Great Books on How to Decorate a Small House

Do you live in a cozy little home? Me, too! Do you ever struggle on how to decorate a small house without it feeling overcrowded and disjointed? I know I do, especially when my decorating tastes evolve over time. Therefore I seek out decorating books specifically tailored to small homes, or ones that portray a more minimalist style.

Our house has approximately 1400 square feet of living space. For 4 people. One full bathroom. Have you seen HGTV shows where the clients are complaining about tiny closets or less than 4 bedrooms? In contrast, we barely have any closets and my son’s bedroom is smaller than most ‘dressing room’ size closets in newer homes. I find it hard to muster sympathy.

All that being said, we love our home! It’s an adorable 1939 Cape Cod style house on a beautiful street, located one mile from the ocean. We’ve got a lovely, expansive front yard and a fenced back yard to entertain in. Hence there’s much to be grateful for, and that’s the attitude I choose when I’m designing & decorating.

Today I thought it’d be fun to share with you my favorite go-to decorating books for smaller homes. These books have the best ideas for colors, layout, and storage in little houses. After perusing the beautiful homes & ideas in these books, I always want to freshen up our home with more gusto.

Please join me in taking a peek inside these captivating books, and hopefully you’ll leave just as inspired. You’ll feel confident and ready to clean out, freshen up, consolidate, paint, and accessorize with restraint!

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Small Home Living

First, Small Space Style by Whitney Leigh Morris. This is my favorite book that is specifically geared toward smaller homes. Whitney’s ideas for practical yet pretty storage are unmatched. In addition, the book also has tons of ways to ensure you have the functionality you need in your home without compromising on style.

What I most love about this book is the neutral colors and textures, accented by lots of greenery. Whitney infuses a bit of Boho and modern elements with cottage charm & functionality. I absolutely adore all of her baskets, wood textures, and linens scattered cohesively throughout the tiny house she shares with her husband and young son. Most noteworthy is her outdoor garden area. Sheer bliss!

Cozy Farmhouse Style

Next, Cozy White Cottage by Liz Marie Galvan.

I’ve been a fan of Liz Marie’s blog for many years, and this book showcases her gorgeous farmhouse with all its charm & vintage style. Beware – you may spend hours poring over each detail in its’ pages. Liz’s decorating ideas are spot-on, and her collection of vintage furniture and accessories will stir up jealousy (in a good way!).

While this book isn’t specifically geared toward fans with small homes, her neutral colors & furniture placement lend a cozy feel. You may not wish to accessorize as much as she does in her larger home, but you’ll definitely come away with fabulous mix & match ideas.

A Touch of Farmhouse Charm by Liz Fourez is a similar book to Cozy White Cottage, in that it is filled with light & bright farmhouse style. It’s one of my favorite books to find soft-textured wood elements and classic linen ideas. Liz shows you how to decorate a small house by way of fabulous projects.

For instance, she has a simple wood rustic ladder for blanket storage and hanging crate storage shelves.

My favorite project, however, is her collection of simple rustic wooden frames. I can see these used for endless displays of art.

Eclectic, Cottage, or Modern Styles

If you’re looking for quick makeover ideas and you’re short on time, Country Living magazine has an ideal book for that. Mini Makeovers is filled with dozens of ideas to transform various rooms in your home.

The pages of this book are dedicated to inspiring you to refresh your home with color, fabric, textures, and unique spins on vintage pieces. Many of the ideas are perfect for small home & cottage style. Indeed, Country Living is know for practical ideas based on the common sense of a country lifestyle.

Alternatively if your style leans more modern, Cozy Minimalist Home may be the perfect book for you. Myquillyn Smith is a favorite author of mine. The down-to-earth and humorous tone of her writing lures you in.

Myquillyn also has advice about accessorizing your home, especially learning to ‘quiet’ a space so that it’s not overdone. Those of us with smaller homes can truly benefit from that advice!

Country Style

Not long ago I stumbled upon a new favorite designer – Nora Murphy. Nora lives in an old Cape house in Connecticut, so I was instantly drawn to her New England style. Nora wrote a book recently called Nora Murphy’s Country House Style which is filled with delightful ways to decorate a small house and garden space. Her cheerful home is featured, along with 5 other homes with country style.

What I love about this book is the myriad ways to incorporate storage & functionality in older, small homes without sacrificing style. My favorite rooms in the book are the kitchens!

Nora’s design invokes a classic country look that is timeless and you will definitely come away with numerous schemes for your own home.

Final Thoughts…

Well friends, I hope you’ve come away from this post brimming with ideas & plans based on these books (or the intention to grab one from Amazon!). I personally own all of these books and can attest that they really do inspire one to decorate a small house with style. Don’t let the size of your home challenge you! My motto is: go light & lovely with less. I’m rooting for you!

And if you’d like more recommendations on books that offer ideas for a peaceful home, take a look at my other book list.

Let me know if you pick up any of these books and take on a new small-scale decorating project. I’d love to see photos.

Want to remember these books? Post this list to your favorite Pinterest board!