I almost didn’t pick up Deborah Needleman’s Perfectly Imperfect Home.

First of all, I couldn’t navigate my own library’s nonfiction section well enough to find the home decorating books. But that is neither here nor there.

I was also skeptical about a decorating book with no photographs. What is the point? Illustrations are lovely, but these rooms are not REAL, they are imaginary. Of course they look cute.

Then I remembered that… uh… illustrations are lovely. Especially Virginia Johnson’s.

And then I started to love the emphasis on form+function… not designers, not mid-century-modern-clean-lines-vintage-blah-di-blah. This book introduced the verb “cozify” into my life, as in “to make cozy,” which I like.

And then I stumbled across an entire section devoted to my favorite household decoration:

“Books are physical manifestations of our histories, our interests, and our passions. They are also beautiful creations of design and typography that evoke their era. There are plenty of anachronistic things that are essential for a comfortable home: we certainly don’t need candlelight or blazing fires or antique mirrors but we love them for how they make us feel. Our books allow us to be surrounded by things we love and admire, and allow others to share in our interests without even having to mention them. Books make a room feel like a room.”

And to that, I say, amen.