11 most beautiful home interiors in movies

In certain films, home interiors do more than set the scene—they become characters themselves, adding depth to the story

From the warm, lived-in spaces of Nancy Meyers films to the artful proportions of Wes Anderson’s universe, certain movies make us want to step right through the screen and claim a home of our own. Whether it’s the effortless charm of a Tuscan villa or the intoxicating excess of a British manor, these film sets aren’t just backgrounds, they’re extensions of the characters themselves.

Here, we take a closer look at some of the most stunning home interiors ever seen on screen, dissecting the design choices that make them so unforgettable. Spoiler alert: We had to choose just one Nancy Meyers movie.

Also read: 8 iconic on-screen love stories that shaped our idea of romance

1. ‘It’s Complicated’ (2009): quintessential Nancy Meyers

Above The home interiors in a Nancy Meyers film exude a cosy, chic style.

No one executes a dream home quite like Nancy Meyers. The legendary filmmaker is renowned for her impeccable set design, where every detail, from the choice of throw pillows to the glow of the kitchen, feels intentional. She has mentioned in interviews that home interiors are her subtle way of demonstrating her female characters’ success and empowerment. It’s Complicated is no exception. Jane Adler’s (Meryl Streep) Santa Barbara home, designed by production designer Jon Hutman and set decorator Beth Rubino, is a masterclass in relaxed luxury. The house is a traditional 1920s Spanish-ranch-style adobe-mud home dressed in warm earth tones and exposed wooden beams. We would be remiss if we did not mention that sprawling kitchen with a French La Cornue range. All of these spell California casual chic.

2. ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ (2001): Wes Anderson’s whimsical opulence

Above A tennis-themed room? Who doesn't want that?

Here’s another filmmaker who treats even seemingly small details, like home interiors, as part of the cast. Few directors use set design as deliberately as Wes Anderson. The Royal Tenenbaums is a love letter to vintage maximalism, where every room is a carefully curated portrait of its inhabitants. Production designer David Wasco transformed a Harlem townhouse into an eccentric, old-money wonderland filled with rich wallpaper, antique rugs and nostalgic grandeur. The Tenenbaum home is a character in itself. Margot’s pink bathtub, Richie’s tennis-themed room, the wood-paneled study? They all emphasise the theme of faded aristocracy and brilliant dysfunction.

3. ‘A Single Man’ (2009): mid-century perfected

Above Tom Ford carries over his aesthetic to the home interiors of this American period romantic drama.

Tom Ford’s directorial debut is as aesthetically refined as you’d expect. The film’s home interiors, particularly George Falconer’s (Colin Firth) home, showcase mid-century modern design at its most exquisite. The home is shot at the iconic Schaffer Residence, designed by John Lautner, in Glendale. It features floor-to-ceiling glass and warm wooden panelling, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor. The house showcases elegant restraint. It’s poised and heartbreakingly beautiful. Just like the story.

4. ‘The Lake House’ (2006): a glass marvel

Above In ‘The Lake House’, Alex (Keanu Reeves) is an architect who designs suburban condominiums. (Photo: Warner Bros via IMDB)

Above Alex moves to The Lake House despite his reservations about its design. (Photo: Warner Bros via IMDB)

In ‘The Lake House’, Alex (Keanu Reeves) is an architect who designs suburban condominiums. (Photo: Warner Bros via IMDB)

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With a house that defies reality, The Lake House presents an architectural marvel. The titular home is a glass house seemingly floating over the water. Designed by Nathan Crowley specifically for the film, the house was built on the banks of Maple Lake in Illinois but dismantled after filming. It also serves as a juxtaposition: Kate Forster (Sandra Bullock) feels invisible except when she’s in this glass edifice. With its transparent walls and minimalist interiors, the space becomes a metaphor for longing and distance, aligning with the film’s ethereal love story.

5. ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ (1961): free-spirited glamour

Above There's something alluring about the minimal furniture in these home interiors. (Photo: IMDB)

Above Holly Golightly’s home became a blueprint for chic, young professionals everywhere. (Photo: mptvimages via IMDB)

There's something alluring about the minimal furniture in these home interiors. (Photo: IMDB)

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Few apartments are as effortlessly iconic as Holly Golightly’s (Audrey Hepburn) Upper East Side pad. The slightly undone elegance—bare white walls, a claw-foot bathtub turned sofa and stacks of books acting as furniture—captures a sense of breezy, free-spirited glamour. Production designer Hal Pereira intended the space to be aspirational and attainable, influencing generations of chic, creative city dwellers. His art direction for this film was nominated for an Academy Award.

6. ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ (2003): an Italian escape

Above ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ explains what happens when a down-on-her-luck woman buys a lovely but run-down villa in beautiful Tuscany.

Under the Tuscan Sun’s transformation of a crumbling Tuscan villa into a sun-drenched sanctuary is as dreamy as it gets. The film was shot on location in the real-life Villa Bramasole in Cortona, Italy. The terracotta floors, wooden shutters, vine-covered pergolas and sunlit rooms complete a model of rustic elegance. The interiors evolve throughout the film, mirroring the protagonist’s journey. It’s a visual feast that has inspired countless travellers and renovators to embrace the beauty of aged charm.

See more: Tuscany, Italy: why you have to visit at least once in your lifetime

7. ‘Down With Love’ (2003): a 1960s fantasy

Above If you're a fan of 1960s home interiors, you might want to catch this rom-com starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. (Photo: IMDB)

Above Barbara Novak’s airy penthouse matches perfectly with Catcher Block's earthy apartment. (Photo: IMDB)

If you're a fan of 1960s home interiors, you might want to catch this rom-com starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor. (Photo: IMDB)

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If Mad Men celebrated 1960s realism, Down With Love took that era and dialled it up to a delightful fantasy. Starring Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor, this homage to classic rom-coms features candy-coloured interiors from the imagination of production designer Andrew Laws. Barbara Novak’s (Zellweger) penthouse is a stunning display of geometric patterns, bubblegum-pink sofas and brass accents. Catcher Block’s (Ewan McGregor) bachelor pad, on the other hand, exemplifies the retro-futuristic aesthetic that was a hit during the decade.

Also read: 7 films that exude fabulous '70s interior design

8. ‘A Clockwork Orange’ (1971): cool brutalist

Photo 1 of 3 Many of the elements in ‘A Clockwork Orange’ are a consequence of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’. Only two or three sets were constructed because Stanley Kubrick wanted to prove he could make a film on a limited budget. (Photo: IMDB)

Photo 2 of 3 Production designer John Barry executed Kubrick's vision for the home interiors. (Photo: IMDB)

Photo 3 of 3 From the paintings to the furniture, ‘A Clockwork Orange’ perfectly demonstrates Kubrick's obsession with detail (photo: IMDB)

Many of the elements in ‘A Clockwork Orange’ are a consequence of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’. Only two or three sets were constructed because Stanley Kubrick wanted to prove he could make a film on a limited budget. (Photo: IMDB)

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Not all dream homes are warm and inviting. A Clockwork Orange offers a vision of modernism at its most unsettling. Filmed in mid-century homes and brutalist structures, Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece features interiors that lean into stark minimalism. The famous Skybreak House in Hertfordshire, designed by Norman Foster, features glass walls, floating staircases and monochromatic interiors that marry futuristic and clinical. The avant-garde 1970s design is so captivating that we want to spend at least a night in Kubrick’s imagination.

Don't miss: 5 films for your minimalist design fix

9. ‘Practical Magic’ (1998): a cosy witch’s retreat

Above The house in this Nicole Kidman-Sandra Bullock film is dark but warm at the same time.

The Owens sisters’ Victorian house is pure magic literally and aesthetically. Though it appears to be a historic home in New England, the house was built from scratch on San Juan Island in Washington specifically for the film. Production designer Robin Standefer envisioned the home interiors to be dreamy, with romantic, old-world charm, soft lace curtains, an overflowing greenhouse and a well-stocked apothecary kitchen.

10. ‘Saltburn’ (2023): decadence meets decay

Photo 1 of 3 Saltburn is set in the Drayton House, a centuries-old private estate. (Photo: Prime via IMDB)

Photo 2 of 3 The home has been owned by the same family for hundreds of years, which has helped add a mix of architectural styles to the manor house. (Photo: Prime via IMDB)

Photo 3 of 3 It was the ideal setting for a modern gothic romance (photo: Prime via IMDB)

Saltburn is set in the Drayton House, a centuries-old private estate. (Photo: Prime via IMDB)

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Saltburn’s gothic mansion looms over every scene with eerie grandeur. It’s actually the Drayton House in Northamptonshire, an estate that is a study in aristocratic excess. Deep crimson walls, lavish chandeliers and an air of faded opulence create a world that is both intoxicating and unsettling. Every room tells a story of privilege, power and decline, making it one of the most visually arresting home interiors in recent cinema.

11. ‘The Shining’ (1980): a place of paradox

Photo 1 of 3 The Overlook’s layout is intentionally impossible, with doors leading nowhere and windows where there shouldn’t be any. (Photo: IMDB)

Photo 2 of 3 For the hotel, Roy Walker combined Native American motifs, Art Deco details and mid-century modern elements. (Photo: IMDB)

Photo 3 of 3 This orange hexagonal carpeting was designed by David Hicks and has since become a symbol of cinematic horror (photo: IMDB)

The Overlook’s layout is intentionally impossible, with doors leading nowhere and windows where there shouldn’t be any. (Photo: IMDB)

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The Overlook Hotel was inspired by The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite but built entirely on soundstages at Elstree Studios. It features an unsettling mix of Native American motifs, Art Deco opulence and mid-century modern. The intentionally strange proportions create an atmosphere of grandeur and menace. The hotel is haunted, sure, but the surrealist palette and spatial impossibilities are like a Pinterest dream. It looks great but we’ll never be able to pull it off.

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Topics

Movies Films Homes Home Interiors Interior Design Set Design