of my fave interior designers! Shea shares some of her tips as well as her & her husband, Syd’s, story of how they started their multimillion dollar interior design company, Studio McGee, largely due to Instagram! She’s changing the design world because she shares HOW she achieved certain looks. I follow her on IG, read her blog regularly, peruse her online store McGee & Co., and watch her YouTube videos. She’s become a household name because of her Netflix show. And this book is an honest look at how they got their start.

STYLED BY EMILY HENDERSON – I also regularly read Emily Henderson’s blog. She shares TONS of design tips & tricks and spaces she has styled and designed. She is relatable and quite lovely. In this book, Emily shares ten simple steps to style any space. From editing out what you don’t love to repurposing what you can’t live without to arranging the most eye-catching vignettes on any surface, after readin this, you’ll learn how to make your own style magic.

AD AT 100: A CENTURY OF STYLE – I have had a subscription to Architectural Digest (AD) for almost 2 years now. The work they showcase is the best of the best from world-renowned designers. This book features personal spaces from household names including Barack and Michelle Obama, David Bowie, Truman Capote, David Hockney, Michael Kors, and Diana Vreeland. Per the Los Angeles Time, “The book is really a survey of how Americans have lived – and how American life has changed – over the past 100 years.”

HOMEBODY BY JOANNA GAINES – OK, I bet a lot of you actually have read this one or at least seen this one! Written by the queen herself, Joanna walks you through how to create a home that reflects your personality and story. She uses examples from her own farmhouse as well as a range of other homes. This comprehensive guide will help you assess your priorities and instincts, as well as your likes and dislikes, with practical steps for navigating and embracing your authentic design style.

LIVE BEAUTIFUL BY ATHENA CALDERONE – The creator of EyeSwoon believes beautiful design isn’t just pleasant to look at; it improves the quality of our lives. Athena shows us two of her own residences in this book. She explains her inspiration, details of her rooms, and offers helpful tips on how we can achieve a home that’s thoughtfully put together.

THE NEW SOUTHERN STYLE BY ALYSSA ROSENHECK – The American South is a place steeped in history and tradition. We think of sweet tea, thick drawls, and even thicker summer air. It is also a place with a fraught history, complicated social norms, and dated perspectives. Yet among the makers and artists of the South, there is a powerful movement afoot. Alyssa Rosenheck shines a much-needed spotlight on a burgeoning community of people who are taking what’s beloved, inherent, and honored in the South and making it their own. The New Southern Style tours more than 30 homes and includes interviews with the designers, artists, and creative entrepreneurs who are reinventing Southern design and culture.

NEW YORK SCHOOL OF DESIGN: HOME – This design bible provides a comprehensive education on home design and decor, from color theory principles to space-specific considerations (choosing furniture for a living room) and collaborating with architects and other professionals for the best results. Lavishly illustrated and highly detailed, this resource is built on the Home Study Course that is the foundation of the school’s curriculum, this book offers an unparalleled mastery of the key elements of enduring design, rendering it the only book you’ll ever need.