My Interior Design Project Didn't Go as Planned, But I Learned a Ton

I'm really glad I dove into this comprehensive book on interior design.

Buy: E-book on Litres

I chose this book because of its high rating and excellent reviews.

Litres lets you start reading the book for free, and if you want to continue, you can buy it.

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I've got to apologize for the slightly cropped photos - the e-book is only available in PDF format, and on smaller mobile devices like phones, you'll see it in this format.

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I was thoroughly impressed with the book overall.

It's packed with a wealth of information.

I'll give you an example of the table of contents.

This book is perfect for beginners, including those who want to dive deep into the topic and design their space themselves.

For designers, including those just starting out, it might seem a bit superficial.

What this book covers.

The book has a big section on color theory.

Color combinations, the color wheel, and a lot of theory on color, backed up with plenty of photos.

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The book also has a big section on interior styles, such as classic, modern, loft, and more.

If you want to decorate your flat or room in a specific style, this material will be a huge help.

It breaks down the main characteristics of the style, the type of furniture that should be included, the features of the decor, textiles, and accessories.

When you've got a handle on the style signs, you can start planning a specific room - like a living room, bedroom, bathroom, kids' room, or a kitchen in one of them.

One of the most important topics is touched upon - what's a design project and what does it consist of.

The author includes some pretty complex blueprints.

But in real life, even when planning a small apartment in a minimalist style, it's still tough for someone without a design, construction, or architecture background to recreate parts of the project on their own.

I'm not sure if the book 'Sam Sees Himself as a Designer' was trying to get the point across that without a real designer, you're out of luck, but I got the message pretty quickly and ended up hiring a designer anyway.

One major plus is that it includes information on the legislation surrounding renovations. I'm glad to see that now there's more accountability and fewer people trying to 'do whatever they want' and putting weight-bearing walls at risk.

Another plus is that the interior design isn't just limited to kids' rooms based on age, but also covers shared rooms for mixed-gender kids, as well as teenage rooms - for boys and girls.

I've got some awesome ideas for storage systems, both in bedrooms and kitchens.

Frankly, you can find all this information online, which is exactly what I did before I came across this book. But here, the information is all neatly organized and structured.

The downsides are:

Information imbalance - there's way too much focus on color, and not enough on layouts, furniture arrangement options, and the like.The interior photos are stock, and some of them look outdated, like they're from a bygone era.The interior styles featured in the book aren't all currently popular - I mean, who chooses pop art or Russian style for their apartment these days? Pop art's more often used in cafes or entertainment venues, and Russian style's more commonly associated with homes, restaurants, and the like.But hey, that's just my nitpicking - you can skip over the unnecessary info and focus on what you need.

Verdict: I highly recommend this book! It's packed with theory, so be sure to grab a notebook and jot down your ideas. There are tons of photo examples to inspire you, and you can always search for more online. And, yeah, the book does drive home the point that hiring a designer might not be a bad idea...

One of the most useful and accessible YouTube channels for non-pros is Atmosfera Svoboda - they're a lifesaver for anyone looking to improve their design skills.