Take a walk down memory lane with this 1950s decorating classic, re-released for a whole new generation The year is 1956. America is a mere decade past World War II. Richard Nixon is next in command to President Dwight Eisenhower, the Dow Jones soars above 500, and Norma Jean Mortenson legally changes her name to Marilyn Monroe. Two words described the decade, as John Updike wrote in the short story “When Everyone Was Pregnant”: Fear and gratitude. And during this boom period, grateful young families thrilled to find themselves homeowners after the uncertainty of the Great Depression followed by a second Great War. Those empty rooms needed filling in order to make the house a home, and homeowners turned to the iconic Better Homes and Gardens brand. Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, the first edition of a title that would spawn ten editions over the years, became the new home bible for injecting class, style (and the occasional misguided cowboy wallpaper) into American homes. While exploring numerous styles, the main theme of the book is the on-trend mid-century modern sensibility, a style as appropriate today as it was six decades ago when the book was initially released. Filled with hundreds of full-color period photos, dozens of adorable illustrations, and decorating tips and tricks that are both helpful and nostalgic, the book remains a fun classic. With this welcome hardcover release, reproduced exactly as it looked and read in the 1950s, everything old is new again.

If you could buy only one decorating book, this should be it. Based on the Better Homes and Gardens signature do-your-own-thing decorating philosophy, this is four books in one:

Brimming with visual inspiration for every room in the house--and outdoor areas too--this book is packed with hundreds of full-color photos that inspire readers with ways to solve problems and improve their homes.

From the publishers of House Beautiful comes a book packed with ideas about decorating you home elegantly with all those books you've got lying around or sitting in boxes.

In four distinct sections: principles of design, a room-by-room guide, material sample book, and furniture and furnishings guide, here's all the information you need to make every possible decorating decision yourself. 750 color photos and illustrations.

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Styled, here is Emily Henderson's masterclass on interior design. “An approachable guide for anyone who is looking for tools and resources to create a home that speaks to who they are and what they love.”—Joanna Gaines Whether you’re embarking on a weekend refresh or complete renovation, interior designer Emily Henderson wants you to take risks with your home design without experiencing regret. In this visually driven decorating bible punctuated with photographs from real homes and colorful illustrations, she takes you through her entire process, including every single decision she makes when it comes to picking paint, arranging furniture, hanging window treatments, and deciding on lighting fixtures. You'll also learn when to hire a contractor versus an architect versus a handyperson, all the materials to consider (and why you might want to skip those marble countertops), proper measurements of the elements in each room, and so much more. By the end of the book, you'll feel more confident when it comes to visualizing the home of your dreams, and you'll finally know how to make it happen.