The Design Podcasts You Should Be Listening to
Consider these the perfect soundtrack to your next DIY project.
Experiencing and appreciating design doesn't need to be limited to photos, video, or magazines (though we appreciate you for reading!). Let us introduce you to our companion on long drives, our laundry-folding partner in crime, the podcast—and more specifically, the design podcast. Whether you're looking to tackle a DIY project, learn the history of a celebrated building, or you just want to get to know your favorite designers, one of these podcasts is bound to do the trick. From major players in the industry to lesser-known picks, we can guarantee that you'll get hooked on at least one of these.
This story was originally published on 12/20/2019. It has since been updated.
99% Invisible
We’d be remiss not to mention 99% Invisible, the podcast that marries architecture and design with everyday life. In a clever yet thoughtful way, host and creator Roman Mars uncovers the ways in which design shapes our world. From the creation of the Hawaiian shirt to explorations of little-known architectural treasures, Roman unveils the powerful ways style exists in all the places we aren’t looking.
How to Decorate
This aptly-titled podcast from Ballard Designs is, (as you'd expect) at it's core, a series of lessons on decorating, told through the lenses of experts. Episodes are a mix of interviews between top designers—Markham Roberts, Joy Moyler, Katie Ridder—and deep dives into subject matter ranging from outfitting a dining room to picking the perfect pair.
Dark House
Introducing our very own podcast, Dark House. Meeting at the crossroads of true crime, interior design, and the paranormal, Dark House explores beautiful homes that can’t seem to escape their dark histories. Hosts (and HB editors) Hadley Mendelsohn and Alyssa Fiorentino dig into the backstories of infamous homes, and uncover the strange stories suggesting some inhabitants never left—and that perhaps history isn't the only thing haunting them. Featuring guest interviews with authors, psychics, and paranormal investigators, Dark House uncovers why these residences, and the stories they tell us, are so important. So if you like your interior design dose with a side of spooky, this podcast will be perfect for you.
The Style Files
If you're looking to hear the thoughts of hard-hitting design stars, turn to designer Paloma Contreras's podcast, which she launched this spring while the nation was isolating at home. Since then, she's interviewed such design luminaries as Bunny Williams, Mark Sikes, Alexa Hampton, and Martyn Lawrence Bullard.
Clever
Hosts Amy Devers and Jamie Derringer join forces to give the visionaries behind some of our favorite designs the opportunity to get personal. In a series of intimate conversations, Devers and Derringer offer a voice to designers outside of their creations in an effort to uncover what makes them human.
The Chaise Lounge Podcast
Consider The Chaise Lounge Podcast a personal master class on the business of interior design. If you’re looking for the latest on what type of window treatments to use or what paint color is right for your living room, you won’t find it here. Instead, host Nick May and his expert guests take a deep dive into the business itself. From tips on breaking into the design industry to advice on growing and profiting from your current business, May and his fellow authorities offer their expertise.
Design Perspectives
New Jersey designer Gail Davis's podcast is just what it sounds like: a means of sharing multiple perspectives in the design industry. Davis chats with her fellow designers about business, style, and much more.
Young House Love Has a Podcast
Remember John and Sherry Petersik, the DIY-blogging power couple we all loved? Well, they’re back and we could not be more thrilled. Listen for decorating tips, DIY fails and wins, expert interviews, and the same sweet, quirkiness that made us fall in love with the Petersiks in the first place.
About Buildings and Cities
About Buildings and Cities is quite literally a podcast about, well, buildings and cites. From past to present, hosts Luke Jones and George Gingell dive into the world of architecture, while also touching on technology, film, and the future.
The Observatory
The Observatory, hosted by designers Michael Bierut and Jessica Helfand, is a podcast that explores the intersection of pop culture and design. From meme culture to cathedrals, The Observatory covers it all.
Affordable Interior Design
You don't have to break the bank to upgrade your space, which is exactly what New York-based designer (and self-proclaimed budget decorating guru) Betsy Helmuth exemplifies in this podcast. Listen for tips and tricks to savings on your next project.
Design Matters with Debbie Millman
Feel free to binge this one. Design Matters with Debbie Millman is the OG design podcast—no really, Millman started her podcast in 2005 and has recorded over 200 episodes. As one of the most celebrated podcasts in the industry, this one is a must-listen.
Scratching the Surface
Scratching the Surface, hosted by designer and writer Jarrett Fuller, is an interview-based podcast that explores the space between criticism and design in and of itself. Topics range from architecture and strategic style to media theory.
Monocle On Design
Consider this podcast your news source for current happenings in the design world. It's filled with exciting stories, interesting expert interviews, and contemporary news on topics like fashion, architecture, and furniture.
Make Space with Cara Newhart
Ladies, this one's for you. New on our radar, Make Space with Cara Newhart empowers women to take on the task of creating what the host calls a "lived-in" home. In conversations with various guests, Newhart takes listeners beyond the Pinterest board and into the familiar with approachable tips to a loved space.
The Chairish Podcast
The Chairish Podcast takes listeners behind the scenes—and behind the glamour—of the business of design. Host and industry insider Michael Boodro draws on his own experiences and those of his guests to discuss everything from coping with difficult clients, to sourcing materials, and even the future of design in the wake of COVID-19.
Nathalie is the former Senior Editor of Content Strategy at House Beautiful where she covered everything from home decor to the latest news. She is a social media pro and is obsessed with all things travel.
Hadley Keller is the Director of Editorial and Community Engagement at the Design Leadership Network, a community of top interior designers. She has covered design, interiors, and culture for over 10 years.
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