The Design Brief™ | Volume VI | Dr. Gloria’s Favorite Interior Design Books for Residential Interior Designers
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WRITTEN BY DR. GLORIA for DAKOTA DESIGN COMPANY
I have always been someone who looks to books when I need to increase my understanding of a topic. Years ago, when I got a puppy, I bought several books on raising a dog. I enhanced my gardening knowledge by reading several books on flower gardening specific to my climate (north and cold!!!!). In today’s age, where an immediate Google search on any topic can provide a wealth of information from various sources, I still feel like there is nothing like reading a good book that dives deep into a single topic of interest.
I’m sure that Amazon loves me for the plethora of books I purchase every year. And when it comes to topic knowledge, it HAS to be the hard copy variety which can be easily referenced, dog-eared, and highlighted.
And what do physical books have over online content? They include everything an author has to convey about a topic in a thorough, comprehensive, and systematic format. And they are always readily at hand on your bookcase.
I LOVE books!! I LOVE design! And I LOVE books about design.
As a tenured college professor (following my 20+ year interior design career, I have taught interior design at three different Midwest universities over the last 14 years), I have read or reviewed countless interior design textbooks to determine the very best, most thorough, and most understandable on a wide variety of design topics.
Often, interior designers ask me and Katie where they might find training classes on interior design principle specific topics they feel deficient in. My response is often to recommend a high-quality textbook on the subject. It’s a cheaper training option that has permanence in that the material remains always at your fingertips.
Without further adieu, here are my top book picks for residential interior designers.
TOPIC: Residential Interior Design General
BOOK SUGGESTION: Residential Interior Design: A Guide to Planning Spaces, 4th ed.
Authors: Maureen Mitton, Courtney Nystuen
Published: John Wiley & Sons, 2022
ISBN: 978-1119653424
I have found this to be the very best overview of residential interior design applications. This book is a thorough review of space planning standards and organizational flow requirements of all residential spaces. The authors discuss considerations for specific rooms and provide the building blocks required in the design process. Information is also included about relevant building codes, and interior systems, construction, and installation methods. The authors’ perspective on residential design is very human-centered; that is, they provide information on what is necessary for rooms to function most usefully for the user, and to ergonomically support the human body. This book also includes information about accessibility issues, if designing for a homeowner with any physical disabilities. And it covers issues related to sustainable design—meeting the needs of people today without depleting the resources available to future generations.
TOPIC: Residential Lighting
BOOK SUGGESTION: Fundamentals of Lighting, 4th ed.
Author: Susan Winchip
Published: Fairchild Books, 2022
ISBN: 978-1501370281
This is a fairly in-depth book about lighting principles and applications. It provides foundational information about the qualities of various light sources, lighting effects and how to achieve them interaction of color and light, and lighting systems and controls. It also covers requirements for energy efficiency, the lighting design process, and documentation and detailing of a lighting scheme (creating a reflected ceiling plan, and other lighting plans and details). This book explores lighting strategies for both residential and commercial environments.
Note from Dakota Design Company: For specific information about LED lighting, its properties and applications, check out this blog post from The Design Brief™.
TOPIC: Construction Documents and Detail Drawings for Interior Design
BOOK SUGGESTION: Construction Detailing for Interior Design
Author: PJ do Val
Published: Fairchild Books, 2019
ISBN: 978-1501352669
This book is my go-to resource for all things related to creating and formatting construction documents and detail drawings for interior construction materials, products, and finishes. It thoroughly covers millwork detailing, as well as drafting symbology, and completing a sheet set of construction documents. Information is provided for those who do their construction drawings by hand, with AutoCAD, or using Revit.
Note from Dakota Design Company: If you are looking for basic information about working as an interior design on projects that involve construction and want to know how to price your CA services, check out our on demand training: From Permits to Punchlists: Confidently Navigate Construction Projects as an Interior Designer
TOPIC: Color Theory
BOOK SUGGESTION: Understanding Color: An Introduction for Designers, 5th ed.
Author: Linda Holtzschue
Published: John Wiley & Sons, 2017
ISBN: 978-1118920787
Various theories exist to provide a framework for understanding color and its properties. This book explores several and defines terminology related to color applications and characteristics. It also covers the human sensation and response to color, the interaction of color with light, and the instability of color perception via human eyesight. Of interest to designers the author explores achieving harmonious color combinations and avoiding color dissonance. This is a great book for anyone who wants to develop an in-depth understanding of color science.
Note from Dakota Design Company: If you are not interested in an entire book about color theory, check out my upcoming two-part The Design Brief™ blog on color theory - coming soon!!
TOPIC: Materials and their Properties
BOOK SUGGESTION: Interior Design Materials and Specifications, 4th ed.
Author: Lisa Godsey
Published: Fairchild Books, 2021
ISBN: 978-1501360893
This is a great book for a designer who wants to increase their understanding of the properties of various materials, and their applications. It describes each material’s characteristics and qualities. It is a very thorough review of evaluating, selecting, and specifying materials, including factors related to code compliance (for commercial projects) and sustainability concerns. There is also content about how to communicate with suppliers and vendors to achieve the desired material result, and how to avoid some of the pitfalls associated with material selection and specification.
TOPIC: Kitchen and Bath Design
BOOK SUGGESTION: Kitchen & Bathroom Planning Guidelines, 4th ed.
Author: National Kitchen and Bath Association
Published: National Kitchen and Bath Association, 2022
ISBN: 978-1887127110
This book is both authored and published by the National Kitchen and Bath Association and is available for purchase on their website, as well as on Amazon. It is a spiral-bound text with many diagrams and illustrations showing code requirements and industry-specific spatial standards. It covers layouts for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, wet bars, closets, home offices, and home gyms. It also covers issues related to accessibility for kitchens and toilet rooms within commercial buildings. And it includes thorough size and clearance information on appliances, plumbing fixtures, and cabinetry.
There are two topics—related to residential interior design—that I cannot provide a book recommendation for, because no such books exist!!!
The topics are residential building codes and size and spatial standards specific to residential design.
The best building codes book is one I use in a course I presently teach, but it is largely focused on codes for public and commercial buildings and dedicates only one appendix to residential codes. And many designers may be familiar with two books that are considered the bibles for space planning. These are classics, one published in 2001, and the other, way back in 1979, by the same authors. The issue with both these reference books—for residential designers—is that they are largely focused on spatial standards for commercial spaces, and they are too comprehensive to be easily usable as a reference guide for residential designers.
I have attempted to fill these voids for the residential design industry. I developed a Residential Building Codes Handbook for Interior Designers, available exclusively through Dakota Design Company. It is updated every time there are changes to the residential building codes. Also, a Size and Space Standards Guide for residential interior designers. This is a handy easy-to-reference resource guide with information and illustrations for residential furniture sizes, circulation space minimums, and residential space planning standards.
If you’re looking for recommendations on additional books focused on interior design principles for residential designers, join The Design Brief™, our twice-monthly email written by Dr. Gloria. It covers industry-specific topics, and you’ll have the chance to submit your questions for a potential feature on the blog!
Additional Resources:
From Permits to Punchlists: Confidently Navigate Construction Projects as an Interior Designer
The Design Brief™ post on Color Theory (upcoming - January 2025)
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