Tour Ringo Starr's '80s Living Room: A Houndstooth Sofa, Abstract Art, and Wooden Accents Encapsulate The Joys of Analog Living

Archival images of the Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr, in his home in 1981 show a space replete with personality and styled imperfections – and the look is trending for 2026

By Sophie Edwards

published 25 February 2026

in News

a split screen image with a picture of ringo starr on the left and ringo in his living room on the right — (Image credit: Mark and Colleen Hayward/Tony Korody via Getty Images)

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Recreate Ringo's Look at Home

'Analog living' has been trending since early 2026. The nostalgic trend centers on embracing the tactile through textures and materials to recover the authenticity lost in our overly streamlined, modern homes. For inspiration, Homes & Gardens is looking back in time at spaces curated before everything got so curated. Ringo Starr's perfectly imperfect living room is a wonderful place to start.

The Beatles' drummer was photographed at his Berkshire, England home in 1981, and it perfectly captures the analog spaces trend. Rather than curated perfection, his living room revels in liveable warmth. The drum set is in the middle of the room, and the wooden piano sits against the wall, reflecting his love of music. Abstract paintings on the wall bring style and warmth into the room, and a selection of personal effects on the mantelpiece adds a lived-in feel. The houndstooth sofa rounds out the styling with a quintessentially English vibe, while wooden accents weave it all together.

ringo starr playing drums in his living room — Ringo Starr playing drums at home, 1981

Recreate Ringo's Look at Home

Pleated English Arms

Gray Houndstooth Armchair

Oversized houndstooth print feels playful yet elevated. I love the idea of layering patterns on this chair with floral and striped pillows for a whimsical look.

Elegant Shapes

Large Framed Neutral Abstract Wall Art

Ringo uses abstract art to create interest in his living room, and these pieces from Amazon are a low-lift option to make the space more interesting. They have bright colors to create brilliance in the room.

Inlaid Detail

Early 20th Century Piano

I can't think of any chicer decor than an antique piano. Ringo uses a wooden one like this to add a sense of history to his space.

Intricate Design

Wooden Box by Drew Barrymore

This earthy, 100% wood box is both decorative and functional. It's ideal for turning your living room into a design-led, and unique space, like the wooden box on Ringo Starr's mantel.

Linen

Sheer European Flax Linen Curtain

Though we've been loving patterned curtains recently, Ringo's space shows the power of a solid curtain tone. These gorgeous linen ones are the perfect choice.

On Trend Shade

Wavy Shade Collection with Ceramic Base Floor Lamp

A floor lamp with a white shade is the ultimate classic, as seen in Ringo Starr's living room. This one's wavy shade gives it a specially stunning detail.

As Ringo's home shows, imperfection is the key to perfectly mastering this trend. Design expert Shelley Cochrane explains: 'Embracing analogue interiors means celebrating imperfection. Every handmade vase, every vintage find, every piece of furniture worn from use tells a story and gives a home soul. These small irregularities and signs of life create character, reminding us that homes aren’t showrooms, they are lived-in, loved, and layered with memory.'

Ringo evokes this sense through a melange of materials. Magdalena Gierasinska, Design expert at Barker & Stonehouse, elaborates: 'An analog interior delights all the senses. The warmth of polished wood underfoot, the comforting weight of a ceramic mug in your hands, the gentle rustle of linen sheets as you move through a room, all these moments of tactile pleasure connect us to our homes in ways screens never can. It’s the sensory details that make a space feel alive, inviting, and deeply personal.'

Luckily, embracing the look is as simple as taking guidance from your personality and the objects that you love.

Shelley advises: 'To make a home truly analogue, start with the materials you surround yourself with. Timber floors that creak underfoot, hand-thrown ceramics that feel weighty and real in your hand, and woven textiles that invite touch all bring a sense of life and texture that no screen can replicate. It’s in these tangible details, carefully chosen and lovingly maintained, that a home begins to feel grounded, personal, and entirely human.'

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Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.