By Emily ParkerUpdated November 2026
Choosing from the many house interior painting designs out there is harder than it looks. Most homeowners want a clear sense of how a color, pattern or finish will look across a whole room before they commit to a brush. This list focuses on six resources that help with that planning: design guides, floor plan books and coloring books that let you test layouts and palettes on paper first. We judged each one on the depth of its design content, how well it covers different rooms, the clarity of its visual examples, and how consistently owners describe it as useful for planning. This is a research-based selection, not a hands-on test.
Our top picks at a glance
- 1
TOP CHOICEBest overallThe Art of HomeView on Amazon - 2
TOP CHOICEBest for floor plan planningInterior Design Floor Plans Coloring Book Volume 01View on Amazon - 3
TOP CHOICEBest for room-by-room ideasHOME INTERIORS COLORING BOOKView on Amazon - 4
Best budget pickInterior Design Coloring Book: 50 full page projects of interior house designsView on Amazon - 5
Best for wall art and muralsDesigning and Painting MuralsView on Amazon - 6
Best for lasting design principlesNew York School of Interior Design: HomeView on Amazon
Our Top Picks
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best for | Key feature |
|---|---|---|
| The Art of Home | Overall design direction | Designer-led guidance on creating an elevated, approachable home |
| Interior Design Floor Plans Coloring Book Volume 01 | Floor plan planning | Home layout drawings to color and test palettes |
| HOME INTERIORS COLORING BOOK | Room-by-room ideas | Modern interior scenes for living, dining, kitchen, bath and bedroom |
| Interior Design Coloring Book: 50 full page projects | Budget-minded planning | Fifty full-page interior house designs |
| Designing and Painting Murals | Feature walls and murals | Guidance on planning and painting wall artwork |
| New York School of Interior Design: Home | Lasting design principles | Foundations for spaces meant to last |
The Art of Home
The Art of Home: A Designer Guide to Creating an Elevated Yet Approachable Home
Best for: Overall design direction and building a cohesive look across rooms
This suits homeowners who want to understand why some interiors feel balanced and others feel scattered. It works well before you pick paint colors, because it focuses on the decisions that shape a whole home.
Key specs
- Format: design guide book
- Focus: approachable, elevated home interiors
Pros
- Strong on overall direction, not just individual colors
- Useful for pulling a palette through connected rooms
- Readable for beginners without design training
Cons
- Few hands-on painting instructions
- Less useful if you only need one room planned
Bottom line: Pick this if you want a designer’s framework before you choose any paint.
Interior Design Floor Plans Coloring Book Volume 01
Interior Design Floor Plans Coloring Book Volume 01: Home Layout Drawings for Coloring and Doodle (OpenHouse)
Best for: Floor plan planning and testing color zones on layouts
This is aimed at people who think best on paper. The layout drawings let you try a palette across a floor plan and see how color zones divide the home before any painting starts.
Key specs
- Format: coloring book with home layout drawings
Pros
- Good for testing color zones across a whole floor
- Helpful for seeing how rooms connect
- Low-pressure way to experiment
Cons
- Drawings are not a substitute for real swatches on your walls
- Limited guidance on finishes and paint sheen
Bottom line: A good choice for homeowners planning a full-floor color scheme.
HOME INTERIORS COLORING BOOK
HOME INTERIORS COLORING BOOK: Stunning Modern Interior Designs to Paint – Living Rooms, Dining Rooms, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Bedrooms for ADULTS
Best for: Room-by-room ideas and comparing styles
Owners often describe this book as a way to browse many room types quickly. It covers living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, which makes it easy to compare how a color behaves in each space.
Key specs
- Format: coloring book with modern interior scenes
- Rooms covered: living, dining, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom
Pros
- Wide range of room types in one book
- Modern styles that are easy to compare
- Good for spotting color combinations you may not have considered
Cons
- Scenes are illustrations, so lighting and scale will differ in real rooms
- Not aimed at contractors or technical planning
Bottom line: Best for homeowners who want to browse room ideas before choosing colors.
Interior Design Coloring Book: 50 full page projects of interior house designs
Interior Design Coloring Book: 50 full page projects of interior house designs
Best for: Budget-minded planning and quick design sketches
This is a practical option for people who want a lot of interior house designs to work through without a large commitment. Fifty full pages give you room to experiment with several palettes.
Key specs
- Format: coloring book
- Content: 50 full-page interior house designs
Pros
- Good volume of pages for experimenting
- Simple, low-cost way to test ideas
- Works well alongside a physical paint chip collection
Cons
- Designs are less detailed than full design guides
- Offers little technical painting advice
Bottom line: A sensible starting point if you want to explore ideas without spending much.
Designing and Painting Murals
Designing and Painting Murals
Best for: Feature walls and mural-style painted designs
If your interior plan includes a painted feature wall or a mural, this book focuses on the design side of that work. It is useful for planning the composition before you tape off a single line.
Key specs
- Format: instructional book on mural design and painting
Pros
- Clear focus on painted wall art rather than general decor
- Helpful for planning scale and composition
- Useful for projects that go beyond solid-color walls
Cons
- Narrower scope than whole-house design books
- Mural work demands time and skill that the book cannot supply
Bottom line: Choose this if a painted feature wall is central to your plan.
New York School of Interior Design: Home
New York School of Interior Design: Home: The Foundations of Enduring Spaces
Best for: Lasting design principles and long-term planning
This book is built around the foundations of design, such as proportion, balance and how spaces are used. Those principles help you judge any paint scheme you consider, now or later.
Key specs
- Format: design reference book
- Focus: foundations of enduring interior spaces
Pros
- Teaches principles that outlast trends
- Useful for evaluating any color scheme
- Credible institutional source for design fundamentals
Cons
- More theory than step-by-step guidance
- Can feel dense for readers who want quick ideas
Bottom line: Ideal for readers who want to understand design deeply before they paint.
Buying Guide
Design Scope: Whole House or Single Room
Decide whether you need a guide for an entire home or a book for one room. Whole-house guides help you carry one palette through connected spaces, while room-focused books give you deeper ideas for a single area.
Good picks for this: The Art of Home, HOME INTERIORS COLORING BOOK
Floor Plan Support
If you plan best with a layout in front of you, look for books that include floor plans or home layout drawings. Coloring a plan lets you assign colors to zones such as entry, living and bedroom areas.
Good picks for this: Interior Design Floor Plans Coloring Book Volume 01
Visual Examples
Check how many full-page examples a book gives you. Owners often report that more distinct examples make it easier to compare colors and styles side by side.
Good picks for this: Interior Design Coloring Book: 50 full page projects, HOME INTERIORS COLORING BOOK
Feature Walls and Murals
If you want a painted accent wall or mural, choose a book that addresses composition and scale rather than only solid colors. Measure the wall first so you can match the design to real dimensions.
Good picks for this: Designing and Painting Murals
Guidance on Principles
Look for content on proportion, balance, and how light affects color. These principles help you judge a scheme on its merits, not just on whether it looks good in a photo.
Good picks for this: New York School of Interior Design: Home, The Art of Home
Budget and Practicality
Consider how you will use the book. A simple coloring book is a low-commitment way to explore, while a full design reference is a longer-term investment in your understanding.
Good picks for this: Interior Design Coloring Book: 50 full page projects
Test Before You Paint
Whatever resource you choose, test colors on real walls. Paint sample patches at least 2 feet square and view them at morning, midday and evening, since lighting changes how a color reads. Books give direction; your walls give the final answer.
Good picks for this: The Art of Home, Interior Design Floor Plans Coloring Book Volume 01
FAQ
What are house interior painting designs?
They are planned approaches to color, pattern and finish for the rooms of a home. They can be solid colors, accent walls, murals or layered schemes that tie rooms together.
Do I need a designer to plan interior painting?
Not always. Design books and planning tools can help you develop a scheme yourself. For complex layouts or structural changes, consult a professional designer or licensed contractor.
How do I choose a color for a room?
Start with the room’s natural light, then pick a palette that works with your flooring and furniture. Test swatches on the wall before committing to a full room.
Are coloring books useful for real painting projects?
They are useful for exploring palettes and layouts. They do not replace sample patches on your actual walls, because lighting and scale differ.
How many colors should a room use?
Many designers recommend a main wall color, a secondary color and an accent color. Keep the number small so the room feels cohesive.
Should I paint an accent wall?
An accent wall can add depth, but choose it carefully. Typically, it works best on the wall that is seen first when you enter the room or behind a focal point like a bed or sofa.
What finish should I use for interior walls?
Flat or matte finishes hide imperfections, while eggshell or satin are easier to clean. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for the room’s use and humidity.
Conclusion
For a broad design framework, The Art of Home is a solid starting point. If you plan on paper, the floor plan coloring book helps you test color zones. For room-by-room browsing, HOME INTERIORS COLORING BOOK offers variety, and the 50-page interior designs book suits a low-commitment start. If a painted feature wall is your goal, Designing and Painting Murals addresses that directly, while New York School of Interior Design: Home builds lasting principles. Match the resource to your project’s scope, then confirm every choice with sample patches on your walls.
Sources
- Guidance on home energy use, including how lighting and finishes affect indoor comfort (energy.gov)
- Safety information for paints, coatings and household products used during renovation (cpsc.gov)
Related reading
- Rates for Painting Interior of a House: How to Estimate Labor and Materials
- Painting Interior House Spray Gun: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
- Interior House Painting Services: A Step-by-Step Guide for Homeowners
- Interior House Painting Sacramento: 6 Best Picks for Every Room (2026)
- Interior House Painting Prices: What to Expect and How to Budget (2026)
About Emily Parker
Emily Parker is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our DIY home renovation guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.
