10 interior design books for small space inspiration
Interior design magazines and blogs are always fun to browse for inspiration. But if you live in a small apartment or home, mimicking looks from grand houses can feel unachievable and impractical. These interior design books provide hundreds of pages of inspiration for living in and decorating a small space.
1. Never Too Small: Reimagining Small Space Living
Living in the city can often mean sacrificing space. This book by Joel Beath and Elizabeth Price shows urbanites how to live comfortably and stylishly, even in a tiny studio. The interior design book focuses on spaces 540 square feet or less and draws on five core small-footprint design principles.
Buy it here: Never Too Small: Reimagining Small Space Living, $31
2. Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces
The popular design blog Apartment Therapy runs an annual Small/Cool Contest where readers submit their creative homes and apartments at or under 1,000 square feet. This book by Apartment Therapy co-founder Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan brings together 40 of the coolest tiny homes and apartments to reshape the way you think about your own small space.
Buy it here: Apartment Therapy's Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces, $24
3. Small Homes, Grand Living: Interior Design for Compact Spaces
If you’re looking for creative ways to turn a modest small space into a grand living area, check out this interior design book. It’s full of vertical storage solutions and multi-functional storage solutions you’ll be excited to try at home.
Buy it here: Small Homes, Grand Living: Interior Design for Compact Spaces, $47
4. Tiny Interiors: Compact Living Spaces
Lisa Baker’s interior design book explores the challenge of creating a beautifully designed room in a tiny home. If you’re looking for efficient, compact solutions that are functional and beautiful, this book is full of inspiration.
Buy it here: Tiny Interiors: Compact Living Spaces, $38
5. Country Living Tiny Homes: Living Big in Small Spaces
This Country Living interior design book looks inside more than 25 tiny homes that make the most of limited space. The sustainable homes featured in the book, which range from 100 to 1,500 square feet, include cottages, converted schoolhouses, and farmhouses.
Buy it here: Country Living Tiny Homes: Living Big in Small Spaces, $14
6. Bigger Living, Smaller Space: Resizing for a Clean & Cozy Home
This step-by-step guide to living in smaller spaces will help you declutter your home and alter your space to highlight sentimental items without sacrificing practicality. While it’s not just an interior design book, Judy Granlee Gates’ Bigger Living, Smaller Space can help you create a cleaner, calmer living space without much square footage.
Buy it here: Bigger Living, Smaller Space: Resizing for a Clean & Cozy Home, $17
7. Small Spaces, Big Appeal: The Luxury of Less in Under 1,200 Square Feet
This 2023 book by Fifi O’Neill features various interior design styles, from modern to nostalgic and minimalist to maximalist. Every home featured is under 1,200 square feet, so you’ll find plenty of inspiration for your small space.
Buy it here: Small Spaces, Big Appeal: The Luxury of Less in Under 1,200 Square Feet, $29
8. Rental Style: The Ultimate Guide to Decorating Your Apartment or Small Home
If you feel stifled by your square footage and rental restrictions, turn to Chelsey Brown’s interior design book for small apartments and homes. The book includes inspiration for faux renovations that won’t drive your landlord crazy, suggestions for removable products, and budget-friendly decorating and hosting tips.
Buy it here: Rental Style: The Ultimate Guide to Decorating Your Apartment or Small Home, $21
9. Big Style in Small Spaces: Easy DIY Projects to Add Designer Details to Your Apartment, Condo or Urban Home
If you want to get creative with your small space, this DIY book by Sarah Dorsey contains 30 beautiful, multifunctional projects suited for tiny apartments, condos, or homes. This helpful, budget-friendly guide shows just how much style you can pack into a small space.
Buy it here: Big Style in Small Spaces: Easy DIY Projects to Add Designer Details to Your Apartment, Condo or Urban Home, $22
10. The Little Book of Living Small
Laura Fenton’s book on small living includes 12 case study homes of 1,200 square feet or less. The real homes range from minimalist to bohemian, so you’re sure to find some inspiration no matter your style. The book is full of lists and actionable tips to help you do more with limited square footage.
Buy it here: The Little Book of Living Small, $17
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