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Since fourth grade, I have always enjoyed learning and reading. The hope of understanding, growing, transforming, and changing is essential and inspiring. So it’s great to see others embrace that growth mindset as well.
In today’s episode, I share 23 books you should check to know more about interior design as a career and a business. These books are great for your holiday wish list, as they are a must-read if you are starting out in interior design or building a business around it.
Is there a book you’d recommend that I should read? Feel free to send them my way. Reading new books is one of my favorite things to do, and I would love to add that to my list.
Check out the best books every interior designer should have here.
Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode
- Find out how audiobooks can help you get into the habit of reading
- Learn about the 23 books I recommend for interior design, business, money mindset, and personal development
- Find out why reading is better than searching online for information
Check out these episode highlights
02:30 – How to get started in reading through audiobooks
03:13 – Book List on Interior Design
In case you’re still learning about Interior Design, here are some books you may find useful.
I found them to be very helpful when I had questions about interior design specifics and dimensions. These four textbooks are pricey but worth having in your library if you have not gone to design school or are exploring the career itself.
Book #1: Professional Practice for Interior Designers by Christine Piotrowski
The book is in its sixth edition. I recommend getting the most recent one.
It discusses the different ways you can run your practice as an interior designer, as well as a sample contract from ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) and maybe even from IIDA (International Interior Design Association). It gave me some good insights as I developed my own practice.
Book #2: Human Dimensions and Interior Space by Julius Panero
The book shows you charts and graphs of human dimensions, so it is great for visual learners. It is helpful when studying for the NCIDQ. The book also discusses commercial spaces.
It’s a giant and heavy book but definitely has all residential and commercial standards, the same as the ADA-compliant standard. If you haven’t gone to design school, this could be definitely something you’re gonna want to reference.
Book #4: Interior Construction & Detailing for Designers and Architects by David Kent Ballast
In this book, more construction detail is shown, which was and still is one of my weakest points.
07:04 – Book List on Business Development, Marketing, and Branding
These are books I’ve read to help me develop my business practices or understand marketing and branding.
Book #5: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
It is a great book for interior designers who don’t know much about running a business. It explains the difference between the creative person and the actual CEO.
Book #6: All books by Mike Michalowicz
They are all very inspiring to listen to him on Audible as well. He’s so animated that it makes it really fun to listen to. I’ve read them all but the three top ones I recommend are:
Book #7: Profit First
Book #8: Get Different
Book #9: Pumpkin Plan
Book #10: Start with WHY by Simon Sinek
The book is about motivation – why you do things, and why others do things. It plays into marketing and messaging branding, which are what you need to do for your business.
Book #11: Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
It’s a must-read as well when you’re developing your website and messaging
Book #12: This is Marketing by Seth Godin
It is another really good perspective on marketing and what people pay attention to even if you’re not a marketer
Book #13: Business of Design Volumes 1 through 3 by Kimberley Seldon
Kimberley’s whole system is laid out in these books, which you can also explore in her coaching program. A designer’s lifestyle, creating the lifestyle you want while running your own business, and flat fees versus hourly fees are some of the topics discussed in these books.
9:49 – Book List on Personal Growth
Book #14: Atomic Habits by James Clear
It is a must-have, must-read book. A real kick in the pants to get things done, understand human nature, and how to make it so you can achieve your goals.
Book #15: Essentialism by Greg McKeown
It’s an eye-opener where you have to fine-tune and focus on what your goals actually are and whether or not you’re achieving them.
Book #16: Boundary Boss by Terri Cole
I finished this book recently and found it really helpful with personal relationships, as well as setting boundaries with clients.
Book #17: The Road Back to You by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile
It is a book on the Enneagram – learning and understanding personality types. It is helpful for understanding your clients and communicating effectively with them.
Book #18: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
It discusses the upper-limit problem, where we set limits on what we are capable of without even realizing it, and how we must come to terms with these limits in order to reach our goals.
11:42 – Book List on Money Mindset
Book #19: You Are A Badass At Making Money by Jen Sincero
I’ve read the physical copy, and also listened to the audiobook. Both are really fun.
Book #20: We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachael Rodgers
12:10 – My Current Reading List
Book #21: Business Made Simple by Donald Miller
It’s about how to maximize your potential at work. I will probably recommend it to My Design Mentors Book Club next year. It’s a great book for people who want to start their own business or who are working for someone else.
Book #22: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Holiday Season Offer
Three ways to get a 30-minute one-on-call with me to ask me questions about starting a career in interior design or launching your own business
- Sign up for My Design Mentor
- Purchase the Business Starter Kit within My Design Mentor
- Refer a friend to My Design Mentor and get the bonus when they sign up
Resource
- Get direction and confidence boost to start your interior design career with these top three things I wish I had known when I started.
Check out the best books every interior designer should have here.
Thanks for listening. If you love this episode, please leave a rating and a review. This helps me reach other curious creatives like you. If you have a topic request or would like to contact me, email me at [email protected]