Like most kids, my days were dedicated to playing outside and embracing nature. Just kidding. I spent my childhood rewatching Disney movies over and over again until the VHS tape unraveled. True story. RIP. On the bright side, all of those hours I spent with my face glued to a screen have been put to good use. Now that I'm a sort-of-adult tasked with decorating my own apartment, I’ve been on the lookout for inspiration, and I found it in the craziest place: those Disney movies. Whether it’s how to give your floors some pizzazz—thank you, Lady and the Tramp—or how to achieve a whimsical vibe courtesy of Alice in Wonderland, I've had the recent realization that the iconic Disney films hold all the secrets. So sit back, relax, and join me for a ride down memory lane as I point out a few of Disney’s best interior design moments:
How effortlessly cool is Jasmine’s bedroom? Those layered rugs are everything (and as you can see, they happened to bring a lot of warmth to an open-concept space).
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We can all agree that Cruella wasn’t the nicest gal around, but we can also all agree that this bold pink-and-red combo in her bedroom is a winner. No risk, no reward!
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Trapping a girl in a castle until she loves you? Um, no thanks. But these built-in bookshelves are goals. OK, your apartment will probably never be this grand, but similar floor-to-ceiling storage will add welcome visual interest to an otherwise blank wall.
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The killer woodwork along the doors in Snow White’s cottage makes a strong case for adding some decorative molding to our own places. P.S. As we've told you before, wood details don't have to be old-fashioned.
Weird but true: Table settings are better when they don’t match, and dining chairs can resemble hot pink seashells. Don’t believe me? Just ask the Mad Hatter and his friends (and check out our story on seashell decor for the modern age).
Neutral wood planks are timeless, but colorful geometric flooring has its place, too. Take a cue from Jim Dear and Darling's home, where they used fuschia lattice carpet and color-blocked green-and-blue tile right next to each other. Maximalism at its finest.
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Don't get distracted by the crazy decorative details on Elsa's door. What's really important is the hardware. Swapping out your boring, standard-issue doorknobs with fun vintage ones like this guy is a great starter DIY project.
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I can’t be the only one who dreams about having an Instagrammable window seat. I'd swap out the frilly upholstery, but those massive gridded windows are a must.
We all know Edna is is the real star of The Incredibles, so it’s no surprise that her apartment is just as chic as she is. Check out that stone statement wall! Even though the scene depicted is a little lot much, the idea of a massive textured surface is gold. (Maybe something like this?)
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Introducing the OG studio apartment hack: a room divider. We like that a folding screen like this one can be stretched out or stowed away in mere seconds.
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