Books about home (especially these 5!) can help a lot as you create a haven.
I love Pinterest and all of the great home ideas you can find and curate. But there’s something special about books.
Books about home – home design, home management – are like a gold mine to me. I enjoy diving in to what the author has to say about so many aspects of his or her home. I love looking at glossy photographs. I like figuring out how to care for my home more effectively. And I appreciate all of the ideas and inspiration I can glean from the pages.
I’ve realized that while I’ve read a lot of books about homes, five stand out to me as my own essentials. (I own all five of them, and while one is dog-eared, three of these hard-covered books are almost like new, because I’ve been so careful with them, even though I’ve read them – and re-read them – often.)
These five books have helped me establish my home and transform it into a haven.
In case you’re looking for inspirational ideas for your home, here are the 5 books that have helped me create a haven in my home:
1. Chris Madden’s Guide to Personalizing Your Home: Simple, Beautiful Ideas for Every Room by Chris Madden
This is one of the first home books I ever owned, and it’s my all-time favorite. I love how Madden gives home décor ideas for every room and every personality type. I can remember studying page after page while I lived in my tiny one-bedroom apartment – all the while dreaming of a family and house of my own someday. I’ve used her ideas no matter where I’ve lived.
2. Welcome Home: Creating Your Own Place of Beauty and Love by Emilie Barnes
Emilie Barnes’ books on home and homemaking are legendary. (She’s written 70 of them!) I’ve really enjoyed Welcome Home and have used her ideas and perspective to create a haven for my family. While her decorating style may be much different than my own, I love all of the ideas she has shared.
In researching this post, I was surprised to discover that Barnes passed away in September.
3. The Nesting Place: It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautiful by Myquillyn Smith
Smith’s sage advice that “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful” is something I live by. I love that she shares her imperfect beauty, though, in her book – and I love that it’s filled with so much wise advice and interesting home ideas.
4. Living Simply: Choosing Less in a World of More by Joanne Heim
Since Heim’s book was my introduction to simple living, it opened my eyes to a different way of life. While it’s not just about homes – and there are no photos in it – it’s filled with ideas for any home.
5. Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind & Soul by Ruth Soukup
One of my biggest current challenges in caring for my home is clutter. About half of my home is clutter free, and the other half is clutter filled. Unstuffed has helped me with my decluttering process, and it’s filled with so much advice to get to the heart of my clutter problem. It also includes plenty of practical decluttering tips.
(I’ve found that Marie Kondo’s books The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy also give a lot of great decluttering advice.)
While I love the way these five books about home have helped me create a haven, I’m always looking for new ones to give me fresh ideas and help with my perspective. Do you have any suggestions?
What are some of your favorite books about home that have helped you create a haven?
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- Why Your Home Matters to God - January 21, 2021
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- The Best Strategy for Decluttering Your Home - January 10, 2021
Kim Miller says
Hilary, I like the book The House that Cleans Itself by Mindy Clark. What a great title. And there is helpful advice inside.
amb says
The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer (oldie but goodie!) and The Life Giving Home by Sally and Sarah Clarkson (still reading it myself)!
Hilary says
Oh, thank you for the suggestions! I love Sally Clarkson’s books, so I’m sure it’s a good one. And I’d love to read The Hidden Art of Homemaking!
Barb from CNY says
Joanne Heim’s book was my introduction to simplicity too! I have read several of these but am adding the others to my to be read list. Thanks for the suggestions!
Sarah Ann Wong says
My latest “go-to” homekeeping book is, “Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House” by Cheryl Mendelson. The author has a personable style and provides a lot of practical information.”The American Woman’s Home” by Catharine E. Beecher & Harriet Beecher Stowe is another favorite. I primarily turn to it for philosophy and inspiration.