Inside 7 Beautiful Homes That Master the Art of Calm – And No, They’re Not All Minimalist
Seven serene spaces from the Homes & Gardens archive that remind us that calm is the ultimate luxury
There’s a reason certain homes make you instantly feel more at ease. The best calm homes – the ones that really master the art of calm – don’t rely on emptiness or a single aesthetic. Instead, it's about how rooms flow, the materials chosen, and a quietly confident use of color.
Importantly, 'calm' doesn’t have a blueprint. It can be layered and characterful, rustic or refined, coastal or cottagey. What the most restful house designs instead share is a mix of calming colors, texture, layout, and lighting to bring you a sense of pause.
7 Homes That Master the Art of Calm
There are many ways to make your home more relaxing that don't involve plain white walls or an absence of pattern. In fact, some of the most restful homes are layered, characterful, even whimsical – whether they're set on a lake, a farm, or surrounded by a cottage garden. Ahead, these seven spaces should inspire some soothing decorating ideas or relaxing colors to take into your own home.
1. A Whimsical Oregon Cottage by Molly Kidd
When interior designer Molly Kidd took on this characterful Oregon cottage, which was once an uninspired, characterless 2010 build, her mission was to instill personality, depth, and a sense of ease, transforming it into a calm home that feels quietly luxurious rather than loudly styled.
'The home design originally felt so stark, so heavy – very chunky, with thick black windows and builder-grade materials – so my job was to pull it back, add in that softness, and make it more traditional,' Molly explained to Homes & Gardens. 'It's now so luxe and comforting.'
Filled with soft edges – ‘furniture with a little bit of a rounded profile instead of 90-degree angles really helps to add in that softness' – a warm off-white palette, subtle textures, mixed wood tones, and a European flavor, the home is spacious yet now undeniably cozy.
The functional spaces are fairly minimalist and serene, relying on the creamy textured plaster on all the walls to add depth and richness, but it's in the primary bedroom where symmetry and coziness really come into play.
‘I always want every bedroom to have a feeling of peace and retreat, and the natural order of symmetry really does help achieve that,’ Molly says. The stools sat at the foot of the bed were a vintage find. ‘I happened to stumble upon them and didn’t even reupholster them,’ Molly says. ‘That beautiful deep-gold velvet was already on them and was just perfect to make this bedroom seem sumptuous as well as calm.’
What gives this house its restful quality isn’t any single design trick, but the thoughtful layering of materials and moments of restraint so that every room feels curated for calm.
2. 1920's Farmhouse Renovation by Lisa Staton
This 1920s farmhouse in Bellingham proves that calm interiors don’t need to be minimalist at all. The renovation by designer Lisa Staton was led by a goal not to erase the history, but to honor it, peeling back the unsympathetic layers added by previous updates to reveal its original bones.
The sense of relaxation in this home comes from the ease of moving throughout it. 'When our clients purchased this house, they knew that to get the home functioning well for themselves and to have the correct rooms taking advantage of the views, a large renovation, effectively swapping spaces, would need to be done,' she explains of switching the kitchen from one end of the home to another to allow for a connection to the outside.
Lisa notes she wanted the dining room, which is connected to the kitchen via a dedicated, glass-encased coffee station zone, to be a place to ‘retreat to,’ to ‘feel like a destination unto itself.’
Similarly, the bathroom and primary suite were among Lisa's favorite spaces to renovate. 'We wanted to focus on the view and find a way to accommodate a primary closet, bedroom, and bathroom with both a tub and a shower,' Lisa explains of the spa-like ensuite.
Lisa's approach is also a real lesson in decorating with vintage and rustic materials, which removes any unease that comes from brand-new pieces that lack patina or comfort. She retained original details like wide-plank floors and charming built-ins, using them as the foundation for the color scheme of the home.
3. A Home Designed for Resale That the Designer Fell for
An unassuming 1980s ranch in Tumalo, Oregon, might not sound like a relaxing, retreat-like home – but that’s exactly what makes it so impressive. Originally purchased by designer Allison Clouser of Clouz Houz with plans to renovate and resell, the property quickly stole her heart, and she kept it as her own family home instead.
'Once we set foot on the property, everything shifted,' explains Allison. 'It was one of those rare places that immediately sparked something.' What was meant to be a market-ready refresh organically evolved into a deeply considered home renovation rooted in ease, texture, and connection to place.
Set in a little town called Tumalo, Oregon, Allison describes the home as 'one of those places that feels like a breath of fresh air – quiet, open, and full of charm. With the mountains in view and a mix of farmland and ranches all around, it’s the kind of setting that makes you want to linger a little longer.'
Rather than strip back the home’s original charm, she leaned into it – restoring wood-panelled ceilings, introducing natural materials, and reworking the layout to invite in both light and landscape. 'The land is so peaceful and beautiful, and we wanted to bring that feeling indoors,' she explains. 'So we opened up the layout, added larger windows and slider doors, and focused on creating moments that felt connected to the landscape.'
The bathroom, in particular, feels like it was carved out of the mountains. 'We get full mountain vistas, and because the back of the house is so private, we felt confident letting that light flood in. It’s now a full-on retreat. It's one of the most peaceful spots in the house, where we start and end each day.'
Likewise, the primary bedroom embraces restraint in the best possible way: a muted palette, layered textiles, and uninterrupted sightlines that allow the setting to do the talking. 'The bedroom was part of the new addition, and we really wanted it to feel like a quiet retreat. The walls are wrapped in grasscloth for that cocooned effect, and we layered in rich wood tones with the vintage dresser and nightstands.'
'The result is a home that’s layered and welcoming, cozy without feeling overly styled. Someone once called it “Ralph Lauren meets Nancy Meyers,” and we couldn’t agree more – it captures that perfect mix of rugged charm and quiet luxury.'
4. A Lakeside Home Designed with a Connection to the Outdoors
There’s a reason Scandi decor so often features in conversations about calm interiors. And this lakeside home by Oho Interiors is a beautiful example of doing so without straying into colorless minimalism.
What makes this home feel so inherently restorative is the strong connection to Lake Minnetonka, just a stone's throw away from the property. Soft, natural materials and a gentle palette allow the lake’s ever-changing light to become part of the interior.
'The lake inspired much of the home’s color palette and feel,' says founder Melissa Oholendt. 'We wanted the interiors to feel calm, grounded, and connected to the natural setting, so we layered deeper, moodier tones with rich woodwork and timeless materials that feel appropriate for a lakeside home.'
If you find the water calming, you'll love the tempo of this home. 'It’s not a literal take on coastal decor or nautical design, but there’s a quiet rhythm to the house now that reflects the peacefulness of being near water,' Melissa adds.
The previously isolated kitchen remodel was one of the biggest structural transformations they undertook. 'The clients allowed us to open it up, rotate the island, and enlarge the windows – all of which brought more natural light in and framed the lake beautifully from the heart of the home.'
'The blend of the feminine and masculine elements truly brings a sense of steadiness to the space that would not have been achievable otherwise,' she adds of the kitchen design.
The color palette also helps provide transitions throughout the home. The eye moves from one room to the next without abrupt contrasts, but instead, subtle tonal changes keep the journey interesting. As a result, every room, whether it’s the kitchen or a cozy reading nook, feels connected to the same story.
5. A Summer House Set in a Tiny Swedish Fishermen's Village
If any home in this edit captures the idea that calm begins with place, it’s this Swedish summer house renovation. Set within a tiny fishing village, this modest building has been gently reworked to honor both its past and the picturesque surroundings.
'It's one of those places where time seems to slow down,' explains Ika Ramel and Sanna Nathanson, Studio Ramson's founders. 'Narrow cobbled streets, small boats bobbing in the harbor, weather-worn facades. This house sits right in the heart of it all, and it’s likely one of the oldest buildings in the village.
'There’s something truly magical about the setting – the light, the sea breeze, the sense of history.'
The brief from the clients was rooted in balance. 'From the beginning, he expressed a clear wish: to create a home that felt light and summery, but also warm and intimate – a place to enjoy long, lazy summer days as well as quiet winter evenings. That desire to strike a balance between brightness and coziness really shaped our decisions throughout the project, from the choice of colors and textures to how we approached the layout and use of space.'
Speaking of colors, this might be the modest 'colorful' home in this list, but it for sure isn't bold. 'The palette needed to feel light and fresh in summer, yet warm and embracing in winter. We think that finding the right tone is always more about feeling than formula.' Nothing feels excessive, but nothing feels austere either.
The kitchen, in particular, is where you'll find the most nods to the history of the cottage. 'The idea was never to erase the past, but to quietly refresh it. It’s one of those rooms where old and new blend seamlessly, and it still holds the soul of what was there before.'
Despite its small scale, every corner is purposeful and beautifully serene. 'The overall style of the home is intimate, heartfelt, and beautifully unpretentious. There’s a sense of ease about it – nothing feels forced or overly styled. The space is small, but every corner is thoughtfully used. It’s a home that invites you to take your shoes off, curl up with a book, or open the windows to let in the salty air.'
6. An Airy Texas Farmhouse by Bess Lovern
This sweet 1930s Texas farmhouse, reimagined by designer Bess Lovern, embraces calm from top to bottom.
But rather than being cozy and intimate, this home lets the light, breeze, and landscape play an integral role in the design. The result is a home that feels open without being vast, airy without sacrificing warmth, and thoughtfully curated at every turn.
Her approach wasn't about erasing history or imposing a singular style, but about drawing out what already made the house compelling. 'We reworked some of the entryways, and the house also had a lot of windows that drenched the interior space with light,' Bess explains. The beautiful bay window in the breakfast nook is a case in point, and highlights the English cottage vibe she was inspired by.
The sense of calm in the downstairs of the home is only helped by the deep, dark wooden floors that act to ground the neutral palette. 'We were able to integrate some darker colors while still keeping the house feeling bright and airy.'
'This created a cozy look while also feeling like a journey to walk through, since the spaces all had different personalities. We also mixed a lot of new furniture with antique pieces from the 1930s and earlier,' she adds.
In the living room, which is flanked by views outside, neutrals are joined by soft greens, which act as a red thread throughout this home. 'We opted for a very neutral color palette with added hints of wood and iron to keep the space feeling cozy,' Bess adds.
Bess kept her ideas for the main bedroom simple but stylish, saying: 'We wanted the bedroom to remain neutral and calm.' While, in contrast, the powder room, wrapped in House of Hackney wallpaper, feels like a true escape.
7. A Cozy, Characterful Home on the Hudson River
This cozy, characterful home on the Hudson River feels rooted, collected, and quietly authentic. Thoughtfully reimagined for a family of four, every corner of this home tells a story. And you wouldn't believe the inspiration designer Nick Spain looked to.
'We turned to a historical plaque two blocks away on the main drag in Athens, NY. It commemorates the wreck of the Steamboat Swallow on the shores of the then–still–forming village in 1845,' Nick explains. 'We used this to build a narrative around a grieving captain’s widow whose world might’ve been upended by the accident while living at the home.’
Unexpected is perhaps a word that best sums up this remodel. Not often a word best suited to 'calm', but rather than feel jarring or bold, this home is eclectic in all the right places with a sense of ease that carries throughout.
'It was interesting to blend some of the more stately features of the home with a more approachable sensibility, but try to do it in a way that felt unexpected,' says Nick.
What makes this home especially striking is how it balances character with simplicity. There are moments of personality, sure, such as the custom mural in the hallway by the artist Nina Barry. 'It’s the first thing you see upon entering the home, and its placement ensures you encounter it repeatedly throughout the day until night falls and it’s time to turn off the lights and head to bed. It’s a beautiful vista put on a loop that you can’t escape.'
Original details were preserved where possible, including the kitchen, which was a light touch with some cosmetic changes. Soft, layered textures and a warm, inviting palette work together to give all of the rooms a gentle feel – one that encourages you to settle in, slow down, and actually live in the home.
Designing a home that masters the art of calm doesn’t mean stripping away personality; it simply means refining it. What unites these seven beautiful homes isn’t square footage, location, or even color palette but a feeling.
They aren’t starkly minimal or over-styled. Instead, they demonstrate that calmness often comes from thoughtful editing, natural materials, considered light, and a connection to outdoors to help you feel relaxed and truly at home.
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