Room Redux: The Home Decorating Workbook
by Sheran James, Joann Eckstut
This is a "must-read" book for beginning home decorators. Offering basic design principles, it explains decorating tips along with practical help in the way of graph paper, furniture cutouts, and critical measurements and dimensions. Buy one of these spiral-bound helpers and refer to it often. (1999)

Yes/No Design: Discover Your Decorating Style with Taste-Revealing Exercises & Examples
by Diane Love
Not sure what is your personal style? This book may help. It offer exercises, pictures, and explanations about our preferences, tastes, and style consciousness. See if it can help zero in on your personal good taste. (April 2000)

At Home with Carolyne Roehm
by Carolyne Roehm, Melissa Davis
Lavish photography make this one of the loveliest gift books ever produced. Flowers, tablesettings, and seasonal ideas abound in this book you'll reach for again and again. Buy two and give one to your best friend. Click here for more books by Carolyne Roehm.

Better Homes and Gardens New Decorating Book
by Better Homes and Gardens, Denise L. Caringer
A perfectly lovely book to look at, with lots of fine decorating ideas, how tos, and inspiration. (1997)

Decoration of Houses
by Alexandra Stoddard
A conversational style explains design details that often confound homeowners. Fresh ideas guide the reader toward finding those design elements that will make their home a space filled with beauty and meaning. Practical considerations in 15 Defining Principles offer solid foundation for decorating. Click here for more books by Alexandra Stoddard.

Decorators Fact File
by Parikh, Anoop
A unique and helpful spiral-bound organizer and project book that includes graph paper and pouch to keep your own samples. Checklists, color coded pages, and advice on all aspects of a decorating project. Also includes instructions and photos to illustrate how to make curtains, stain floors, stamp walls and more.

Garden Style Decorating Ideas For Indoors & Out
by Better Homes and Gardens
A treat for the eye, this book is a beautiful photo album of gorgeous rooms decorated in a myriad of fresh garden themed looks - from brand new to vintage styles. Porch rooms, terraces, and decks are included, as well as home interiors. Includes fascinating before-and-after makeover projects including "One Room, Two Seasons" and helpful shopping sources listed by state.

Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House
by Cheryl Mendelson
The ultimate homekeeping book, explaining everything from how to wash sweaters to how to clean wood furniture. It's a terrific reference book for a new bride as well as seasoned housekeepers. Keep it on your shelf and read pertinent sections as needed.

Home Decorator's Bible
by Octopus Limited Conran Staff
A 1996 sourcebook including projects (with instructions), pictorial directories of materials and finishes, how-to drawings and photos. Sections on walls, floors, windows, and furniture cover a wide range of products, applications, installations, and sources.

Lyn Peterson's Real Life Decorating
by Lyn Peterson, Editors of Creative Homeowner
The author uses function as a stepping stone to style. Practical solutions, tips, and problem solvers are also included, as well as hundreds of beautiful photographs. (2000)

Signature Style
by Traditional Home
Photos and illustrations on using neutrals and colors in fresh ways for traditional interiors. Also includes some projects and tons of inspiration. (1999)

Seven Layers of Design: Christopher Lowell's Fearless, Fabulous Decorating
by Christopher Lowell
This Discovery Channel TV host offers a unique decorating formula of seven steps. While some might find starting with paint is a technique that is asking for trouble, others will enjoy Lowell's take on "you can do it" decor. (2000)

Straight Talk on Decorating from Lynette Jennings
by Lynette Jennings
A beautifully designed book full of colorful photos, down-to-earth advice, and practical tips. (2002)

Susie Coelho's Everyday Styling: Easy Tips for Home, Garden and Entertaining
by Susie Coelho
Readers may recognize Susie as host of one of the gardening shows on HGTV. This new book is colorful and has lovely photos, but is a bit light on innovative ideas. Would make a great gift or coffee table book however. (2002)

Trade Secrets From Use What You Have Decorating
by Lauri Ward
The book description notes that "Trade Secrets provides hundreds of hints, tips, and ideas that Lauri Ward and her associates in the Interior Refiners Network have used successfully with thousands of clients over the past twenty years." (April, 2002)

Use What You Have Decorating
by Lauri Ward
Subtitle: "Transform Your Home in One Hour With Ten Simple Design Principles Using the Space You Have". You may have seen Lauri Ward on TV transforming a room using what the homeowner already has in the house. Includes a list of 10 biggest mistakes and solutions. When you like your furniture, but not your room, this may be the book to help pull it all together. (You can also see her before and after decorating photos here) .