Joel Osteen House: Inside His Home and 13 Design Ideas

Joel Osteen, the pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, is one of the best-known preachers in America, and his home attracts nearly as much curiosity as his sermons. Search for photos and you'll find plenty of grand houses labelled as his, but many of them aren't his at all.

In this guide I'll share where Joel Osteen lives, what's been reported about his Houston mansion, the viral photo that isn't his house, and 13 design ideas from a classic stone home like his that you can borrow for your own.

The quick answer: Joel Osteen and his wife, Victoria, have been reported as living in River Oaks, one of Houston's most exclusive neighbourhoods, since 2010. Their home there is a 17,000 square foot stone mansion on 1.86 acres with six bedrooms, six bathrooms, five wood-burning fireplaces, three lifts, a guest house and a pool house. It was valued at $10.5 million when they moved in.

Please note: the photographs in this article are illustrations of the style of home described, not photographs of Joel Osteen's house. Out of respect for the family's privacy, I don't share an address.

Where Does Joel Osteen Live?

Joel Osteen lives in Houston, Texas, close to Lakewood Church. According to CultureMap Houston, the Osteens moved in 2010 into a home in River Oaks, a leafy, historic neighbourhood known for its grand houses, wide lawns and mature oak trees.

Before that, the family lived in Tanglewood, another affluent Houston neighbourhood, in a far smaller home of around 5,600 square feet with four bedrooms.

Inside Joel Osteen's House

Very few photographs of the interior have ever been published, but property records reported at the time give a clear picture of the house. CultureMap describes it as "a 17,000-square-foot stone mansion" on a plot "surrounded by an ornamental fence."

Five wood-burning fireplaces and three lifts say a lot about the house: it's a large, traditional family home built for comfort over several floors, with outdoor space for guests and summer living.

The Viral Photo That Isn't Joel Osteen's House

If you've seen a photo of a sprawling mansion shared online as "Joel Osteen's house", it may not be his. The fact-checking site Lead Stories rated the claim false, explaining that the house in the picture is "the Hidden Hills, California, home of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, according to published reports."

The real house is a traditional stone mansion, which makes it a great source of ideas for anyone who loves classic, timeless design.

Joel Osteen's House vs Mark Cuban's Dallas House

13 Design Ideas From Joel Osteen's House

You don't need a mansion to borrow ideas from a classic stone home. Here are 13 ways to bring that timeless, welcoming feel into your own.

1. Choose natural stone and warm materials. Stone, limestone and warm wood give a home a solid, lasting feel. Even a stone fire surround, a limestone floor or a stone-effect wall brings some of that character indoors.

2. Frame the house with a beautiful boundary. An ornamental fence, a clipped hedge or a low wall with planting makes the approach to a home feel considered. Thoughtful hardscape landscaping and a few classic garden statues complete the look.

3. Make the entrance hall welcoming. A round table with a big vase of flowers, a lantern pendant and a good rug turn a hallway into a proper welcome. Smart hallway storage keeps it calm.

4. Build rooms around a real fire. Five wood-burning fireplaces show how central the fire is to a traditional home. Arrange seating around it and style the mantel simply, or go all out with these Christmas mantel decorations in winter.

5. Create a cosy library or study. Wood panelling, bookshelves, leather chairs and a fireplace make a room you'll actually want to sit in. A classic writing desk suits the look perfectly.

6. Plan for every stage of life. Three lifts in one house is a reminder that good design thinks ahead. On a smaller scale, wide doorways, a downstairs bathroom and good handrails make a home easier to live in for years.

7. Keep the bedroom calm. Soft cream and blue linens, an upholstered bed and a small seating area by the window make a main bedroom feel like a retreat. Layered bedroom lighting finishes it off.

8. Bring spa style to the bathroom. A freestanding bath, marble and a pretty light fitting give a bathroom real presence. A deep Japanese soaking tub is a lovely alternative where space is tight.

9. Make the kitchen warm and classic. Painted cabinets in a soft cream, a generous island and a range cooker never date. These best white paint colours are a good place to start.

10. Design the dining room for family. A round table encourages conversation, and a brass chandelier with flowers on the table makes every meal feel special.

11. Add a pool house or garden room. A pool house with French doors and a covered terrace turns the garden into a place to spend whole days. These pool house ideas work on every scale.

12. Give guests their own space. A one-bedroom guest house is a luxury, but a garden studio or a well-dressed spare room with fresh flowers and good bedding does the same job.

13. Plant a formal garden. Clipped box hedges, gravel paths and a stone urn give even a small garden a timeless, structured look that suits a traditional house.

Get the Look on a Budget

Many grand traditional homes share the same features as a classic English manor house: solid stone walls, formal rooms around a fireplace and gardens laid out for walking and entertaining.

How I Bring Classic Stone House Style to Everyday Homes

After more than 15 years of designing homes, pubs and restaurants, I find people love traditional houses for how calm and solid they feel, and that's easy to recreate on any budget.

• I start with natural materials. Stone, wood, linen and wool make a room feel grounded and permanent.
• I keep the palette soft. Creams, warm whites and gentle blues let architecture and furniture shine.
• I make the fire the heart of the room. Even a styled, unused fireplace gives seating a natural focus.
• I always add flowers. As a florist, I'd put a big, simple arrangement of white flowers in the hallway of a home like this; it's the most welcoming thing a guest can see. These simple flower arrangements are an easy start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Joel Osteen live?

Joel Osteen lives in Houston, Texas. He and his wife, Victoria, were reported as moving into a home in the River Oaks neighbourhood in 2010.

How big is Joel Osteen's house?

His River Oaks home was reported as a 17,000 square foot stone mansion on 1.86 acres.

How much is Joel Osteen's house worth?

It was valued at $10.5 million by the county appraisal district when the family moved in, in 2010.

How many bedrooms does Joel Osteen's house have?

It was reported to have six bedrooms and six bathrooms, plus a one-bedroom guest house and a pool house.

Is the mansion in viral photos Joel Osteen's house?

Not always. Lead Stories found that one widely shared photo labelled as his house is actually a home in Hidden Hills, California, reported to belong to Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.

Where did Joel Osteen live before River Oaks?

Before 2010, the Osteens lived in Houston's Tanglewood neighbourhood in a home of about 5,600 square feet with four bedrooms.

Does Joel Osteen's house have a pool?

Yes. The property was reported to include a pool house as well as a guest house.

Timeless Ideas From a Classic Stone Home

Joel Osteen's house in Houston is on a grand scale, but its best ideas are simple: natural materials, a real fire at the heart of each room, a welcoming hallway, space for family and guests, and a garden made for living in.

And if you'd like help giving your own home a calm, classic feel, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.