Zooey Deschanel's transitional home style elevates a contemporary design trend with classic design

Zooey Deschanel's style has gained acclaim for its distinctly 'anti-trend' bent. Rather than following passing fads, the actress uses her personal style to dictate how she decorates her home. Most of the time, this translates to lots of vintage furniture pieces and prints. However, in one specific case, she follows a contemporary trend, and the look pays off. 

In the actress's home office, a millennial detail takes center stage: the cactus wallpaper. Cactuses and succulents have defined the plant-tastes of the younger generation for several years, popping up as an interior design trend in many spaces. Deschanel's home features light green wallpaper featuring gray cactus's with pink flowers.

Although this detail is a current wallpaper trend, Deschanel's design keeps the overall look of the room classic. The parquet floors, classic white curtains, and dark edging ground the space, while the bright wallpaper and pink chair uplift it. Through the artful use of blended transitional style, Deschanel manages to both elevate the trendy wallpaper and 'fun up' the classic space.

Experts say the success of the actress's wallpaper idea has to do with how it has been tied into the rest of the space. Jennifer Ebert, digital editor at Homes & Gardens states: 'When decorating using interior design trends, the risk is that the trend looks out of place or thrown on top of previously existing decor. This is not the case in Zooey Deschanel's space.'

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.

She continues:' The pink velvet armchair echoes back to the pink flowers on the wallpaper, tying the contemporary detail in with the otherwise more traditional decor in the Deschanel-Scott home. Furthermore, mid-century modern furnishings like the curved bookcase help to make the wallpaper look more sophisticated and classic, rather than part of a passing fad.'

Shop the Edit

We tracked down Deschanel's exact cactus wallpaper, and a similar bookcase and armchair so that anyone can recreate the actress's look.

If you're considering integrating an interior design trend into your living space, take a page out of Zooey Deschanel's book and focus on how you can make the detail look timeless and fit in with the rest of your design.