Beautiful Books for Gifts

I've always loved books, and there are some beautiful books out there that make fantastic gifts.

I'm far from a professional book reviewer, but if you know someone that might like an insight into colour for design or interiors, or want to send a sign that you support their small business endeavours then this is the list for you!

These are all books I've got myself and have massively enjoyed, and have either read them from cover to cover or have taken inspiration from the imagery within them.

Lastly, I just want to give a mention to Bookshop.org which is a site that can help you find and buy from local independent bookshops. Our local one is incredible, and it's another great way to shop small this festive season.

The V&A Book of Colour in Design

V&A Museum

Going through colour by colour, this book has some incredible illustrations and images that really celebrate colour in design, and how it can be used as decoration or as symbolic. It's beautifully weighty and laid out brilliantly so it's both a feast for the eyes and great to dip in and out of.

Palette Pefect, Vol. 1 & 2

Lauren wager

Taking inspiration from colour combinations in fashion, art and style, Wager has taken themes and then the seasons and compiled a vast range of palettes that chime in with each, providing CMYK/RGB codes with them too so they can be recreated. If you know a colour-loving creative these books are a fabulous resource and is beautifully produced too.

The New Colourful Home

Home Milk & Neil Perry

This is a wonderful book for interior lovers. Inside are images of 30 brilliantly colourful homes, along with interviews from the homeowners themselves about their stories and how they came to live in such colourful surroundings. Not every space will be to everyone's taste, but the insight is wonderful and the imagery inspiring.

Why Fonts Matter

Sarah Hyndman

Whilst not colourful per se, Typography is such a keystone of design and the science behind why certain styles work more than others is just as fascinating as colour theory. Encouraging you to consider the emotional responses to typography this book isn't just for designers but is a great insight into how typeface can influence what we're reading and how we might react.

Hype Yourself & Brand Yourself

Lucy Werner & Hadrien chatelet

If you know someone who is about to start a small business, is in their early days or, frankly, at any point of their business building journey, then these books are a must. They really are no-nonsense and take you through branding and PR step by step and work with you rather than being too prescriptive. They're great for referring back to as well.

More Sales Please

Sara Nasser Dalrymple

Another no-messing business book, this one is great for the small business owner that might not be a natural sales-person but who suddenly feels like they need to be an expert. It touches on all the elements that work together to successfully promote a small business online, and with exercises to guide you through the process too it's another great resource to go back to and give you a bit of a confidence boost.