There are few things more satisfying than whiling away a sunny afternoon tending to flowerbeds, or getting around to the home improvement project that's been occupying your to-do list for months.
Whether you're a DIY aficionado, a green-fingered enthusiast or a little nervous about picking up a hammer or trowel, we've found the best home and garden books for you.
So popular he warrants two mentions on this list, Monty Don really is the nation's favourite gardener. His latest book sets out his gardening advice in ‘recipes,’ detailing what you need, timings, method, and step-by-step photos. Learn the basics about how to grow over 100 popular flowers, shrubs, houseplants, and more - the perfect book for any budding gardener.
From the authority on all things gardening comes the ultimate comprehensive project manual to see you through the year. The Gardeners’ World Almanac is a month-by-month guide for everything you need in order to get the most out of your garden. Featuring a foreword by Monty Don and gorgeous hand-drawn illustrations, this book has all the tips and tricks from the biggest names in gardening to help you cultivate the perfect green space.
TV gardening star Alan Titchmarsh has a vast array of books and memoirs to his name, including the 33-book How to Garden
Viewers of the hit show Gardeners' World will be familiar with Longmeadow, the gorgeous Herefordshire location where presenter Monty Don is based. This book is the definitive overview of how he maintains it. Filled with a detailed map, helpful index and a month-by-month breakdown of how he maintains the gardens over the course of one year, Gardening at Longmeadow is at once a practical guide and a personal account from one of TV's most popular gardeners.
Perfect for fans of the hit TV series of the same name, The Repair Shop has advice on how to mend and maintain just about anything. Whether you're looking to re-stuff a teddy bear, treat a stained wooden table, restore a painting or get an old clock working again, The Repair Shop has all the tips you need to breathe new life into old treasures.
Toni Trevillion's Diy. On a Budget Facebook group has become an online community with millions of members, offering home projects and tips that are easy on the wallet. Now with the official handbook of the same name, readers can find everything they need to tackle their home renovation to-do list, no matter how ambitious. Find practical tips including a must-have equipment checklist, budget planner, and room-by-room guide to realising your DIY dreams without breaking the bank.
Sheds are typically seen as purely practical – the place for storing gardening equipment or furniture when they're not in use. But they can also serve as a sanctuary, a designated space for me-time with endless potential for customisation. With Shedonism : 101 Excuses to Escape to Your Shed, journalist and writer Ben Williams shows just how versatile the humble shed is. Whether you're looking to build a sauna, observe the stars, make hot-smoked trout, prepare for the apocalypse or start your own vlog, there's plenty to be done within the four walls sitting at the bottom of your garden.
Everyone knows that Ikea is the place to go for flat-pack furniture and Scandi-cool minimalism, but less known are the tips and tricks for mixing-and-matching different items to create something unique. Jules Yap, the founder of cult-favourite blog Ikea Hackers, and contributors from around the world rip up the rulebook (and assembly instructions) to provide ingenious ideas for your next home project, including a built-in office, hexagonal shelving unit and functional kitchen island.
In addition to Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh and more, Adam Frost is among the many gardening experts to have presented Gardeners' World over the years. How I Garden is his unique and personal advice on how to make the most of your green space, whether it's a flower box or a sprawling landscape. More than just a book packed with gardening tips, How I Garden includes Frost's personal reflections on how he fell in love with gardening and what it means to him.
You may not have have the greenest of thumbs – or much outdoor space – but as this book proves, gardening is still for you. The perfect beginners’ guide, How to Grow Stuff is a friendly and accessible introduction to the art of cultivating greenery, from lavender to courgettes, along with a handy planting schedule and foolproof tips on how to avoid problems like overwatering. What's more, all of the plants featured can be grown indoors or outdoors, making this the ideal guide for any budding urban gardener.
You may know how to mount a set of shelves or seamlessly paper a wall, but do you know what it takes to make a home look (and feel) good? Penned by Frida Ramstedt, the interior design expert behind the leading Scandinavian blog Trendenser.se, this handbook is the go-to book for making your projects stand out for all the right reasons. Rather than offering a stringent list of rules to follow, The Interior Design Handbook imparts the wisdom and tricks of the trade, and teaches readers how bring personal taste and emotional connection to their interior design decisions.
