15 Books For New Homeowners
Whether you bought a brand new home or a fixer upper, homes are expensive. So it’s no surprise that homeowners want to make sure their home looks good on the inside and out. That’s why a lot of new homeowners dive into additional hobbies such as gardening, woodworking, or decorating.
The following books are for the new homeowner looking to pick up some fresh skills (or for those who want to fill up their home library.) If you’re looking to make your home more like “you” or just want to know what to do when you spot a crack in your foundation, consider the following (in no particular order) for total home confidence.
Real Simple: The Organized Home by The Editors of Real Simple
If you’re a fan of Real Simple magazine, this book is right up your alley. The Organized Home is full of great ideas for home organization. If you’re moving from a small space like an apartment or condo into a single-family home, you’ll learn very quickly that there are great differences in keeping things organized.
The book has beautiful pictures and imagery, the photos are simple, clean, and to the point. The book is also organized by room. This lets your thumb through to what you’re looking for or skip a section that doesn’t apply to your needs.
100 Things Every Homeowner Must Know: How to Save Money, Solve Problems and Improve Your Home by The Editors of Family Handyman
100 Things Every Homeowner Must Know is the first in the Family Handyman series of several books from Readers Digest. This book features tips and instructions for completing minor repairs and regular maintenance tasks around your home on your own without breaking the bank.
An excellent, must-have reference, this book has a searchable index where you can target your specific needs and comes loaded with pictures and demonstrations to help you through each repair task. The instructions are beginner-friendly and easy to understand (even if you’ve never fixed a thing in your life).
This book is not an in-depth resource for every problem, it’s best used for minor repairs and maintaining your new home.
Black & Decker The Book of Home How-To: The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair & Improvement by Cool Springs Press
Many consider this a bible for every home improvement project ever wondered about. Organized in alphabetical order for easy reference, Black & Decker The Book of Home How-To walks through how to tackle any home project or repair need you may have throughout the time you are residing in your home.
How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding and Maintaining Your Home by Charles Wing
Want to be an informed homeowner and consumer? This book isn’t a repair manual so much as, to quote the subtitle, “a visual guide to understanding and maintaining your home.” It covers the mysteries of plumbing, heating, sewer systems, major appliances, and so on. You’ll find plenty of drawings and diagrams.
Author Charlie Wing has written more than 20 books on home repair and improvement and was tapped by Home Depot to develop its 1-2-3 books.
Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home by Martha Stewart
Martha isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying that she knows “home keeping.” And she shares it all in this broad, 752-page guide that is, naturally, as glossy and gorgeous as it is heavy. It covers the upkeep of the entire house, room by room, with tips on comfort, cleaning, maintenance, and safety. It also includes an A to Z guide to caring for the wide variety of materials we have in our homes. It is quite the reference book, not to mention a beautiful edition to your coffee table.
Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes by George Nash
Old homes are beautiful, filled with charm and history. But purchasing an older home can be an adventure in itself. This book is perfect for you if you purchased an older home. Written by experienced, licensed contractor George Nash, who specializes in restoring older homes, this book has guides on how to do almost everything from replacing a foundation, repairing windows, what materials to use in various situations, the best updates to make, and most importantly, how to do all these renovations while preserving the vintage integrity of the home.
This book is written by someone who knows and loves old houses. It is clear and easily understood and also provides enough information for homeowners to complete repairs successfully. The best part is that this book highlights that most issues in an old home are, in fact, repairable and there are only some cases where major renovation is the only option.
The Lawn Bible: How to keep It Green, Groomed, and Growing Every Season of the Year by David R. Mellor
Dads and lawn care go together like peanut butter and jelly. Get the new home homeowners in your life The Lawn Bible to help them learn what they need to know about tending to that patch of green outside their home. Not only will they feel accomplished for a job well done, but they’ll also boost their home’s curb appeal. Talk about a win-win.
But Where Do I Put the Couch?: And Answers to 100 Other Home Decorating Questions by Melissa Michaels and Kari Ann Wood
Instagram influencers make creating a beautiful home look so easy. But as most homeowners know, it’s more challenging than it seems. Now you can learn from some of the most popular decorators in the business with this decor book that answers questions you didn’t even know you had (even something as simple as “where the heck do I put this couch?”)
Styled Secrets for Arranging Rooms from Tabletops to Bookshelves by Emily Henderson and Andelin Boersics
The authors are here to set the record straight on the difference between decorated and styled. While decor is pricey and can take a while to select, styling is about updating what you already own to create a more appealing space. Learn what to toss or keep and how to present your home in the best light with the expert advice from this beautiful source.
Organizing from the Inside Out: The Foolproof System for Organizing Your Home, Your Office, and Your Life by Julie Morgenstern
Got clutter? Try professional organizer Julie Morgenstern’s time-tested system for decluttering all areas of your life (not just physical spaces). Researchers say that clutter stresses us out, so if you want your home to be a true refuge from life’s stressors, yet your stuff tends to get out of hand, this one’s for you.
Gardenista: The Definitive Guide to Stylish Outdoor Spaces by Michelle Slatalla
The main focus of this book is to give you a guide to creating your outside oasis. This book is the perfect combo of garden “eye candy” and how-to ideas. No matter what your gardening level, there are little things you can take from each section of this book.
The pictures and ideas are a bit on the trendy side. To recreate (and maintain) what is shown would require some intermediate knowledge, but there is definitely a little something for everyone in this book. Whether you have just a small garden patio to work with, or a large spacious yard, this book will provide tips for making the most of your outdoor space.
The Home Edit: A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin
Another fan-favorite-book-turned Netflix series is The Home Edit. Learn how to finally organize your new home into a shrine of organization and labeling. These aren’t your mother’s plastic bin organization tips; these ladies will teach you how to keep things clean and aesthetically pleasing for the long run.
The First-Time Homeowner’s Survival Guide: A Crash Course in Dealing with Repairs, Renovations, Property Tax Issues, and Other Potential Disasters by Sid Davis
Exactly as the title suggests, this book is a great option for first-time home buyers. The book is loaded with useful information about everything you could think of when buying a home. Everything from simple repairs to home improvement suggestions to reducing maintenance and costs and insurance tips – this book will surely get you off on the right foot.
Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden by Deborah L. Martin
Going organic is great for the planet and our bodies. Unfortunately, organic produce does cost a bit more than conventional produce. For homeowners looking to save money and go organic, a garden is a perfect solution. This book walks beginning gardeners through the entire process, and answers.
Remodelista: The Organized Home: Simple, Stylish Storage Ideas for All Over the House by Julie Carson and Margot Guralnick
Chock full of tips for the Remodelista (experts and novice home decor lovers alike), there’s plenty of inspirational ideas in this decor book that make it perfect for new homeowners.
Use it to help guide your decor decisions for each room in your home, then display it on your coffee table as a reminder to keep things tidy for years to come.
There are so many great books for the new homeowner. This list includes some of our favorite reads. Whether you’re looking to step up your home owning game or just buying your first home, there’s something here for everyone, so dig in!
