How To Decorate Your Home Like Elle Woods From Legally Blonde
"Legally Blonde" is a beloved, fan-favorite film with classic style. According to Film Cred, the movie made a whopping $140 million against a tiny $18 million budget. The film led to the sequel "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde," a Broadway musical, and plenty of spin-offs. Famous for introducing a pink form of feminism, "Legally Blonde" continues to inspire new generations of young women to think outside the box and pursue their dreams, even more than 20 years after its initial release.
We learned many things from Elle Woods, the most important of which is to never wet your hair within 24 hours of getting a perm and deactivate the ammonium thioglycolate. However, we can learn more from her than just how to crack a murder case with your haircare wisdom. Elle Woods has a unique personal style featuring pink and creativity — a style that's very fun to replicate at home. We could all learn a thing or two on how to style our homes like this iconic Harvard Law student.
Don't be afraid of brightly colored furniture
If you want to decorate your home just like Elle Woods, you'll need to pick up some fun furniture. Elle is famous for loving bright, vibrant colors — especially pink. The "Legally Blonde" films lean into Elle's unique style, and her fun fashion sense often inspires the world around her.
According to sohoConcept, it's possible to use bright colors in your home design, even if you don't want everything to be bright pink. Consider picking a bright color and pairing it with a more neutral shade. This way, you can still experiment, but your space won't be overwhelmed with clashing pieces competing for attention. In addition, sticking to a color scheme helps balance out bold pieces (via Homes.com). When choosing colors to complement each other, consider ones from the same family, like warm reds, oranges, and yellows, or similar shades of the same color (navy, cobalt, cerulean).
Go all out on poolside decor
Elle's childhood home in Bel Air has a killer pool with a great ambiance. We catch just a glimpse of the lawyer-to-be's parents' home when she sends her Harvard video application. If anything, the scenes at the Woods' pool are a great look into Elle's childhood. We get a good idea of where she gets her style. If you have a backyard swimming pool you want to take from drab to fab, take a few pages out of her book.
According to Overstock, one of the most important things you can do when decorating around your pool is ensure there are plenty of spaces for lounging and sunbathing. You'll also want spots for enjoying a nice meal or drinks with family and friends. Lounge space is important because half the fun of having a pool doesn't involve swimming, but instead the ambiance from the water. In addition, there should be plenty of shade available for cooling off from the hot sun (via MyDomaine). We think the Woods would agree.
Curate an at-home library
Every good law student needs access to a great library, so if you want more Elle Woods in your life, we suggest putting together a home for all the books you currently have strewn around. According to Architectural Digest, there are several ways to incorporate books into your home. Consider combining areas if you don't have the space to dedicate an entire room to a library. For example, you could line your dining room walls with beautiful built-in bookshelves or hang shelving units above your bed.
But remember, unlike Elle, your books don't have to be purely academic, so if you want to curate a space for the latest beach reads or WWII history novels, go for it. Your shelving units don't have to be a deep brown like at a law school library but can be a bright pink if that's your taste. They can even be a stark white if it fits your existing color scheme. Remember: room for books can also be found in unique, unused spaces like underneath the stairs or below the bed (via House Beautiful).
Comfortable bedding is a must
From the Delta Nu sorority house to the hallowed halls of Harvard, Elle Woods doesn't skimp on comfort. So, be sure that you have the best bedding available if you are trying to decorate your home like her. According to Real Simple, there are two main things to pay attention to when choosing bed sheets: thread count and material type. The thread count is how many threads there are in one square inch of fabric. The higher the number, the better quality the bedding is assumed to be. However, the fabric type is equally important, as not all material is created equal.
If you buy cotton sheets, 100% Egyptian cotton is best, followed by 100% Pima cotton. Sometimes, you might see Pima cotton labeled as Supima cotton. Since these options are the same, you can choose either. American Upland cotton is in last place since it feels scratchy and cheap. We can guarantee Elle Woods would never sleep on it.
Don't be afraid to stand out
The "Legally Blonde" movies are famous for characters who boldly stand out from the crowd. Don't be afraid to be bold in your design choices around the house. Remember to think outside the box like Elle and never take no for an answer. According to The Inspired Room, an essential part of decorating our homes is embracing our personal styles. We should feel comfortable in our homes. However, it's important to remember that we can change our clothes and hairstyles to match our current preferences, so we can also change our homes in the same way.
When feeling the need for a change in your style around the house, one of the best things is to try rearranging existing items (via Wit and Delight). If that doesn't work, consider adding accents to your space and revamping old pieces. Once you've tried these tips, you can consider redoing things completely. No matter what you decide, just like Elle, don't be afraid to be bold and authentically yourself.
Rely on classic styles for inspiration
The iconic Bend and Snap nail salon scene is totally retro, embracing an authentic 1960s vibe. If you want to recreate this look in your home, it's easier than you might think. According to The Spruce, the kind of style that typically comes to mind when we think retro is also called mid-century modern, or just mid-century. It's a term used to describe the color palettes, decorations, and furnishings popular throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
The style features bold colors and exposed metals, like silver chairs or gold-legged tables. Retro homes also have wallpaper with fun patterns, shag carpets, and a distinct neutral color palette. When going for retro decor, consider if you want your entire living space decorated in this theme. This plan might be too much for some, so you could also stick to a retro room or add a few mid-century accents to an otherwise modern space.
Invest in the comfiest pillows
Elle thinks Warner will propose to her, but (spoiler alert!) it turns out he dumps her instead. It's pretty sad when she's lying in bed mourning the end of her relationship, but at least she gets to be snuggled up with some comfy pillows. According to The Sleep Doctor, pillows come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of firmness. So, it's essential to pick the right pillow to get a good night's sleep. In addition, you should aim to replace your primary pillow every 18 months or so — a period we are sure is a lot more frequent than anyone typically does.
If you want to figure out if your pillow needs replacing, do a quick test and consider a few things. Does your pillow still smell bad after a wash? Is it badly stained or torn? Can you fold it in half without it automatically unfolding? If any of these things are true, Elle Woods would never use your pillows, and it's time for an upgrade.
Use pink for everything
You can't decorate a home inspired by Elle Woods without leaning into her favorite color. According to StyleCaster, turning a room pink is chic and easy to do. If you don't wish to paint the walls of each room in your house pink (which is cool to do if you want, by the way), consider ramping things up slowly with pink accents. Adding pink pillows to your couch is a great place to start, as are pink placemats on your dining room table or pink pots and pans in your kitchen.
If you want to take things further, consider pink upholstered furniture. Whether you choose one bold statement, like a couch, or multiple smaller ones, like a set of chairs, is up to you. To further spice things up, using different shades of pink like magenta, millennial pink, and rose in one space keeps things visually exciting. Finally, a fresh bouquet of pink flowers will instantly brighten a room.
Display artwork of your pets
No one loves their dog quite like Elle Woods loves her chihuahua, Bruiser. In fact, at her first job out of law school, Elle decorates her office with an avant-garde painting of her beloved pup. If you want to follow her lead, it's easy to fill your home with art inspired by your four-legged friends.
According to Instapainting Blog, the first thing to do when considering adding pet art to your home is to think about the type of portrait you would like. Do you want to recreate a famous work of art, simply inserting you and your pet? Or, maybe you would prefer a semi-realistic rendering that looks more like a photograph. You can also consider hanging up a colorful abstract painting of your dog in the living room. Whatever you choose, you'll need to think about the background elements, the size, and where in your home you like it to be displayed.
Bedazzle your picture frames
Elle loves to bedazzle everything, so her style is basically a DIY-lover's dream. We see most of her penchant for this in her undergraduate room at the sorority house. There are photos of her and Warner smiling happyily with frames decked out in sparkles. While that relationship didn't last, bedazzling is still a surprisingly popular way to snazz things up in your home.
According to vintage fashion expert Miss Amy May, you can bedazzle just about anything. You'll need a few supplies to get started, including a glue gun, glue sticks, and flat-backed gems. If you really want to get into it, purchase glue specifically made for bedazzling. The larger the gem size, the more arts and crafty the finished product will look. However, if you use smaller gems, you can bedazzle a pair of high heels and give them a nice and sparkly new look.
Using neon signs can be chic
In her undergraduate sorority house, Elle uses neon signs to instill a little bit of personality into the space. According to Digs Digs, many people might consider neon signs appropriate decorations for parties. They are also typically used to accessorize outdoor spaces or liquor store advertisements. However, when used correctly, they are a fun addition to any indoor living space.
You might want a smaller neon sign that spells out a word or phrase, like "love" or even "I love you." Or, you can choose to decorate with a sign shaped like your favorite animal or a hobby you enjoy, such as reading or soccer. Even neon signs in abstract shapes like lines and dashes can add a lot of ambiance to a room. Most signs glow one color at a time, but you can get lights that appear to give off different hues if you want to switch things up.
Always leave room for a DIY station
The girls in Elle's Delta Nu sorority love DIYing things. At the beginning of "Legally Blonde," they create a card for Elle to celebrate Warner's proposal. Even though Warner does not end up popping the question, the card still looks lovely. If you're also a fan of DIYing, make sure to have a special place for it in your house.
According to HGTV, a work table or desk is the first thing to include in your new hobby room. Whether you are making cards for your sorority sisters, painting DND minis, or crafting creations for your small business, you'll have a safe place for your projects. It's also good to have plenty of shelving space nearby as a storage solution. This space will ensure each item has a designated spot, and you can cut down on mess. Finally, it's a good idea to have a sink in the room in case things get messy.
Make spaces as pet friendly as possible
Bruiser feels at home wherever Elle goes. So, to make sure your home is just like "Legally Blonde," you can create a pet-safe space within your home. According to Moving.com, there are some simple ways to make your living space more pet-friendly. The first is purchasing trash cans that have lids on them. This way, your pets can't get into your garbage and potentially ingest harmful things. You'll also save yourself the mess of cleaning up after their mischief.
You can also put in tile instead of carpet since it makes it easier to clean up bathroom accidents and tracks from outside on tile. Finally, consider creating a nook for your pet inside your home to give them a safe retreat. This spot could be as simple as a dog bed in the living room or an entire room with a scratching post and litter box for your cat.
Fun accessories are a must
Elle is great at revamping spaces to reflect her personal style with fun accessories. Whether it's her room at the Delta Nu sorority house, her Harvard dorm, or even her eventual apartment in Washington D.C., an Elle Woods space is instantly recognizable. According to The Spruce, the small details in a room bring the overall style together and have an impact.
When selecting accessories, consider the value each item adds to the room. This tip will help prevent clutter. If each accessory brings value, it has earned its spot. If you are adding things randomly, your room will start to look over-decorated and crowded. In addition to this, consider the physical size of your items. If you have a huge room, then a tiny rug will look awkward in the space. On the other hand, a large painting or lamp might dwarf a smaller space.