The Decoration of Houses
by Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman
- First published
- 1897
- Reading level
- Fairly demanding
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The Decoration of Houses" by Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman is a manual of interior design published in 1897. The authors boldly reject Victorian-style decoration, criticizing heavy curtains, cluttered bric-a-brac, and overstuffed furniture that sacrifice comfort for upholstery. Instead, they champion classical design principles—symmetry, proportion, and architectural balance—with rooms featuring strong wall treatments and carefully chosen furniture. This groundbreaking work sparked a revolution in interior design, inspiring a new generation of professional decorators.
- Interior decoration
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #40367. The Decoration of Houses on Wikipedia.
