What Your Favorite Classic Novel Says About Your Decorating Style

Nothing beats the feeling of immersing yourself in a good book. Whether you're a lover of gloomy period romances or prefer an exciting whodunit, there's a reason we return to a classic novel time and time again.

A way to escape, your favorite classic novel is more than a source of literary inspiration; it's likely filled with decorating ideas that can have inadvertently had an effect on your interior style.

You might love Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca for its gripping twists and turns or F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby for its tragic love story, but there's likely another reason they're books you gravitate towards – they say a thing or two about what interior design trend speaks to you and what your decorating style truly is.

Here, the Homes & Gardens team reveals their favorite classics and how each has impacted their love of design.

1. Rebecca

Style Editor Devin Toolen says Rebecca is her all-time favorite book, not just for its gripping plot but for its gothic interiors.

'Rebecca has been one of my favorite novels since high school. Though it was a required book during my first year, reading it never felt like an obligation to me. I couldn't wait to transport myself to the hauntingly beautiful halls of Manderley, the estate at which most of the book takes place.'

'Its design style reflects that of traditional English countryside estates, but it's layered with Gothic undertones,' Devin explains. 'Long corridors that feel grand and mysterious, heavy drapes that add weight to the rooms, even dark wood details that create a moody atmosphere – these details tell stories in their own right, creating a sense of drama that I've always found so compelling in interior schemes. The interior style I attribute to Rebecca isn't inviting in the sense that it's warm and cozy. Rather, it's inviting because of its eerie energy, drawing you in with curious hesitation and a quick beating heart.'

2. Little Women

A comforting read that feels familiar and nostalgic, if Little Women is among your all-time favorite novels, you likely appreciate the quaint, rustic charm of Orchard House, the cottage where the four sisters' story unfolds.

The epitome of farmhouse style, the sisters' home is filled with homey touches. 'The Little Women house is so iconic, and it's clear to see why,' says Homes & Gardens Kitchen and Bathroom editor Molly Malsom. 'It has a farmhouse-meets-cottage feel to it, with pretty patterned wallpaper, lots of wood details, and layered textiles. It feels homey and lived in, which is why so many people feel drawn to it.'

Molly adds, 'It really ties back to the lived-in, unfussy look everyone is craving from their homes. I love the balance of grandeur and coziness – this style of home says I take pride in my home, but it's lived-in and loved with collected pieces everywhere you look.'

3. The Great Gatsby

If you're a lover of the finer things, you're likely familiar with The Great Gatsby. Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, Jay Gatsby's grand French villa on West Egg is a reminder of just how fabulous Art Deco decor was (and still is).

'Gatsby and Daisy’s respective crystal-chandeliered mansions are, of course, the dream. But the more interesting read is in the novel’s secondary spaces,' explains Julia Demer, Style Editor at Homes & Gardens. 'Nick’s cottage, with its rich, glossy woods spanning table to shelf, feels grounded and livable, while Tom and Myrtle’s bijoux city hideaway runs in the opposite direction – with admirable confidence, it drenches the space in red.'

‘If I could transport myself to any era of design history, it would be, without question, the glitz and smoke-laced glamour of the 1920s,' says Julia. 'After every failed attempt at being a minimalist, I’m drawn back to Art Deco’s geometry, gilded surfaces, and unapologetic use of veined, jewel-toned marble. All of it serves as a reminder that a little drama (and a little party) never hurt anybody.’

4. The Talented Mr Ripley

'The Talented Mr Ripley, a thrilling tale of deception and lies, is one of my personal favorite books of all time,' says Content Editor Eleanor Richardson.

'While The Talented Mr Ripley's suspenseful plot always leaves me on the edge of my seat, it's the transitional design that always speaks to me. Effortless, pared-back, and refined without straying into the traditional or fusty.'

'Set in the idyllic Italian coastal village of Atrani, much of the tale unfolds in Richard Greenleaf's or Dickie's sea-surrounded villa. Filled with antique furniture (wrought-iron heaven), priceless art (a Picasso hangs proudly on its living room wall), and rustic, lived-in details, the villa is truly the perfect blend of old and new.'

'It's not just Dickie's Italian retreat that makes my heart soar; every time I get to Patricia Highsmith's tantalising description of Tom Ripley's Italian apartment, I can't help but dream of recreating a Ripley-inspired refuge of my own. It's filled with ornate treasures, from chintz wallcoverings to slick midcentury objects that make me swoon every time.'

5. Pride and Prejudice

'As a teenager reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time, the life of the five Bennet sisters was one I was instantly envious of,' says Homes & Gardens Head of Interiors Hebe Hatton. 'To be constantly surrounded by women and their trials and tribulations seemed like a dream to a bored thirteen-year-old.'

'And the backdrop of this affectionate chaos was so much a part of the story. Longbourn, the Bennets’ home, is the perfect setting for this disordered family. While, when you think of the homes and interiors in Pride and Prejudice, Bridgerton-esque scenes may come to mind, the Bennets’ home was actually described by Austen as fairly modest in comparison to the grandeur of Mr Darcy’s Pemberley.'

'Longbourn was imperfect, slightly past its prime, with once-beautiful rooms that were aged and lived in, now even home to the occasional farm animal,' explains Hebe. 'The house felt busy, comforting, whimsical, and unexpected – so while I may not be hanging pelmets and huge oil paintings, I do think that homey essence is something that inspires my own decorating now.'

Classical Reading Essentials

Classic novels continue to inspire us today. While their original plots and descriptive details are what attract us to them, the iconic settings where the stories unfold undoubtedly have a role in why we love them.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.