cover image READER'S DIGEST COMPLETE BOOK OF HOME DECORATING: Inspiring Ideas and Practical Techniques for Making Your House Your Home

READER'S DIGEST COMPLETE BOOK OF HOME DECORATING: Inspiring Ideas and Practical Techniques for Making Your House Your Home

Robert Dolezal, Reader's Digest, Of Readers Digest Editors, . . Reader's Digest, $30 (304pp) ISBN 978-0-7621-0330-0

Tackling the field of home decorating, the editors of Reader's Digest provide a comprehensive, well-thought-out book whose five sections—planning, style, color, decorating options and practical instructions—cover everything needed to revamp a home. The photographs in this glossy volume offer inspiration for decorating any house or apartment, and the approachable text explains how to put together a particular look, whether classical, dramatic, rustic or streamlined. Panels containing style pointers show how each approach can be applied to other rooms in the home to create variations on a theme. The authors demystify the color wheel, show how to make sample boards and help readers choose between neutrals, earth tones and primary colors to create different moods. Furniture, flooring and lighting are also addressed, and for those who dare to do it themselves, the book explains the fine art of laying carpet tiles, putting up wainscot paneling, sanding wood floors and much more. Each task is explained with step-by-step illustrated instructions that detail the necessary tools and offer hints for professional results. With advice on inexpensive finishing touches and working with small rooms, this thorough reference will be especially welcomed by beginners. (Apr.)