Start with the Art: The Smart Way to Decorate Any Room on Any Budget

by Natalie Papier, Stephanie Sisco (primary_contributor)

From the lead designer on Magnolia’s Artfully Designed, an accessible guide to transforming any space—by starting with the art. Most interior design books will have you start with a theme, a color, a piece of furniture, or a room, and probably have you hanging the art last. Natalie Papier, in the first interior design book for the Voracious list, flips the script and has you start, instead, with the art, and build out the room or space from there. Not only does this allow for highlighting pieces of art that are meaningful to you, from family heirlooms to the weird trinket you found at that backwoods antique store, but it creates endless budget freedom to design with what you already have. This revolutionary approach will guide the reader to creating a home or office that speaks to – and from – the soul.   Papier has an impressive social media following and is filming the second season of her Magnolia Network show, Artfully Designed. Written with a former Real Simple editor, Start with the Art will be a highly tactile resource, guiding the reader to placement, proportion, color, volume and so much more; once you start with the art, you’ll have the tools to transform any space, on any budget.  

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Published October 29, 2024

Reviews

[Liz Babbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a beautiful book that educates on design and opens my view on different ways to think about making my space my home. I appreciate how this book offers beautiful pictures and a variety of ways that art can be moved in a home to create a different scene. I also liked the division of the book into the primary sections of “follow the art” and “design principles.” It allows the reader to be inspired and create, but provides grounding in basic rules and answers to FAQs about design for us novices trying to create pretty without a degree or loads of cash.

[Mary Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing new here but I really enjoyed the bright style of the author’s design aesthetic. Recommended for fans of the author’s Magnolia TV show and for readers with a contemporary style just starting out in designing their homes. Many of the ideas are affordable which I appreciated.

[Kasi Beorchia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love Natalie's work on Artfully Designed and have been awaiting this book since it was announced. It is visually stunning, full of beautiful photos and really great advice. I'm incorporating what I've learned into a really fun bathroom remodel right now and can't wait to continue adding art and pattern and fun to my home over time. This is my favorite design book to date!

[Laura Pellowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing felt very self-indulgent/self-aggrandizing, to the point of seemingly almost forgetting we were reading a book for interior design tips as opposed to wanting to hear about the author's life and personal style (reminds me of a few professors whose lectures I've attended.) This was particularly unfortunate from my subjective perspective of finding the author's taste absolutely hideous.

These criticisms aside, I did learn a few things from this book, and become inspired to try some of the methods for myself.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

About half way through, I decided to simply read the captions and, if they sounded interesting or helpful, read the rest. There are some helpful tips but the photos of the rooms are not my taste at all, in fact there were maybe three that I didn’t hate. If you like busy, busy rooms with MULTIPLE patterns, paintings layered over other paintings and tacked to the front of book shelves, maybe you’ll appreciate it more. I’m giving 2 stars for the tips, but zero for the design work.

[She Who Shall Remain Nameless · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered this book without realizing that the author was on one of my favorite shows on television, Artfully Designed. I already have an unreasonably large art collection lol and decorate around it accordingly, but I still enjoyed this book. My dream is to hire Racheal Jackson to paint a rainbow ribbon mural around my home gym. Maybe someday….

[merlin513 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Another of my coffee table/interior design book haul. Lovely photographs, a good premise and down-to-earth friendly tone to the writing.

I don’t subscribe to The Magnolia Network, so I’ve never seen her show but if it’s anything like this book, I figure I would enjoy it. I am aware of her co-author’s work on Real Simple magazine.

Nice book for someone struggling to ‘find’ their eye.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a long-time art lover and very amateur art collector, I didn't feel this book had much to teach me. I loved her point of view, but it wasn't new to me. As far as the eye candy goes, the style was a bit too stimulating for me.

[Lidia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not love this book more! I would gladly live in every single room. As a graphic designer, I appreciate that she has an artist/designer's eye. I checked it out from the library, but I plan to buy a copy that I can enjoy regularly.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Papier’s pages pack a color punch and her practical advice is a perfect compliment. This book is a must for anyone considering (or reconsidering) designing a personal and pleasurable space!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many great ideas!

[Wendee Schmitke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved every single incredibly inspiring page of this book!!

[Susan White-Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good addition to my collection of coffee table books, some interesting ideas, great pictures

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visuallly stunning. Lots of great inspo pics!

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored 💗

[Mihalena]

I would not say this book is helpful for “any budget”, but I still learned a bit from it. Granted, this is my first read of an interior design book.