Understanding Modern by Andrew Weaving (Quadrille, £25 Stg)

Andrew Weaving is an expert on 20th century design and his mission with this book was to explain modernism, from Adolf Loos's Steiner Residence in Vienna in 1911 right through to how the principles of modernism are applied now. The book works superbly as a general overview of the modernist movement. While several of the houses pictured will be familiar to anyone with an interest in the area, the smart way that the book is organised into sections makes clear sense of the development of modernism. The final section features eight case studies of late 20th century houses and Weaving shows how their architects were influenced by the modern masters who went before them. Weaving's short essays are informative, pacey and mercifully free of jargon.

Small Spaces by Terence Conran (Conran Octopus, £25 Stg)

At the rate he's going Terence Conran's books will eventually fill one of his chic simple bookshelves. The 70-year-old design guru and founder of Habitat published three books this year, one an autobiography (Q& A, A Sort of Autobiography, and The Essential Garden Book with Dan Pearson) as well as this one on small spaces. The book features a series of specially photographed case studies from tiny rooms in big houses to tiny houses and there are smart storage ideas on most pages. They illustrate practical, creative approaches to making the most of limited living spaces.

Materials by Liz Wilhide (Quadrille, £25 Stg)

Liz Wilhide is a prolific writer on design and interiors subjects and her latest work is a practical reference book that looks at materials and how they are used in contemporary interior design. Each chapter focuses on a different element: wood, stone, plaster etcetera and the author looks at the pros and cons of each in a domestic environment. Several photos show the material in situ and the text answers even the most niggling questions. For example, the advice on stone work surfaces is to choose a hard dense stone such as granite and to be aware that any stone counter can be damaged by thermal shock; it is never advisable to place hot pans on top.

Pure Style Living by Jane Cumberbatch (Dorling Kindersley, £30 Stg)

Let's face it, most of us aren't ever going to make a calico laundry bag or limewash the floorboards in the hall but there is something dreamy about thinking that you just might - especially in the dull, resolution-filled month of January. Jane Cumberbatch's new book is full of atmospheric pictures of rooms and room details and unlike other interiors books, it encourages you to actually do something. There's a great deal of stating the obvious in parts of the text - most of us who are able to pick up a book usually know how to make a bed- but it doesn't really matter, because overall, the book is so inspiring.

More is More by Mary Schoeser (Conran Octopus, £25 Stg)

There is a middle ground between the bouffant excesses of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and the chilly pared down minimalism of John Pawson, and the trend in interior design is not only to find that middle ground but to make sure it's cosy. The style police approach to interiors is mercifully gone and designers accept that most of us want more decoration in our homes than an artfully placed ethnic bowl or a carefully sculpted twig. More is More sets out to show how to live stylishly with all the bits that most of us want around us, from heirlooms and books to the odd antique.