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Ever find yourself absolutely lost in those stunning Instagram interior photos? Me too! The world of famous interior designers has been my ultimate source of inspiration through every apartment move and home renovation project. These famous interior designers shape our spaces in ways that go far beyond just furniture placement—they influence how we feel in our homes and how we express our personalities through décor. As someone who’s spent years admiring (and let’s be honest, attempting to recreate) their signature styles, I’ve compiled my top ten famous interior designers whose work consistently leaves me in awe.
Whether you’re planning a complete home makeover or just looking to refresh your space with new ideas, these famous interior designers offer something for every taste and budget. From maximalist color explosions to refined minimalism, each famous interior designer brings a unique perspective that can transform how you see your own home. Let’s explore the visionaries who continue to redefine interior design and maybe find your next style muse among them!
Kelly Wearstler: The Fearless Maximalist
Many of these famous interior designers have unique philosophies that guide their work and inspire others.
When it comes to bold interior design, Kelly Wearstler reigns supreme. Her designs feel like walking into the most glamorous art gallery that happens to be someone’s home. What fascinates me most about Kelly’s work is her fearless approach to mixing periods and styles—vintage Italian pieces might sit alongside ultra-modern sculptures, all in a room with graphic marble floors and metallic accents.
Kelly’s signature style emerged in the early 2000s when she reimagined the boutique hotel scene with properties like the Avalon in Beverly Hills. Since then, she’s become the go-to designer for clients who want spaces with personality and punch. Her work challenges the notion that good taste must be understated. Instead, she proves that thoughtfully curated maximalism can feel sophisticated rather than cluttered.
What I’ve learned from Kelly’s approach is to trust my instincts when it comes to pieces I love, even if they seem unconventional. Her spaces show that design rules are made to be broken—if you have the confidence to execute your vision with conviction. For anyone looking to bring more drama into their spaces, Kelly’s portfolio offers endless inspiration for creating rooms that leave a lasting impression.
Nate Berkus: Master of Meaningful Spaces
There’s something about Nate Berkus’s designs that feel immediately like home—not just any home, but one with soul and history. What sets him apart from other famous interior designers is his philosophy that homes should tell your story, not just follow trends. Since his Oprah days, Nate has championed the idea that meaningful objects create meaningful spaces. Famous interior designers like Nate teach us about the personal connection to our living spaces.
I’ve followed Nate’s career since those early TV appearances, and his approach has deeply influenced how I think about my own home. He taught me that the most special rooms contain items with personal history—whether it’s vintage finds from travels or family heirlooms reworked for modern living. His designs exhibit a perfect balance between comfort and sophistication, with neutral palettes that allow architectural elements and special pieces to shine.
What I love about Nate’s design philosophy is how accessible it feels. While his projects are undoubtedly polished, his advice works for any budget: invest in quality where it counts, mix high and low pieces, and most importantly, surround yourself with things you genuinely love. This approach creates spaces that feel authentic rather than like they’re trying too hard. For anyone looking to create a Scandinavian-inspired home with warmth, Nate’s work offers wonderful direction.
Joanna Gaines: The Modern Farmhouse Pioneer
No list of influential famous interior designers would be complete without Joanna Gaines, who single-handedly made shiplap a household word. Before her HGTV fame, modern farmhouse style existed but hadn’t reached mainstream popularity. Joanna’s genius lies in how she balances rustic elements with clean lines, creating spaces that feel both timeless and fresh.
Each of these famous interior designers brings a unique approach to their craft, influencing countless others along the way.
These famous interior designers continuously inspire us with their innovative ideas and timeless styles.
What makes Joanna’s approach so appealing is its accessibility. Her designs incorporate affordable DIY elements alongside carefully chosen investment pieces. She’s a master at finding potential in overlooked vintage items—something I’ve tried to emulate in my own home. One weekend, inspired by an episode of Fixer Upper, I transformed a beat-up old dresser with some chalk paint and new hardware. That piece now anchors my guest bedroom and cost a fraction of buying new.
Her Magnolia empire has expanded beyond television to include furniture lines, decor collections, and even a retail complex in Waco, Texas. While some designers create aspirational spaces that feel out of reach, Joanna crafts rooms that feel attainable while still being magazine-worthy. For anyone looking to create rustic home decor on a budget, her Magnolia website offers both inspiration and actual products to help achieve the look.
Amber Lewis: California Cool Perfected
If I could teleport into any famous interior designer’s portfolio and live there forever, it might be Amber Lewis’s world of sun-drenched California interiors. Her designs capture that perfect beachy vibe without a single seashell in sight—instead, she relies on texture, natural materials, and a masterful neutral palette that never feels boring.
What distinguishes Amber’s work from other designers is her approachable take on luxury. Her rooms feature stunning vintage rugs and custom furnishings, but they’re designed to be lived in—not just admired. I’ve learned from studying her spaces that investing in quality textiles (think: linen curtains, wool rugs, and chunky throw blankets) can transform even the simplest room into something special.
Amber’s design process often begins with a statement vintage rug that informs the rest of the room’s color story—a technique I’ve borrowed for my own living room redesign. Her talent lies in making curated spaces feel effortless, like they came together organically over time rather than all at once. For anyone looking to achieve that coveted laid-back yet pulled-together aesthetic, Amber’s portfolio offers countless ideas that strike the perfect balance between casual and refined.
Justina Blakeney: Bohemian Plant Paradise
The moment you encounter Justina Blakeney’s work, you’re transported to a lush, pattern-filled paradise. As the founder of the Jungalow brand, Justina has created a design movement that celebrates bold botanical elements and global influences. Her spaces are vibrant celebrations of color that somehow manage to feel both exuberant and harmonious.
What I admire most about Justina’s approach is her fearlessness with pattern mixing. In a world where many designers play it safe with neutrals, she embraces maximalism with open arms. Her rooms typically feature multiple patterns—perhaps a geometric rug with floral wallpaper and batik pillows—yet they never feel overwhelming thanks to thoughtful color coordination and strategic negative space.
Justina’s design philosophy extends beyond aesthetics to embrace the well-being benefits of living with plants. After seeing her plant-filled spaces, I’ve gradually increased the greenery in my own home, starting with hard-to-kill varieties that have made my small apartment feel more alive. For those drawn to eclectic spaces with personality, Justina’s Jungalow site offers both inspiration and affordable decor options to help create your own bohemian sanctuary.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard: Hollywood Glamour Reimagined
When celebrities need a famous interior designer to design their homes, Martyn Lawrence Bullard often gets the call. His client list reads like an awards show guest list—Cher, Tommy Hilfiger, Kylie Jenner—and his spaces have a distinctly cinematic quality that makes them unforgettable. What’s fascinating about Martyn’s work is how he balances opulence with livability, creating spaces that feel simultaneously grand and comfortable.
Martyn’s signature approach combines Hollywood Regency glamour with global influences from his extensive travels. You’ll often find Moroccan architectural details, Indian textiles, and European antiques working together in unexpected harmony. His rooms feature statement pieces that command attention—whether it’s an oversized Venetian mirror or a boldly upholstered vintage chair.
While most of us don’t have celebrity budgets, Martyn’s work offers valuable lessons in creating impact. His spaces show how thoughtful lighting choices can transform a room—something that works at any price point. For anyone looking to create a luxury living room with personality, studying Martyn’s portfolio reveals how to combine disparate elements into a cohesive whole that feels curated rather than random.
Shea McGee: Modern Traditional Perfected
Few designers have captured the current moment in interior design quite like Shea McGee. Her fresh take on traditional style—dubbed “modern traditional”—feels simultaneously timeless and current. What makes Shea’s work so appealing is how approachable yet aspirational it feels. She creates spaces that look polished but never precious or untouchable.
Before finding fame with her Netflix series “Dream Home Makeover,” Shea built her design business through Instagram, where her bright, airy aesthetic quickly gained a devoted following. Her rooms typically feature a neutral palette with carefully chosen moments of contrast—black window frames against white walls, or natural wood tones warming up gray upholstery.
What I’ve learned from Shea’s designs is the importance of thoughtful styling. She’s a master at creating beautiful vignettes that make everyday objects look special. In my own home, I’ve applied her techniques of grouping objects in threes, varying heights, and mixing textures to create interest. The Studio McGee look works wonderfully in homes with minimalist home decor tendencies but still want warmth and personality. Her Studio McGee website offers both design inspiration and shoppable products that help achieve her signature style.
India Mahdavi: The Color Genius
If colors were musical notes, India Mahdavi would be composing symphonies. This Iranian-French architect and designer creates spaces that are instantly recognizable for their joyful use of color and sculptural forms. Her most famous project—the Gallery at Sketch in London with its plush pink seating and copper accents—became one of the most Instagrammed restaurant interiors ever, proving her ability to create truly memorable environments.
What sets India apart is her fearlessness with color combinations that shouldn’t work but somehow do. She’ll pair pastel pinks with forest greens or sunny yellows with deep burgundy in ways that feel fresh rather than jarring. Her furniture designs feature playful rounded shapes and unexpected material combinations that challenge conventional ideas about how interiors should look.
While India’s projects tend toward the high-end, her approach to color offers lessons for any budget. Looking at her portfolio, I’ve been inspired to try color combinations I’d never have considered before. Even adding a single piece of furniture in an unexpected hue can transform an otherwise neutral room—something I discovered when I introduced a teal velvet chair into my mostly gray living room. For anyone looking to bring more color confidence into their spaces, India’s work provides the perfect inspiration.
Bobby Berk: Functional Design for Modern Living
Bobby Berk won hearts through his transformative room makeovers on Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” but his design talents extend far beyond television. What makes Bobby stand out among famous interior designers is his practical approach to style—creating spaces that look fantastic while actually improving how people live in their homes.
Bobby’s designs typically feature clean lines, thoughtful storage solutions, and a modern aesthetic that never feels cold thanks to his careful layering of textures. His work resonates particularly well with urban dwellers dealing with small spaces and rental limitations. After watching his show, I completely reimagined my tiny apartment bedroom using his tip to “float” furniture slightly away from walls to create an illusion of spaciousness—and it worked!
What I appreciate most about Bobby’s approach is how he prioritizes function without sacrificing style. He’s a master at identifying the actual problems in a space (lack of storage, poor traffic flow, inadequate lighting) and solving them beautifully. For anyone facing small apartment living room ideas challenges, Bobby’s website offers practical solutions that don’t require massive renovations or budgets. His work proves that good design should improve your daily life, not just look good in photos.
Emily Henderson: Accessible Style With Personality
Emily Henderson brings something special to the design world—a sense that great style should be available to everyone, not just those with unlimited budgets. Her background as a prop stylist before becoming one of today’s top interior designers gives her a unique eye for composition and the small details that make spaces feel complete.
What draws me to Emily’s work is her transparency about the design process. Through her blog and social media, she shares not just beautiful “after” photos but the thought process, mistakes, and real costs behind creating beautiful rooms. This honest approach has made her a trusted voice for everyday design enthusiasts looking to improve their spaces without professional help.
Emily excels at mixing vintage and new pieces to create spaces with character and history, just like many famous interior designers. She’s a champion of thrift store hunting and often showcases amazing secondhand finds alongside more accessible retail pieces. Her design philosophy centers on creating “moments” in a room—vignettes that draw the eye and make even simple spaces feel intentional.
For anyone looking to develop their personal style, Emily’s blog offers endless tutorials, shopping guides, and trend analysis that make good design feel achievable rather than intimidating. Her spaces prove that homes can be both beautiful and practical, designed for real life rather than just photoshoots.
Our homes speak volumes about who we are, and these ten famous interior designers have each contributed unique voices to that conversation. Whether you’re drawn to Kelly Wearstler’s bold maximalism, Justina Blakeney’s plant-filled boho oasis, or Shea McGee’s refined modern traditional style, these famous interior designers offer roadmaps for creating spaces with intention and personality. The best part? You don’t need celebrity budgets to incorporate their wisdom into your own home. Start small by borrowing their philosophies—whether that’s Nate’s approach to meaningful objects or Bobby’s focus on functionality—and watch how your relationship with your space transforms. After all, the most successful interiors aren’t the most expensive or perfectly trendy ones, but those that genuinely reflect the people who live in them while making daily life more beautiful.
