20 interiors buys to turn your home into a Wes Anderson movie set
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You don’t have to be a movie buff to know when you’re watching a Wes Anderson movie.
Along with his favorite actors (Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray come to mind), the director has a distinct aesthetic that he brings to each title, albeit with some tweaks depending on the setting.
Color plays a big part in his cinematic style, from candy pink in the Grand Budapest Hotel to natural sepia tones in Moonlight Kingdom.
Quirky interiors are also integral to why his films are so recognizable. Anderson constantly uses symmetrical shots that look like paintings frame by frame, surrounding the characters with specially selected props such as rotary telephones and retro typewriters.
Set design tends to be Art Deco, but playful touches ensure the director’s image can’t be defined by genre: imagine sumptuous upholstered furniture, sparkling chandeliers and brightly printed wallpaper next to shabby vintage luggage and gallery walls made from found art. .
This aesthetic is so unmistakable that it spawned both the book “Accidentally Wes Anderson” and the TikTok trend where people seek to recreate the director’s visuals in their lives.
A single video from Ava Williams has been viewed over 11 million times, with British creator Keith Afady hitting 1.4 million likes with his Anderson-inspired clip.
Obviously, people are eager to bring these silver screen looks to real life, and there’s no better way to pay homage than to decorate your surroundings in his signature style.
Color is (you realize) the key to recreating the Wes Anderson look in your home, so get ready to step out of your comfort zone if you prefer neutrals. A palette with a few complementary hues can be helpful for creating a cohesive theme, but there really aren’t any rules limiting your choices – if anyone doubts your tastes, just tell them it’s postmodern and they’ll soon back off.
Motifs and prints are also quintessential. Lighthouses, tigers, flowers and stripes give the space a maximalist feel and unify the look.
Set designer Chris Moran, who has worked on The Royal Tenenbaums and a number of other Anderson films, says she finds props in antique warehouses, thrift stores and eBay so you don’t have to spend a fortune to replicate the style.
However, if you don’t like to scour vintage shops and second hand sites, these 20 pieces of furniture are already available on the high street and are perfect for bringing your French Dispatch, Life Aquatic or Darjeeling Limited ideas to life.
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