Book Smarts - [The Nest] Home Design Handbook

[The Nest] Home Design Handbook

by Carley Roney and the editors of TheNest.com

Carley Roney is the editor and chief of the lifestyle website The Nest, and cofounder of the wedding website The Knot.  If you are looking for ideas on how to decorate a shared space with your new spouse, boyfriend, or roommate, or are simply clueless about decorating, her Home Design Handbook is a great place to start.  It offers practical tips and advice for first-time home decorators, and has awesome resources for couples that are moving in together for the first time.

The Handbook takes first-time decorators through all the steps required to create a space that feels like home...steps that at first, can feel very overwhelming.  The book explains how to keep expenses under control, how to merge modern pieces and hand-me-downs, how to choose the right paint colours, and how to hang pictures properly, just to name a few!  It also offers tips for displaying your stuff in fun and interesting ways, DIY wall art ideas, and information on basic home repairs.

Organized in 5 sections, The Home Design Handbook offers simple ways to organize, personalize and decorate your kitchen, living room, bedroom, and "extra rooms," like an office or entry.  The Resources chapter provides sample room layouts as well as furniture you can cut out to create your own layout!

Here are some highlights from the great photography throughout:

I loved all the charts and layouts the book provided.  They will definitely come in handy for me once I get around to styling my shelves and tabletops!