Timothée Chalamet turns his living room into a 'personal museum' with this unconventional shelving solution

Out with fleeting trends, personalized design is taking over in 2024. Timothée Chalamet has always marched to the beat of his own drummer, so it's no surprise that he's an early adopter of the look. What is a surprise, however, is how he's chosen to celebrate his style: with a mini museum.

The actor shared a shot of his teddy bear pajama pants, watching television from his couch on Instagram. On the wall to the sides of the TV inset, his low-lit living room storage exhibits antique urns, vases, and bowls. Timmy's followers quickly expressed their confusion. 'OK, but the vases and urns... He lives in a museum?' said one user. Others commented on his coffee table decor, with one follower stating: 'Is that a fake bowl of fruit?.' 

If you also have these questions (or others), never fear. We spoke to design experts to get the scoop on Timothée's living room wall decor. Not only are they fans of the look, but they also see this style increasing in 2024.

Although design trends are still popular, the increased personalization of consumer culture is causing people to rely more on their sense of personal style. We can see this pushback in fashion with the Slow Fashion movement, which has now cycled into interiors. Rather than relying on marketing campaigns to tell us what we should like, people are interrogating what they actually want. Timothée Chalamet's answer is antiques.

As a sustainable way to purchase one-of-a-kind items, decorating with antiques like Timothée's pottery will become even more popular. 'Consumers have become much more interested in where and how products are made, and they’re also more astute at spotting when a brand isn’t authentic,' states Jim Norton, Managing Director at heritage pottery company Burleigh. Personalized antiques are the peak of authentic design.

'Timothée's lit wall shelves are the ultimate personalization method,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor at Homes & Gardens. 'Not only has he chosen items that reflect his style, but he has made the entire room a museum to this style. The low lighting and set back shelves make Timmy's pottery a central feature of the room.'

Jennifer Ebert

Jen is the Editor (Digital) of Homes & Gardens. Before starting this position, she had completed various interior design courses at KLC Design School, as well as working across Ideal Home, LivingEtc, 25 Beautiful Homes and Country Homes & Interiors as an interiors writer.

As for the bowl of fake fruit, we don't have an answer of exactly why, but it seems to be another example of Timothée following his bliss in design, and who could argue with that?

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No matter your interior design style, every home could benefit from a few more personal details. Maybe you will even create your own miniature museum.