5 books to read on a rainy day | no. 17

Spring is here and full of gloomy and rainy days if you live in the northern United States. some may dislike rainy days and while I do love sunshine, I have to say there’s something about the cozy enveloping nature of a rainstorm while being privileged to hole up indoors with a blanket and a beautiful easy read. When you find yourself stuck on a rainy day, crack open one of these inspiring home design books and recharge!

Homebody

Is anyone else a Joanna Gaines fan? I’m not so die-hard that I’ll copy anything she does (I don’t think we should be that gung-ho about anyone) but she does have great style and wonderful tips for renovating where you are at, without breaking the budget or the foundation of your house.

Homebody is filled with beautiful imagery that I find especially relaxing on a rainy day spent inside. I love to notice which things I like, what spaces I could convert into more functional or beautiful without renovating (even though it is a renovating book, we are frequently living in temporary housing so I need to think outside the box). I am a believer in working with what you have without feeling pressure to tear stuff out.

Cozy up to this lovely book and relaxxx.

The Kinfolk Home

I received this book for Christmas a few years back and it is truly one of my favorites for relaxing my mind and enjoying beautiful spaces. I love the natural and intentional design of each home. Kinfolk Home covers minimalist spaces, community spaces, and slow-living spaces. It’s the perfect read for a rainy day for this slow-living girl.

Cozy Minimalist Home

Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillin Smith was one of the first books I ever read on the subject of minimalism and home design. Again, gifted by my dear mother, it is a wonderfully helpful and beautiful easy read on designing a home for function without clutter or expense. I love her writing, photography, and values for designing a home so this list wouldn’t be complete without Smith’s wonderful rainy day worthy content.

Restoration House

Restoration House is written by a Christian author and is especially dear to my heart because it is interactive and has spoken deeply to how I live nomadically with my husband and daughter. It’s all about making a home that welcomes others and serves them well, one that serves its members, but specifically, one that lets go of versions of ourselves we thought we would be, seasons of our lives that are past or future, and digging to the heart of how we feel about God in relation to our home. Being content in him above our home situation. This is a great book for a rainy day when the kids are doing quiet time. Take a few minutes to sit with this one and journal or pray when prompted.

“Pro-tip for reading home design books - they can be some of the most expensive books out there for us mamas, so check them out at your local library first! If you find one you really love, try to find it on ThriftBooks and if it’s not there, Amazon will usually have it at a decent-ish price.”

Down to Earth

The local library has been great for curbing my home-design-book-need while we travel for work. Have you ever packed 5 home design books into a suitcase full of clothing? I have. It takes up a lot of space..

Down to Earth was an enjoyable library loan for me because of the natural design methods and calming, neutral spaces. There’s something about looking at an uncluttered space with natural textures and elements that gives our mind a break from stimulation and increases creativity. I think that’s why I love living as uncluttered and intentionally as possible no matter where we are. If you need a refresh or reset on a rainy day, this cozy read is for you.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list! Have you read any of these before?

Let me know your favorite rainy day reads in the comments below :)

Makayla