How To Get A Movie-Inspired Interior

Watching movies is a favorite pastime for people around the globe, and they engage in it for various reasons. You could say pictures are the ideal form of escapism, but I would argue that they are also much more than that. The movie is a portal to another world where we immerse in fantasy, drama, suspense, laughter, but also art and design. Namely, the set design is one of the most important aspects of the seventh art, apart from acting and directing.

While an average person often overlooks this dimension, a keen eye looks past the people and meticulously studies the astounding interiors. In fact, movie homes with a bona fide icon status are the main reason why some aficionados keep their eyes glued to the screens. The timeless style of all-time Hollywood favorites continues to spellbind us with the sheer beauty and unparalleled gracefulness.

Who wants to be the Great Gatsby?

Say what you want about The Great Gatsby, but it is full of imposing architecture: Marble columns, curving staircases, ornate balustrades, light-catching chandeliers and airy sitting areas. Embracing the lavish lifestyle of the Great Gatsby means you are getting high on luxurious period style instilled with the 21st century sensibility. The Gatsby’s mansion took 14 weeks to build and decorate, and its over-the-top splendor includes a library, master bedroom, grand ballroom, entrance hall, terrace and a garden.

So, those who want a Gatsby-style bedroom would have to ponder on arched windows, polished hardwood, harlequin-pattern wall coverings, and irreplaceable Art Deco gray and gold rug.The good news is that the production designer Catharine Martin has launched a collection of rugs based on her majestic design for the movie , so try to secure these or some similar, more affordable floor rugs for your home (here). What is more, she has blessed the fans with some Gatsby-inspired wallpaper, which can transform any room into an enthralling spectacle.

Darkness in shining armour

The unsettling set of Kubrick’s classic The Shining is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when daydreaming about movie inspired interiors. But, natural wood floors, light walls and dark wood accents pull together the mesmerizing setting of the lofty Overlook hotel, the biggest indoor set built at the time. The space feels both mundane and tangibly evil, and bears the movie’s dramatic weight. It dwarfs the characters with labyrinthine layout, high ceilings, huge windows and empty expanses. The infamous hotel would not be complete without the woven Aztec rugs and gothic chandeliers that add life to the light walls.

Also, there is no way to ignore the notorious carpet, as it became one of the most recognizable décor pieces in the cult psychological thriller. The orange, brown and red create an attention-grabbing pattern. Dramatic contrasts of color are paramount to bringing Kubrick’s horror to life and creating drama and suspense. And with Crazy Jack out of the picture, there is no need to shy away from the interior style that encapsulates one of the most disturbing locations in movie history.

Something’s Gotta Give, does it not?

The films made by Nancy Meyer are the feel-good indulgence at its best. Few other directors have the ability to capture the live-in elegance in such a way and depict strong female characters. In Something’s Gotta Give, the oft-pictured beach house in which the Hampton family lives is a great model for sprucing up your own home. It became an instant crowd favorite and the set designer Beth Rubino rally set the bar for designers. She used custom-mixed colors that emanate the elegant sense of the nearby ocean, so feel free to experiment and undertake home painting projects.

The beautiful crisp-white kitchen is particularly lauded, with its eggshell cabinets and slate countertops that resemble soapstone. If you want to bring some of it home, opt for open-faced shelving and display classic China white. Furthermore, the relaxed beach-style living room shows off the natural palette in the furniture and wall paint. When decorating your hub of domestic life, deliver finishing touches with a large scale piece of wall art and introduce splashes of color with décor accessories. Perhaps it will serve you better that Diane Keaton’s unlikely love nest.

Nothing grander than a Budapest Hotel

A newer entry to the design list, The Grand Budapest Hotel has a playful story to tell and grand scenery to behold. In terms of color, form, and architecture, this movie towers above all others. Thus, the Wes Anderson comedy is a perfect visual parade to grab inspiration from. When the director found a department store in the little town in Saxony, he did not have to look any further. He decided to make it into the breathtaking hall of the hotel. Most of other elegant sets were built by hand, without excessive computer manipulation.

Roses, reds and purples dominate the indoor space together with wood tones, with many Art Nouveau and Art Deco inspired décor elements. The former design style infused the interior with variety, while the drama was conjured with saturated color spectrum. Zany furniture pieces such as the odd antler desk were discovered in the German store, and other finds originate from antique royal hunting villas. You should be able to emulate the wackiness and sophistication with some flea market discoveries, lacquer walls, pink hues and surreal lighting fittings.

The Timeless Beauty of Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Amiable Audrey Hepburn, with her oversized cigarette holder, is one of the most beloved figures of the 20th century American cinema. The depiction of her lush lifestyle in Manhattan comes to life in the form of the Upper East Side apartment, the site of the infamous parties. The whimsical flair is evident at first glance, with suitcases lying across the living room. The crates serve as c*cktail tables, while the Dansette record player sparks attention, suggesting that vintage, junk yard finds can help you evoke some of the adorable bohemian haven.

When emulating this apartment, one should seek to merge quirky décor pieces with the feminine, classy details. Think in terms of animal print rugs, antique suitcases, jeweled-toned cushions, purple pillows, and lattice cutout door. Accent the sofa with cushions, use apple crates for storage and go old school with a telephone on a headline. Bonus points if you can get your hands on the magnificent claw-foot bathtub sofa. Even better, you can take on a DIY approach and make this striking focal point with your own hands.

Single Man, single vision

There are stylish movies and there are movies that have style. A Single Man certainly falls in the second category, with renowned fashion designer Tom Ford in the director’s seat. The backdrop of the John Lautner mid-century house serves as a perfect stage for stellar cast and engaging plot. This wooded sanctuary is the epitome of the famous architect’s signature asymmetric style. Pivoting glass doors reveal the open plan living inside, and the natural warmth which was summoned by the combination of the naked wood walls and floor-to-ceiling windows.

The surrounding oak forest influenced the form and orientation of the residence, with redwood, glass and concrete separating the interior from the nature’s embrace. Surfaces, hardware and appliances were restored, which means you could try to refurbish some furniture and fittings yourself. Note also that Lautner succeeds in creating an impressive indoor environment which is drained of colors. The trick is to use the palette of natural wood tones, as well as beige and ivory accessories. Also, keep your eyes open for some period-appropriate details like wood and ceramic lamps, modernist wall hangings, and abstract sculptures.

Through the Rear Window

The impeccable posture and sublime elegance of Grace Kelly have ensured Rear Window’s place in the eternal fashion pantheon. However, the interior of the Greenwich Village apartment is just as fascinating. It is based on an actual New York location, which looks sophisticated without being too lavish. Although the site became the Paramount’s largest indoor set, the focus is on a Jeff’s two-room apartment where the language of objects and spatial relations plays a crucial role.

This is actually a smallish studio with kitchen concealed from the view by a bookshelf. The big bay window overlooks the courtyard, while the fireplace dominates the interior décor. There are many other apartments that we see throughout the movie, and the colour palette of the walls and furnishings was used as a mean of visual storytelling. What Hitchc*ck wanted was to emphasise the close proximity of living environments in urban areas. Vogue’s popular shot is homage to this stunning space, and just one of the many accolades the movie has won.

Like a charm

Few things wield such a potent visual power as movies do. Their sets serve only as showy backdrops, they are central to establishing character, plot and tone of the movie. Serving as building blocks for movies, they reflect the mood, foreshadow twists, and test viewers’ spatial awareness and perception.

In pursuit for perfection, directors often engage in long and arduous shootings that nearly bring movie studios to their knees. As for viewers, decorators, designers and DIYers around the globe, the visual bliss of unforgettable movie spaces is an immense source of inspiration. After all this time, these intoxicating settings still intrigue us and it seems that they have not lost a single sparkle of their irresistible charm.

Have you ever let yourself be inspired by films for your own home’s interior? What films have the prettiest interior design do you think?