This Christmas, there's a book for everyone with an interest in property Help on the home front

This Christmas, there's a book for everyone with an interest in property Help on the home front ; Thank goodness for Property Mail’s gift guide, which rounds up ­inspired books for tricky customers — from penniless student nieces to DIY fanatic dads. Best of all, they’re available at the click of a mouse — leaving you time to finish other ­arduous Christmas tasks, like tucking into that second tin of Quality Street.

SHOE-STRING STUDENTS
A Girl’s Guide To Decorating by Abigail Ahern, £16.99

VERDICT: More (pattern, texture and clutter) is more.

Part chintzy, part quirky, this youthful approach explains how to create ‘wow factor’ using texture, lighting and junk shop finds.
PEARL OF WISDOM: Glossy painted floor- boards and a glass coffee table multiply the effects of light in a room and add depth.

DIY FANATICS
You Can Do It: The Complete B&Q Step-by-Step Book Of Home Improvement, £16.98
VERDICT: Don’t move, improve.

This is a bible of practical DIY demonstrations for beginners and savvy handymen alike. Each ‘how to’ has a no-nonsense introduction and step-by-step guide illustrated with photographs. From how to cut wallpaper ­properly and to how to fix a dropped door.
PEARL OF WISDOM: To calculate how much flooring you need for an irregularly-shaped room, divide the space into rectangles and calculate each area separately (by multiplying width by length), then add an extra ­10  per cent for wastage.

FASHIONISTAS
New London Style by Chloe Grimshaw, £16.95
VERDICT: Be a style setter, not a trend slave.

Each of the 375 photographs in this picture book of creative ­professionals’ London homes (from supermodel Erin O’Connor to ­fashion designer Matthew Williamson) is achingly hip. Chapters are divided into ­London regions — from Kensington to Shoreditch and Brixton. Think stark Scandinavian sitting rooms with stripped floors and exposed brick or painted walls, kitted out with antique busts, ­velvet Chesterfields and hoity-toity chaise longues.
PEARL OF WISDOM: Stripped back plaster and cornicing on ceilings can look whimsical and elegant when set off by a vintage chandelier.

MAKE DO AND MENDERS
Kirstie’s Homemade Home by Kirstie Allsopp, £20
VERDICT: Crash course in glass blowing, anyone?

Essentially, a guide to all things twee, written by posh Kirstie Allsopp (co-presenter of TV’s Location, Location, Location). Her life is ‘too chaotic to keep the ketchup bottle clean’ — but she still finds time to teach us sluggish mortals how to sew lavender bags and hand-craft roses from sugar icing. Perfect for anyone whose hobbies include knitting eggcup cosies…

PEARL OF WISDOM: If you wallpaper a child’s room, make sure you don’t place the cot against the wall. Wallpaper joins are tempting to little fingers.

INDIVIDUALISTS
The Selby Is In Your Place by Todd Selby, £22.50
VERDICT: Stuff convention.

Glamorous enough for the ­coffee table but off-beat as a scrapbook, this is essentially a melting pot of inspiration; photographs of New Yorks most unusual homes. Look out for Karl Lagerfeld’s book-stacked studio, mad art installations (like a collection of antique prosthetic legs), plus plenty of unmade beds, the odd houseboat and personal ­cartoons of each homeowner featured.

PEARL OF WISDOM: Pick bamboo shoots from your garden to make bamboo soup.

HOME-MAKERS
A Scrapbook For Living by Bunny Williams, £39.95
VERDICT: Make your home functional.

This is a photo album of classy­-traditional rooms, alongside introductions and tips on how to achieve them. Who knew that a large ­Chinese cylinder vase can make an attractive umbrella stand, or that to keep silverware sparkling, you need to clean it with silver polish then store it in a plastic bag, squeezing out the air before sealing.

PEARL OF WISDOM: Use soft yellow dust-cloths or microfibre cloth with a dab of lemon oil to dust. Never use spray-on products as they can leave a build-up of film over time.

SOPHISTICATES
Style and Substance: Best Of Elle Decor by Margaret Russell, £35
VERDICT: Cheap chic.

A simple, to the point, high-brow IKEA ­catalogue of room layouts, compiled from Elle Decor magazines. Sections are dedicated to living rooms, home offices, dining rooms and kitchens.
PEARL OF WISDOM: Dining tables are usually 30in tall, so dining seats should be around 18 in high; but don’t be afraid to contrast modern with antiques, or replace chairs with benches for a refreshing change. For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

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