It's no secret that I love home. Home is a very dear place to me; it's where I believe our lives should be rooted and centered and from which all of life should flow. Home is so much more than just a place to eat and sleep. Home is where the magic happens. Home is where life is lived. Home is where we are free to be ourselves and safe and comfortable within the four walls we call ours. And home, to me, is also much more than "just" a place. It is something very dear and integral in the life of a person and of a family. I dearly, dearly love home. Home is my very favorite place to be, and being home is where I am the happiest and most content. Not only do I love the physical place of home, I also very much love making a home. And, as I've grown older, I've learned that making a house into a home...and ultimately, into a haven, is a deeply nourishing adventure one chooses to embark on. Anyone can simply walk into any old house structure and live there. But few actually come to make that house into a home, and truly live and breathe in the wonder and magic that home offers.
One of the hobbies I enjoy most is watching my favorite movies and TV shows. There's something so comforting and soothing and fun, too, about watching old favorites. You know everything that's going to happen, so there's no wondering about what you may find on screen next. You know many of the lines by heart, and the characters feel familiar. Perhaps, even, the setting of the movie or show feels like a part of you...you've visited there so many times before. For me, one of the most happy and fun and delightful parts of rewatching old favorites, aside from the storylines, characters, and setting, are the homes. I simply love uncovering new ideas and getting inspiration from my favorite on-screen homes.
I have thought long and hard about all the homes I wanted to include in this post...and I hope I haven't forgotten any! These all have something special about them, at least to me. Several of them are even from my very early years as a little girl, and even after all these years, I still remember those homes fondly. Because, yes, even as a little girl, I was always drawn to the homes in certain movies or shows.
It's funny because as I was compiling this list and searching Google for images to share with each title (which in some cases was VERY difficult!), it became quite obvious to me that I have a specific style/taste that I like: lots of color with natural light, some neutrals paired with darker or brighter colors, florals and lots of them, squishy sofas, flowy curtains, natural wood, very full shelves/tables/etc (in other words- very anti-minimalism), more traditional floor plans (no open floor plans), nostalgic and collected versus your Hobby Lobby/mass-produced style decor, lots of lamp light and soft/warm lighting, candles and twinkle lights, very casual (I'm not a formal girlie at all!), very lived in (zero perfection), a bit chaotic with orderliness thrown in. Does that make sense?
I also noticed that nearly all of these homes are from the 1990s and early 2000s. In my opinion, that was when TV did set design and home interiors the best...they were exceptional. Now, when you watch a movie or a TV show, the homes don't look lived in, nor do they look like some place you'd actually want to be. They are cold and sterile feeling, all white or neutral, very minimalistic, and they don't look lived in...not one little bit. It honestly drives me crazy! I can't stand seeing a kitchen with absolutely nothing on the countertops, and we're supposed to believe someone actually lives in that house?!?! The homes don't have any character or personality anymore...not like the homes I'm showing here today. And as much as I enjoy some things on TV that are more currently made, I don't get that inspired feeling when I watch and look at the homes. There's something seriously lacking when you take that element out, in my humble opinion.
Hopefully, these photos will showcase some of that...and I also hope this inspires you to watch these movies and shows, because not only are they firm favorites of mine for the movie or show itself, but also because it's fun and ever so delightful and inspiring to take note and admire the homes...and even get lots of ideas for your own space. Because that's exactly what I've done.
Something quite funny about me is that I am a very imaginative person, in that I always imagine things in my head based on what I read or take in. For example, when my family and I were house hunting almost 8 years ago, I envisioned how each house we were looking at would feel on a rainy or snowy day, in the autumn and winter, or at Christmastime with the tree and lights up or on summer nights with crickets chirping outside and us in the air conditioning eating dinner. Basically, in my mind, I see how a home looks and feel how it would be to live there at my most favorite times of year. It may sound strange to some, but I know I’m not the only one who does this. And funnily enough, it’s the same with these houses on this list...in so many of the shows or movies, there are rainy or snowy scenes, Christmas decorations and celebrations, autumn or winter scenes, and other things that to me make a house feel extra special. And those are some of the reasons why I especially love the homes on this list...because they feel and look like they would be the perfect place to be on those extra cozy days or nights. Maybe you think I’m crazy, but that’s just how my mind works. I also found that I am always particularly drawn to the living rooms and kitchens in homes...both in real life and on screen. It’s probably because that’s what I believe to be the heart of the home. ♥
Making a home, I believe, is a forever, ongoing adventure. One is never done making a home. You are always getting inspired, finding new ideas, and discovering projects that you want to bring into your own corner of the world. Over the last eight years, since my family and I moved to Shady Cottage, I've been on a wonderful adventure of making my room just how I want it. And many of the following titles were greatly inspiring to me, along with quite a handful of picture books (which I'll share another day). Now we're onto the rest of our home and making it exactly what we want it to be. And, yes, getting loads of ideas and inspiration from on-screen favorites, and storybooks, too.
So, pour yourself a cup of something comforting and delicious, settle in, and join me for a little (err, slightly long) trip around some of my favorite on-screen homes...may you be inspired and delighted!
Julie and Julia (2009)
This is a very dear favorite of mine. Please note that these titles are not in any particular order, though, I must admit, this is one of my very top favorites. If any movie were to inspire me to want to get in the kitchen and try a new recipe, this is the one. It was this movie that introduced me to my great love of bruschetta...that scene is etched in my mind. From the very first time I watched this film, I was immediately drawn to the New York City apartment of Julie Powell. Don't get me wrong, the depiction of Julia Child's kitchen and home is wonderful, as well, as you can see in the last picture. But there's just something about this apartment that charmed me and drew me in. I absolutely love the very comfortable, lived-in look, firstly. The colors and tones and array of patterns and textures, exposed shelves lined with jars in the kitchen, the squishy sofa with blankets strewn over the back, the soft lighting and twinkle lights...it just exudes coziness to me. I love how this apartment feels like the kind of place you could come into, kick your shoes off at the door, curl up on the sofa, and feel right at home.
Anne of Green Gables (1985)
Green Gables is one of the fictional homes I love most, both in the books and the movies with Megan Follows. The front porch is a dream, being surrounded by lush green and vibrant displays of the seasons, and the coziness of the interior are all just my cup of tea. I am especially fond of Anne's room upstairs. It has an attic room sort of feel and rooms like that always look so cozy to me. A little tucked away corner of the house filled with all your favorite things. And, of course, it is there that Anne sends her signals to Diana so they can communicate from their own houses...somehow that seems so much more fun than text messaging. {{winks}} It is also Green Gables and the Anne girl herself that inspired a love for naming things in my sister and me. We affectionately named our own home Shady Cottage, thanks to being inspired after watching the Anne movies.
Little Women (1994)
The 1994 version of Little Women may very well be the most well-known version of this beloved story. And for good reason. It's my very favorite! I feel like the March sisters look rather authentic and like they could have easily stepped out of the Civil War era...natural looking hair and faces and the most beautiful costumes. But, of course, we're here to talk about the house...the beautiful depiction of Orchard House. I adore the exterior of the house, for one. I feel it looks gorgeous in every season as it is shown in the film. And the gentle light glowing through the windows creates a very inviting, welcoming feeling that I am drawn to in real life as well. The warm color scheme of the home is my very favorite. The interior colors are warm and cozy and rather traditional without being dull or boring. One thing about the March's home that greatly inspires me is the colored woodwork trim. How utterly charming!
Harry Potter (2001)
The Burrow- Home of the Weasley Family
I remember the first time I watched the Harry Potter movies and saw the Weasley home. It quickly became one of my most favorite things about the movies! I would actually love a movie or TV series set around the Weasley family in and around their home and daily happenings. To me that sounds grand! The Burrow...first of all, how perfect of a name for a home?!?! It's cozy and comfortable and has a true lived-in feel and look, which always calms my heart when I see homes like that. It feels like the sort of place you would be welcomed into with a cup of tea and something fresh from Mrs. Weasley's kitchen. I find so much inspiration in The Burrow. The lived in look, the blankets over the backs of chairs, gorgeous windows, and warm atmosphere. I want to there for a little visit...
Miss Potter (2006)
This was a rather difficult one to share photos of...I truly don't understand why this movie isn't talked about more. It's a true favorite of mine. My most favorite homey aspect of this movie is Beatrix's room where she draws and paints and creates her world of Peter Rabbit. The home itself is rather pretentious and fancy for my taste, but her painting room is absolutely a dream. It is also the place where she and Mr. Warne share a sweet dance and where their feelings for one another are realized, though rather shyly and where he proposes marriage to Beatrix. I am always inspired by the scenes of Hill Top Farm, as well...very much so, indeed. But that isn't a focal point in the film, (though I am sharing a picture of the exterior below because I think it's a gorgeous home) and her painting room, I feel, takes first place as a key point in the film. And it is a rather inspiring room for those of us who enjoy a bit of creativity and crafting, whatever sort we fancy.
The Hobbit (2012)
Well, considering that the book begins with "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit hole, and that means comfort" and the movie begins with "It was a hobbit hole, and that means good food, a warm hearth, and all the comforts of home", I think that a hobbit home is a must on a list of cozy homes that inspire me. I'll admit that all the battles and fighting and evil in the LOTR movies (and books, I assume, though I haven't yet read them) isn't my favorite thing. Those things aren't typically my cup of tea when it comes to movie or book content, but I'm here 100% for all the hobbity scenes and bits that take place in the Shire. I would be really happy if there was ever a Hobbit/Shire focused movie or TV series. Feasts spread out on tables laden with flickering candles and books filling the shelves and a comfy chair to sit in...there's so much homey inspiration in the world of Hobbits.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
Ever since I first saw this movie as a little girl, I have loved the firehouse where Mia and her mother live. The colors and funky/whimsical/eclectic/quirky style just sings to my soul. I am ever so inspired by all of that...the use of color in everything, the bits of funkiness, very quirky and eclectic style, and touch of whimsy that their home has...I love it so much. While I prefer a more "normal" home, and wouldn't necessarily want to live in an old firehouse, the overall style just draws me in. It has a very nostalgic feel for me from aspects of my childhood. And again...COLOR! Yes, please!
Matilda (1996)
Miss Honey's cottage
Ever since I was a little girl, Miss Honey has been a favorite character of mine, and her cottage is one of those fictional homes that always feels like home to me. I love how warm and inviting it feels when she has Matilda over for tea. While her home is modest at best, it exudes warmth and homey-ness. Her garden is a dream and I find it so whimsical and inspiring for what I'd love my garden to look like. And finally, Miss Honey herself makes her house a home. She is a family to Matilda, a safe place, a haven, and her cottage is just an outward expression of that.
Paddington (2014)
The Brown home in the Paddington movies feels like the houses in the movies I grew up with. It's so colorful and whimsical and feels magical. It has quirky charm and lots of unique character. And Paddington has an attic room, which you know I love.
Nanny McPhee (2005) & Nanny McPhee Returns (2010)
Color, quirks, charm, warmth, coziness, that lived in look and feel. These two houses have it all. I especially love the home in Nanny McPhee Returns, most important to note is the kitchen. It feels like the kind of kitchen that would inspire you to cook up plenty of warm and comforting feasts for your dear ones.
You've Got Mail (1998)
Kathleen Kelly's apartment
Kathleen Kelly's apartment is probably the most famous aspect of the movie, You've Got Mail. It feels like such a comfortable place. From her thick comforter (doesn't it make you want to run and jump onto the bed!) to her sofa with throw pillows and blankets to her desk placed in a unique position in the room to her shelves full of books. The soothing colors and varied patterns make it a place that feels like home. I also want to mention her bookstore. The twinkly lights, glowing warm light (not the bright kind), checkerboard floor, shelves and tables full of books, and the gorgeous curtains in the windows. It just feels so...warm. It feels like the kind of place you'd love to visit, and never leave. To me, it's just how a bookstore should look...I'd love to visit one like it someday.
Ramona and Beezus (2010)
Okay, so I adore this movie. For so many reasons, but one of them is the style of the house. I love the warm yellow color on the exterior, as well as the architecture. There's lots of colors, patterns, textures, and small touches that give it a truly homey feel.
Because of Winn-Dixie (2005)
Gloria Dump's home
As soon as Opal visited Gloria Dump on her porch, I knew I liked this house. Sure it's in the middle of a vastly overgrown yard, but even that adds to the vibe for me. Then when we finally see inside on the night of the party, it just confirms to me how much I love it. Her living room feel like such a perfect place for a gathering of friends, like there's room for everyone and everyone feels comfortable and at home. Her garden at night, with the hanging paper lanterns and twinkle lights strung among the trees, feels so magical to me. Like a garden of my dreams sort of place.
Dennis the Menace (1993)
The Wilson's home
Another home that I've loved since childhood, the Wilson's home, both inside and out just sings to me. The porch, first of all, is what porch dreams are made of. There's a scene in the movie where Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are sitting out there on a swing at night and I can just feel how wonderful it must be. The interior, as with all my other favorites, has lots of color and textures and patterns, and all those things are my favorite.
Gilmore Girls (2000)
Lorelai and Rory's home & Sookie's home & the Dragonfly Inn
I've shared about the cozy places on Gilmore Girls before, but for a short recap: I love Lorelai's house entirely. Her porch (again: swoon!) and her super cozy and comfy living room with that squishy sofa and her kitchen. Sookie's living room and kitchen and the color (!) really sings to me. Then the Dragonfly Inn...well, everything about it is just my cup of tea.
Blue Bloods (2010)
The Reagan family home on Blue Bloods is a bit too formal for my taste overall, but I love the warmth and lighting in it. Their sunroom is gorgeous and so inviting! Pop and Frank's chairs are iconic in front of the fireplace. And I really love the kitchen and the darker woodwork throughout...but, that sunroom...yes, please.
All Creatures Great and Small (2020)
Skeldale House is a home away from home for me...or it feels like it. Much of the furniture isn't my taste (too fancy and formal), but I love the overall feel of the house. From Mrs. Hall cooking in the kitchen and everyone gathered round the table for dinner to the fireplace lit in the living room and the tight quarters in the front entryway where people wait with their pets to see Mr. Farnon and Mr. Herriot. It all feels especially cozy at Christmastime.
Stuart Little (1999)
Another childhood favorite that has stayed with me all these years. Color! Quirks! Character! Charm! Fun wallpaper! Checkerboard floor! Yes, yes, yes!
The Secret Life of Arrietty (2010)
I'm not a huge animation fan, but what I watch, I love. Arrietty's house is full of so many tiny, small things being used in creative, unique ways, and I love every bit of it. Sometimes, I think how fun it would be to live like a Borrower. Filled to the brim with homey goodness, it just sparks so much inspiration for me.
The Parent Trap (1998)
The homes in the 1998 Parent Trap are forever etched in my mind. They feel so iconic and nostalgic to my childhood and every time I watch the movie, the homes feel comforting to me. While not completely my style or taste, I am so inspired by the feel and colors and little touches from these homes.
Little Bear (1995)
Growing up, one of my favorites was Little Bear. And now as an adult, I find so much inspiration and beauty in the world this show creates, the home it is centered around, and especially Mother Bear and her gentle way of doing things. She makes home and life and fun so cozy for Little Bear and his friends. I especially love the wintry and rainy day episodes. {{smiles}}
Franklin (1997)
Franklin was another favorite of mine growing up, and one I find so much inspiration from even now. The colors of this inspire me in so many ways and all the creativity makes me want to cultivate creativity in my own life.
Gullah Gullah Island (1994)
Keeping on with my childhood favorites...I seriously never forgot these shows and the different aspects of them that meant something to me back then...including the homes. I absolutely love the COLOR of the house in Gullah Gullah Island. I feel you can't help but be filled with happiness and goodness when you see such cheery colors. The creativity it brings up in me is huge, and all the quirky vibes and details just make me smile.
Barney's Great Adventure (1998)
Now I'm going to admit something here that is kind of embarrassing, but I watch this Barney movie every now and then because it feels so magical, inspiring (a word I'm using a lot in this post, but it's true), and hopeful. The home in this movie has been forever cemented in my mind since I first saw the movie at 4 years old. And there is a dream library in this movie in the home of Mrs. Goldfinch that is enough to convince any adult to watch this movie. It is what library dreams are made of! Shelves full of books...and rolling ladders! Oh, and this movie forever struck in me a love for hot air balloons...not that I've ever been up in one! Ha!
Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)
One of my top favorite on-screen homes is Grandma Ruby's house in Crowley Corners, TN. I absolutely love everything about this home...again, it's enough to watch the movie just to admire the home. The wallpaper and colors and warmth and decorating style and inviting atmosphere and feel to the nighttime music session on the porch...I'm here for it all.
Ice Princess (2005)
There aren't a lot of pictures online that I could find to share why I love this house, but I did find one. The movie isn't a top favorite, but I watch it for the house and all the wintry vibes and scenes. I love the overall style of this home...it feels so comfy and warm and homey.
American Girl: Kit Kittredge (2008)
Again, it was hard to find pictures to share from this movie. And it's also one that I haven't seen in a long time, but I remember loving the home. I need to rewatch it soon so I can remember exactly why {{winks}} So for now, I'm just adding it to this list even though I forget all the specifics. Ha! But I do remember the treehouse and how completely magical it felt...that's pictured below.
Everybody Loves Raymond 1996)
The sitcoms of the 90s and early 2000s (along with the movies of that time) did homes the best. Nowadays, I feel that homes in movies look too pretentious and don't look like someone actually lives there. They are colorless and completely not cozy or warm or inviting or comfortable looking. And I hate it! So I typically watch older things for that reason...and many others, too.
But the home on Everybody Loves Raymond caught my attention the very first time I watched an episode. I haven't actually watched much of this show, but this house is everything. Look at the colors, the cupboards, the curtains on the door, and the stove and kitchen table...and a fridge with things on it...it looks like a real family lives here. Oh, I just love this house!
Reba (2001)
Another sitcom house that just feels like home to me...how gorgeous is this kitchen. The warmth of the natural wood cupboards and the green chairs at the island and tablecloth on the table...and that window with all the plants...I'll take one of each, please.
Father of the Bride (1991) & Father of the Bride II (1995)
The Banks' family home is such an iconic one in my mind. It's one of the very first movies I remember watching as a little girl where the home inspired me...it's so nostalgic for me. I love the ivy growing up the exterior wall and the white picket fence. The basketball goal in the backyard feels like home to me, because it seemed that everyone had one in the driveway when I was growing up. (We did.) I love how the interior of this home feels like you are peeking inside the home of an actual family...see, movies and shows "back in the day" just did homes so much better than today. (With a few exceptions.)
Baby Boom (1987)
Another home that stuck with me since I was a little girl. I mean, just look at it. The yellow exterior gives me all the feels, and then we go inside, and it's even better. The colors and florals, the curtains and kitchen, and all that lamplight...oh. my. goodness.
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
Again, not completely my style or taste. But just the simple fact that it looks like an actual family lives in this house is inspiring enough for me.
Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
Jake's home
So, I actually love this house so much. I love the porch and yellow exterior (can you tell I have a thing for yellow houses?!?!) and how it's surrounded by nature. The exposed chimney and slightly overgrown look. The interior as well...gorgeous fireplace and cozy kitchen and comfortable furniture. I would totally live here...also a plus because while I love many of the homes I've featured here, many of them are what I would call mansions, where as this, to me, seems like one of a few realistic homes on this list. I love it so much.
Leap Year (2010)
The Bed and Breakfast
The B&B in Leap Year feels so warm to me...the soft and gentle lighting and all the decorative touches make it feel like home. The bedroom also looks so cozy. I love the kitchen and cooking scene so much...it's a vibe as they say.
Heartland (2007)
I'm so not a log cabin sort of girl, but on Heartland it works. While I do adore the porch and how much time the Bartlett/Fleming family actually spends out there, it's the interior of this home that really speaks to me. It's a bit darker lighting (which I love) but with color and textures and patterns. And that kitchen is so charming to me...I would totally cook dinner in there. That kitchen always reminds me of a scene where Jack tells Ty if he wants breakfast in bed then he'd better start sleeping in the kitchen. Such a memorable scene! I also love the family dinner table...and how they always eat dinner together.
Murder, She Wrote (1984)
As with most of the shows and movies I'm sharing today, I find so much about Murder, She Wrote to be cozy and warm and comforting. And Jessica's house is one of those things...I would totally live here. Her home is a dream...all the pictures on the walls, her typewriter on her kitchen table, all her gorgeous curtains and other textiles. There's also the exterior, which is stunning...and the picket fence.
Friends (1994)
I just began watching Friends for the very first time, and right as soon as I watched it, I declared to my mom and sister how much I love the apartment. Hee! It's so colorful and quirky and comfy.
Home Improvement (1991)
A show I grew up with and a home I've loved since then...although I'm not a huge fan of open floorplans (most of the time, to me, they are the opposite of warm and cozy and homey), the Taylor house is an exception. (As with a few others on this list.) I love how realistic their home feels and looks...not fancy or pretentious or designer. It has that down home vibe, which is always my favorite. I also love how there's a swing set in the backyard...it brings back so many memories of playing on our swing sets in our backyard growing up. This show really shows kids being kids, which is almost completely lost today.
Practical Magic (1998)
I'll confess right here that I've never seen this entire movie... I know, I know. I may give it a go sometime. But while I haven't seen the entire movie, I have seen plenty of clips and photos of the house, and it's a dream. The kitchen is so swoon-worthy. It's a favorite!
Stepmom (1998)
While this movie is slightly depressing in terms of the storyline (though I still enjoy it), the scenery and home are absolutely, hands down, gorgeous. A lot of the movie is set in the autumn, so the colors really shine. And I just love this house so much...inside and out. The kitchen! The porch! The nature! The living room at Christmas! All of it.
Boy Meets World (1993)
It's been a hot minute since I watched this one, but as with some of the others, I remember the house. The kitchen especially always felt so homey to me. The real-life family feel and look is a favorite with this one as well.
7th Heaven (1996)
The Camdens' house is one from my childhood as well...and I've always loved the living room and kitchen the best. I don't love all the white walls and cupboards and furniture, but the overall vibe and feel is right up my alley. I love their kitchen table as well...our chairs look almost identical.
Home Alone (1990)
For me, this is one of the most iconic and memorable Christmas movies, and the house is part of the reason why. I love the nostalgic feel this house has, as it reminds me so much of homes when I was little. The rich colors really sing to me. And I love the living room at Christmas, just how it should look at Christmas...magical, sparkly, and full of Christmas. None of that neutral holiday or minimalist garbage!
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Well, there you have it. A grand list of all the on-screen homes that inspire me. If you made it through the entire thing, I applaud you. {{smiles}} And thank you. ♥
Each of these homes inspires me in some way...as a homebody, a lover of home, a home maker and tend-er. One of my most favorite hobbies is making our home cozy, warm, comforting, homey, inviting...all words you've read many times in this post, but they are truly the words I feel most describe what I want and believe a home to be.
It would make me so happy to know what some of your favorite on-screen homes are, so please feel free to share them with me in a comment or message. And I do hope you enjoyed this (long) post...and leave here today feeling inspired by... H O M E.
May your day be a beauty!
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note: all images of homes from movies and shows taken from google.