How To Make Your Apartment Look Like a Movie
Le Rayon Vert directed by Eric Rohmer
by Christiane Salamat
We’ve all wished we could live inside of a movie at one point. Whether your dream apartment looks like Carrie Bradshaw’s Upper East Side apartment, or maybe Mia Thermopolis’ firehouse-turned-home in The Princess Diaries, here are some tips to make your apartment look like it’s been carefully curated by a production designer.
The Darjeeling Limited directed by Wes Anderson
Decide which movie aesthetic you’re going for
From here, you can choose the color palette and base everything else around that. Every movie has its own aesthetic – for a David Lynch direction, think neutrals with the occasional punchy jewel tone. For a Wes Anderson-inspired look, consider a pastel color palette, an array of analog technology, and maybe moving to an island off the New England coast. (Just kidding?)
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Lighting, lighting, lighting!
Lighting is the secret ingredient to constructing the perfect ambience. Having different sources of light in the form of a window and a couple of ornamental lamps creates a cozy, cinematic atmosphere. These LED strip lights, for example, can turn your apartment into a Euphoria house party for one. Meanwhile, replacing your normal light bulbs with vintage Edison light bulbs can add a steampunk flair to your apartment – think Blade Runner.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s directed by Blake Edwards
ADD SOME PERSONALITY
One thing set designers always keep in mind is to make their characters’ rooms look like they’re really lived in. Your personal space is an physical embodiment of yourself, and, with that in mind, set designers are tasked with the goal of making a room tell a story about its inhabitant. That means little trinkets lying around, framed (or taped up) photos of loved ones and memories past, and even consciously keeping a natural amount of clutter around. When envisioning Lady Bird, Greta Gewig wanted the movie to “look like a memory,” so the set decorator curated Lady Bird’s bedroom walls with posters, stickers, and album covers, down to the very angle from which they were hung. That’s the level of dedication you’ll need to bring.
Last Night directed by Massy Tadjedan
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MAXIMIZE YOUR SPACE
When planning out an apartment or bedroom set, the designer is more often than not working to turn a limited area into a functional, realistic-looking living space. They can make the most out of small spaces by incorporating different textiles (curtains, rugs, bedsheets, and the like!) and statement furniture pieces. You might think that mismatched patterns might clash, but in the case of movies like The Holiday, mixed textiles create a charming cottagecore aesthetic. Also consider wallpaper, which is a quick fix for boring walls. If you’re not ready to make the switch, Backdrop sells removable premium wallpapers like this one, perfect for us non-committal folks.
