Taylor Swift's Unusual Decor Proves There Are No Limits To Home Design

Taylor Swift famously takes her aesthetics and mood boards very seriously. Each one of her albums comes accompanied by an atmosphere of colors, fashion styles, and, most often, interior décor as well. "Folklore" evoked a cabin in the woods, while "1989" was a mix between a New York City penthouse and a beachside cottage. It almost makes you want to transform your home inspired by Taylor Swift's different eras. Privately, the record-breaking pop star is just as devoted to carefully crafting her multiple homes so that they feel authentic and unique to who she is. 

Most commonly, Swift is hopping between her gigantic Tribeca townhouse, her historic L.A. mansion, and her whimsical Nashville condo, which she began decorating herself when she was just 20 years old, in the style of "Alice in Wonderland." These days, she's spending time with fiancé Travis Kelce at his sprawling Kansas City estate, but Summer is also always reserved for her Rhode Island holiday home, the setting of all of her infamous Fourth of July parties and the inspiration behind her whimsical hit, "The Last Great American Dynasty." 

Although fans were, once upon a time, invited by the singer herself to visit her homes during exclusive album listening parties, these days she's keeping her domestic life closer to her chest. Still, social media posts and footage from her 2020 Netflix documentary "Miss Americana" offer a glimpse into Swift's interior design style, which is just as multifaceted as her personality and skill set. 

Taylor Swift isn't intimidated by color in interior design. The best example of this is her rainbow fantasy kitchen in her Nashville condo, last seen in "Miss Americana" in 2020. The backsplash is a hand-painted mural reminiscent of Van Gogh's "Starry Night." There are cabinets in baby yellow and blue, decorated with flowers, and a red architrave, leading to a cloud wallpaper-clad hallway. There's no telling whether Swift, now 35, has maintained the offbeat decor, but plenty of color is found elsewhere in her homes, for instance, the crimson-red walls of her Tribeca loft. 

Patterns are only a natural evolution of experimenting with color in interior design. Taylor Swift loves a print on her pillows, rugs, and even on her chairs. Her taste ranges from old-world motifs of Latin American, Asian, Arab, and European influences to animal prints, dots, and stripes. Wallpaper is also a big presence in the Grammy winner's multiple homes, making each room feel like its own little contained universe. 

If there's one thing everyone can learn from Taylor Swift's homes, it's that you should never underestimate the power of adding antiques to a room. Old radios, grandfather clocks, weathered chests, and worldly relics–the singer's interiors are brimming with unique finds she curated, bringing a special charm and character to the space. Roaming antique shops is one of her favorite activities, according to the diary pages she shared as part of the "Lover" album packaging in 2019. "I really like the ones where there's so much crap to dig through, you can find absolute treasures for nothing," she mused.

It's no secret that Taylor Swift loves candles and gifting them to friends. In 2016, she told Vogue her absolute favorite candle was Tree House from Byredo, a woody, cedary scent that sells for $95. Recently, however, another candle has overtaken its place as the number one in Swift's heart. She sent Selena Gomez the Encens 9 scent from Le Labo, which smells like frankincense and clove. Back in 2019, during the "Lover" secret sessions, fans gushed about how she had Le Labo Santal 26 candles spread around her house. As for how she likes to decorate them? Inside thrifted mason jars. 

This is Taylor Swift we're talking about, after all, so it was only a matter of time until cats appeared on this list. The superstar is famously devoted to her three kittens, Meredith, Olivia, and Benji, whom she brings around the world with her during tour. At home, as any certified cat lady would attest to, there's no shortage of cat-themed trinkets. This includes paintings of her cats as historical figures, cat teapots, ceramic cats, cat bookends, "I hope you like cats" doormats, and, of course, cat-shaped pillows (a classic).

Among the most ubiquitous pieces in Taylor Swift's homes is an oriental rug. This is the one type of rug that most homeowners prefer, and the world's biggest musician is no exception. These carpets are traditionally handmade in Asian and Middle Eastern countries like Turkey, Morocco, and Iran, and are among the most expensive and luxurious in the world. Their symmetrical patterns and bold rusty colors carry the weight of tradition and culture and have the power to immediately transport you to another time and place. Their density and warmth make them a perfect fit for Swift's laid-back, antique-filled interiors.

Arguably one of the most eccentric details in Taylor Swift's home décor is the multi-colored silk-draped ceiling in her Nashville condo. You can catch a glimpse of it during the "Miss Americana" documentary, in the scenes where she shares a meal with her childhood friend, Abigail. Typically, this style of ceiling decoration is associated with grand events from bygone centuries, but when have those kinds of expectations and constrictions ever stopped Swift? She chose to place the majestic arrangement over the dining room table, marking its center with an equally imposing crystal chandelier. 

Another whimsical touch in Swift's homes is the presence of star lanterns. They've been spotted in her "Alice in Wonderland" Nashville condo and at her Los Angeles home. The former seem to be made of paper, more colorful and traditional, with small patterned cut-outs that create dreamlike light shapes, evoking festivities like Christmas and Diwali. The latter is a more modernized take, in an angular glass and brass design. It's almost like a nod from a more mature, toned-down Swift to the 20-year-old version of herself that realized her wildest décor dreams in her first home. 

Known as one of the greatest songwriters of her generation, Taylor Swift finds inspiration in the writing of others. From English poet William Wordsworth to the multi-hyphenated Patti Smith, literature plays a big role in Swift's music and, naturally, her interior design. Nearly every glimpse the singer has allowed into her homes has come with one or two book sightings, including large art and lifestyle books atop dressers and coffee tables, or antique copies adorning shelves. Designers have long used books to add character, charm, and a certain luxury that comes with the intellectualism that they evoke.

Swift is constantly writing music, toying with the hooks, melodies, and keywords that dance around in her mind. To turn those elements into songs that move entire stadiums full of people to shout the lyrics at the top of their lungs, the artist must always have her favorite instruments at hand. Every single one of Swift's homes has a piano and multiple guitars, so she can create her magic. Two of the most impressive examples in her collection are the Steinway & Sons grand pianos from the early 20th Century, which she has at her New York and L.A. homes.

For upholstery, velvet seems to be Taylor Swift's fabric of choice. We see it everywhere in her interiors, from a lush violet couch in her extravagant Nashville condo to two gorgeous armchairs in maroon and caramel in her L.A. mansion. Velvet is often associated with luxury. Traditionally, it was made from rare silk and required a high level of skill to be woven, so it was reserved for the closets and palaces of the elite. That reputation has carried through to today, albeit the luxury of velvet is now attributed to its softness of touch and the way it reflects light. 

There's no better way to personalize your space than to fill it with memories. Swift loves to decorate her walls with galleries made up of photographs of herself, her family, her friends, and her cats. A gallery wall isn't a new concept. In fact, it's possibly one of the most common interior design features ever. The key to avoiding a boring look is to find unique pieces that speak to your personal style. Mixing photographs with various artwork and memorabilia, as well as opting for frames in different styles, sizes, and orientations, can give your gallery wall the oomph it needs. 

There's a surprising number of oriental influences in Taylor Swift's interior design style, but bone inlay furniture may just be the most exciting example. This ancient technique of decorating furniture with pieces of bone or mother-of-pearl hails from India and produces gorgeous geometric patterns filled with texture and shine. It was spotted on a Roman stool-style ottoman, a striped black and white console table, as well as smaller items like picture frames, trinket trays, and decorative boxes. These pieces of furniture double as art, reflecting the expert craftsmanship that originated them. 

This list of Taylor Swift interior design inspiration couldn't be complete without the decor rule that seems to define the singer's style: individualization. Every one of Swift's spaces feels unique to her personality. She is heavily involved in decorating, whether it's by channeling a book she loves or by scouring antique stores for the perfect pieces to bring home. So, if you truly want to decorate your home like the singer, all you have to do is find your signature style and experiment until your home feels like it could only ever belong to you.