Trade Secrets

Want to give your home that comfy designer look? It's easy. Just decorate with hardback glossy-jacketed books. Collect lots of flat coffee-table-size books that feature the color scheme of your home in the cover photo.

Use the books under lamps to give them some height; propped against the back of bookcases to give a shot of color to an area; under flower arrangements to add color and height; and even stacked on the floor beside a favorite reading table. For a stack of large books, you can even place a piece of glass on top and make an extra table (see photo)! Look for books in colors that complement the accessories.