The rom-com look has bags of charm. Image credit: Emily Craven Interiors
Rom-com interiors: 8 ways to adopt the trend in your home
There’s a new love story unfolding in the world of interiors, and it’s straight out of your favourite romantic comedy.
From cosy kitchens with mismatched crockery, to clashing patterned cushions on a sofa you can truly sink into, rom-com interiors are having a serious moment, and we’re totally here for it.
As the weather cools and we reach for snuggly jumpers and comforting mugs of pumpkin spiced lattes, it seems we’ve also got the desire to crank up the cosy at home via a nostalgic dose of rom-com-inspired décor.
“As we enter the colder months, there’s one type of film you can’t help but cosy up with – the classic rom-com,” explains Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, interior expert and co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds.
“Comforting and nostalgic, there’s nothing better than curling up to watch your favourite rom-com at this time of year, so it’s hardly surprising we want to recreate the iconic aesthetic at home and turn our spaces into charming, characterful spaces that evoke those same feelings.”
Defined by understated patterns, a playful colour scheme and vintage details, Ally says rom-com interiors offer the perfect balance of comfort and elegance.
“Blending a range of aesthetics together, the trend taps into a timeless feel,” she continues.
“Paired with lots of layered textures and accessories, it creates a lived-in, cosy effect, perfect for the winter months.”
So whether you want to channel Bridget Jones’ candlelit chaos or the comforting clutter of the chocolate box cottage in The Holiday, here’s how to bring a little main character magic into your home.
Curate a space that tells your story
One of the best ways to bring the essence of rom-com decor into your home is simply by making it uniquely yours.
“A key element of a true rom-com interior is personality, often demonstrated by decorative pieces and trinkets scattered throughout the space,” explains Magdalena Gierasinska, head of product and displays at Barker and Stonehouse.
“Larger objects, such as vases and bowls, make for excellent dining room centrepieces to showcase your specific tastes, whilst smaller objects can help fill out mantlepieces, bedside and coffee tables, and dressers.”
As these items are all about giving your interiors personality by expressing your own, Magdalena says there are no strict dos and don’ts when it comes to what to display.
“Pottery, ornate candle holders, statuettes, and small sculptures are good places to start,” she adds.
Add layers into your space
Layering is essential to nailing the rom-com aesthetic to give a space that warm, lived-in feel.
Think patterned cushions on worn-in sofas, throws slung over armchairs, stacked books, vintage lamps, and art casually leaning on shelves.
The more personal and collected it feels, the better.
“To replicate the style, first choose a neutral base for your living space, such as whites, creams and beiges,” advises Ally.
“This will help to create a calming effect and gives a neutral backdrop to build layers of textures and colour in with accessories such as throws and blankets.”
Ally says combining textures, patterns and cosy accessories will help to add warmth and comfort to your room.
“Embrace natural materials such as wood, stone and rattan and layer these on top of each other to add visual interest and warmth,” she adds.
Introduce warm and fuzzy lighting
Ambient lighting is a rom-com interiors essential, basically because it’s what gives a room that soft, cinematic glow.
Swap the harsh big light for warm table lamps, fairy lights, and candles to create a cosy, flattering atmosphere that feels straight out of a movie scene. It’s all about curating lighting you’ll want to linger in.
“The homes in our favourite rom-coms always have a warm and fuzzy effect,” explains Ally.
“The key to achieving this in your own home is through a layered lighting scheme with lots of ambient lighting.”
She suggests focussing on building layers of light into your space, from incorporating low-level sources of light such as lamps and candles to floor lamps and overhead pendant lights.
“To create a relaxed styling approach in a bedroom or living room, I love placing lamps directly on the floor,” she continues.
“Doing this brings a lived-in feel to the space that’s instantly calming. Scatter several lamps across your floor in different shapes and sizes to achieve a beautiful glow.”
As a general rule in your living space, wherever you have seating options, Ally recommends ensuring you have lamps surrounding them.
“Don’t forget to add smaller light sources at different heights and levels too,” she adds.
“These can be placed directly on the ground, such as near fireplaces and on side tables, to create a layered effect.
“Circular lamps are a great option as they diffuse a warming glow across the whole room.”
Embrace warm shades
Introducing a warm colour palette is key to capturing that rom-com charm.
Soft terracottas, buttery yellows, warm neutrals, and blush pink tones instantly make a space feel inviting and nostalgic.
It’s about creating a cosy, feel-good atmosphere that wraps you up like a well-loved jumper.
“Using warm, colourful shades such as ambers, terracottas and cherry red accents in your interiors can add depth and warmth into your space,” explains Ally.
“Remember that certain rooms will suit a warmer ambience than others.
“The living room is where guests typically convene, so warm lighting will help give it a welcoming effect when you host.”
Blend old and new for an eclectic look
Blending old and new decor gives a space soul and character.
Pair vintage finds with modern pieces to create an effortlessly eclectic feel, a mid-century lamp next to a contemporary sofa or flea market mirror above a sleek console table.
It’s all about mixing eras in a way that feels personal, layered, and with bucketloads of charm.
“Rom-com interiors embrace a blend of styles pulled together, helping to create a curated look that’s individual to you,” Ally explains. “Its individuality makes the style easy to replicate too.”
Ally suggests drawing on nostalgia by blending old and new in your home.
“Mix vintage pieces, such as traditional cabinets and armchairs with modern silhouettes to create a unique look,” she continues.
“Layer different patterns and textures that you love to bring some personality to the space.”
Find a balance between curated and cluttered
Achieving a rom-com look in your home involves the delicate balancing of contrasting factors that, if done correctly, can give your interiors that true cinematic feel.
“One of the core aspects is making your home look and feel lived-in, without making it feel untidy and unorganised,” explains Magdalena.
“Layering textures is a great way to achieve this, incorporating materials such as metals, wood, and glass into your spaces to give them as much depth as possible, along with soft furnishings like cushions and plush throws decorating you sofas and chairs to keep things cosy.”
Greenery can also be used to great effect.
“Bringing new colours into the room whilst minimising the amount of empty space,” Magdalena adds.
Master the art of the unmade bed
Mastering the art of the unmade bed is a subtle but essential detail in rom-com interiors.
A perfectly imperfect touch that makes a bedroom feel relaxed and real.
Think gently crumpled linen sheets, layered throws, and casually plumped pillows that look effortlessly inviting.
It’s all about embracing comfort over perfection.
“The unmade bed look is something you’ll see across the majority of rom-com interiors, making any bed exude cosiness and warmth,” explains Magdalena.
“Layer blankets at the bottom of the bed, almost throwing them on rather than carefully placing them, with oversized blankets adding to the aesthetic even further.”
Magdalena suggests placing cushions against the headboard at an angle, avoiding straightening them up and instead letting them rest however they fall.
“Whilst you want things to remain mostly cohesive, don’t be afraid to mix up the textures, shapes, and sizes of your soft furnishings, adding a small element of chaos to complete the look,” she adds.
Mix and match your patterns
Rom-com interiors are all about character, and mixing and matching patterns is a great way to introduce it into your home.
“Start by deciding on a colour palette, such as warm natural tones or pastels, and use that as a base to help pick your patterns,” advises Magdalena.
“By sticking to a theme, even clashing patterns can be harmonious, so you can pick those you’re drawn to most without fear of them not meshing together.”
Magdalena says it can also be a good idea to choose a main pattern for the room and then select others that complement it, such as smaller, similar versions of that pattern, or ones that follow the same theme, such as floral.
“If the pattern mixing is making the space feel too overwhelming, mix in some plain, solid colours that help to balance things out,” she adds.
Looking for more interiors inspiration?
Take a look at 12 ways to autumn-scape your home for the new season or Cafécore interiors – 10 design ideas to capture the charm of your favourite coffee shop at home. And check out The Downton Abbey effect: 10 ‘Regencycore’ interior ideas that work in real homes
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