The best design books of the year
The best design books from 2020 to add to your wishlist

There's always room for the year's best design books on your shelf or coffee table.
When it comes to gathering inspiration for your modern home, there is an almost overwhelming wealth of information out there. But if you're tired of mindless scrolling and want to cut through the noise, a beautiful design-focused book can be a very special treat.
Here are some of 2020's best design books to inspire and delight.
Explore the spaces that 20 leading interior designers call home
British Designers at Home by Jenny Rose-Innes, £30
Hands up who loves nothing more than having a snoop around the carefully curated homes of design experts? That's all of us then. This enthralling book grants access to over 20 of the most important names in British design and decoration. You'll gawp at Robert Kime's antique-filled flat, immediately Google Carlos Sanchez-Garcia's farmhouse in Norfolk, and lust after Veere Grenney's London house, with its walls of silk velvet. Other names include Emma Burns, Nina Campbell and Beata Heuman.
A Maximalist masterclass from British designer Abigail Ahern
Everything: A Maximalist Style Guide by Abigail Ahern, £30
Welcome to the world of 'more is more' decorating, where too much is never enough - or as it's more commonly known, Maximalism. One of the world's most exciting designers, Abigail Ahern, imparts her wisdom on developing a style, having fun with design and creating ambience. All her advice is accompanied by images of her engaging, layered interiors. If you're bored by the stark white interiors on the 'gram consider this book the perfect antidote.
Get lost in the pages of this collection of modern retreats
Escapology by Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan
This stunning book of retreats by the Scottish interior designers Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan could not tap into the zeitgeist more if it tried. We've all done too much domestic time in 2020 and long to get away. This collection features both the classic and contemporary - think cabins by the sea, remote getaways in the woods, and rustic mountain hideouts, all perfect ways to inspire peaceful reflection and restorative living. The authors genuinely believe that escaping has a remarkably positive impact on our health and our happiness, and we couldn't agree more.
See how creatives decorate their own spaces to reflect their personal style
Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone, £25
Athena Calderone, the EyeSwoon creator, taps into her little black book of interior decorator and designer contacts to look into how creatives decorate their own spaces. This is a sumptuous book celebrating finding a style that reflects your personality, with peeks inside the pads of big names including Pamela Shamshiri and Laure Hériard Dubreuil. It's central message - that beautiful design isn’t just pleasant to look at, but life-improving - is one we should all live by.
The whimsical Insta feed gets its own book
Accidentally Wes Anderson by Wally Koval, £25
If you're not following @accidentallywesanderson, Instagram you need to remedy that right now. It's full of photos of pastel-hued, hyper-stylised and quite possibly symmetrical structures and interiors that could be straight out of a Wes Anderson film. This book is a celebration of the very defined aesthetic of the cult-favourite director, with a brilliant foreword by Anderson himself.
Learn where the world's top designers look for inspiration around the globe
Travel by Design by Peter Sallick and Michael Boodro, approx £75
In a year in which travel has been out of reach for most of us, this collection of over 350 travel photos by architects and designers, accompanied by their musings on their favourite places in the world, is a great big hug of a book. Learn where the world's top designers look for inspiration, and marvel at the power travel has to shape and expand our world. Here’s to more of it in a better world in 2021. This isn't available in the UK yet, so ask your local bookstore to order it for you.
Read about this classic design of a bookcase could change how you display your books.
Emma Ledger is not only an esteemed lifestyle journalist but is also an illustrator. Her words appear in publications such as Livingetc, The Independent, The Mirror, The Sun and Fabulous magazine, while her drawings have made it onto maps and cards. She is also a mentor at Centrepoint.
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How big should an outdoor dining table be? This size will make entertaining al fresco more comfortable
The right size outdoor dining table is key to making sure your guests aren't sitting on top of each other. Here's the size experts suggest, and the best to buy
By Aditi Sharma Maheshwari • Published
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'Instant ambience boosters!' The 6 best plants for an outdoor dining area which all create a relaxing atmosphere
The best plants for an outdoor dining area include scented flowers, aromatic herbs and sweet baby fruit bushes to elevate your alfresco experience
By Sarah Wilson • Published
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Black Friday furniture deals: these are the places we're most excited to shop at this year, at up to 80% off
Find the best places to shop for furniture deals this Black Friday, plus a curated pick of the Livingetc editors' favorite discount discoveries
By Hugh Metcalf • Published
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H&M Black Friday sale – our edit of the best home deals all with 20% off right now
The H&M Black Friday sale is on! With 20% off absolutely everything from stylish lighting to cozy bedding
By Hebe Hatton • Published
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Black Friday bedding deals you won't want to miss: up to 50% off luxury bedding
Upgrade your bedding and get ready to hit hibernation mode with our pick of the best Black Friday bedding sales, including discounts at Liberty, John Lewis, Amara, and more
By Amy Lockwood • Published
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Check out the Anthropologie sale - these gorgeous buys are too good to miss
One of our favourite brands has a wealth of beautiful homeware on sale right now, from statement seating to stunning textiles and must-have accessories - so take a look at our top picks from the sale below...
By Ginevra Benedetti • Published
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The best bean to cup coffee machines to help you work from home
We've found six of the best bean to cup coffee machines which will let you play barista from the comfort of your home
By Jennifer Oksien • Published
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The best bathroom taps - awash with style and substance
Bathroom taps in shades and silhouettes that will take your scheme to the top of the style stakes
By Jacky Parker • Last updated
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The John Lewis January Sale has landed! See the best offers
The John Lewis January Sale is here, with 50% off across homeware, furniture, lighting, clothing and toys
By Lotte Brouwer • Published
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Amazon January Sale: from cast iron casserole pots to robot vacuums
The Amazon January Sale is here already, with plenty of deals on homeware and home tech waiting to be bought
By Livingetc • Published