Shut the Front Door

From millennial interior designer Brown (Rental Style, 2020), readers can expect solid, on-abudget decorating hacks that will save some major dollars: "champagne taste on a Diet Coke budget." First, she says, establish the business case for a redo, for which she creates five different categories: spaces that are outdated, gloomy, too small, odd or just wrong, or otherwise desperately renovation-worthy. With an abundance of color photographs that prove her points and sidebars covering pro tips, working with what you have, and DIY, readers will find an abundance of choices. Wallpaper options, for instance, could be prepasted, temporary, or a fullfledged DIY install (with Brown's magic ingredient: liquid starch). Pragmatism rules, i.e., if the space is too dark, try washing the windows first. A fan of IKEA, she advocates for shopping online and getting help from TaskRabbit, among others. Truly, there’s advice in every sentence, from setting aside an extra 10 percent when budgeting to looking for wall décor in Etsy, Unsplash , and museum and archive collections. "Where and How to Shop" closes out this useful guide.

Interior styling blogger/TV personality Brown presents an easy-to-use book that seeks to help readers redesign their homes in a budget-friendly way. The book is organized by “Redesign Objectives” that range from small spaces to large rooms. Brown offers pro tips, ideas for “decorating for free,” and DIY instructions. There is also a “Where and How To Shop” section with advice and bargain-hunting options, such as thrift stores and online stores. This part is especially ideal for readers who may have wondered how to start their design and decorating journey. The photographs in each section include befores and afters for some of the projects. VERDICT Best for readers who want to make their spaces look expensive for less. A great addition to any DIY collection, with the potential to fly off the shelf.