Kelly Wearstler Interior Design: Her Style and 13 Ideas

Kelly Wearstler is one of the most influential interior designers working today, and one of the boldest. Her rooms are full of sculptural furniture, dramatic stone, unexpected colour and pieces from different eras that somehow belong together. They're not quiet, and they're not meant to be: they're designed to make you feel something.

In this guide I'll share who Kelly Wearstler is, the key elements of Kelly Wearstler interior design, her approach to materials, colour and lighting, 13 ways to bring her style into your own home without going over the top, and how her look compares with other famous designers.

The quick answer: Kelly Wearstler is an American interior designer based in Los Angeles who founded her studio in 1995 and is known for hotels such as the Proper Hotels, as well as homes, restaurants and her own collections of furniture, lighting and home accessories. Her style is bold, sculptural and layered, mixing vintage and contemporary pieces, raw and refined materials, statement stone, rich colour and graphic pattern. At its heart is storytelling: every room is designed to stimulate the senses and tell a story.

Who Is Kelly Wearstler?

Kelly Wearstler studied at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, which describes her as a renowned designer and alum. After moving to Los Angeles, she founded her own studio in 1995. Her work now includes private homes, restaurants, shops and hotels, including several Proper Hotels and Four Seasons Anguilla, alongside her own collections of furniture, lighting, textiles and objects.

She has written several books on design, judged a television design competition, and became the first interior designer to teach a class on MasterClass, where the course introduction says she "believes good design helps us live and feel better."

What Is Kelly Wearstler's Design Style?

In her MasterClass, Kelly Wearstler talks about stimulating all the senses: "what you touch, what you see, what you feel, what you hear." As she says simply, "You're creating a story." She also insists that "absolutely no detail is too small."

Her work is often linked to mid-century modernism, Hollywood Regency and Californian design, but it's never a straight copy of any one style, which is exactly what makes it so distinctive.

Kelly Wearstler's Approach to Materials, Colour and Lighting

Materials

Material is where Kelly Wearstler interior design really begins. She often lets one dramatic surface, such as a veined marble wall, a carved stone table or a hand-finished plaster, set the tone for an entire room, then layers contrasting textures around it.

Colour and pattern

Her rooms can be bold and saturated or calm and earthy, but colour is always used with confidence. Graphic floors, strong wallpapers and abstract art bring pattern, while rich velvets and plaster walls add depth.

Lighting and fixtures

Lighting in a Kelly Wearstler interior is never an afterthought. Sculptural pendants, alabaster and brass wall lights and dramatic chandeliers act as art in their own right, and she designs her own lighting collections for that reason.

13 Ways to Get the Kelly Wearstler Look

1. Choose one sculptural statement piece. A curved sofa, a chunky stone coffee table or a sculptural chair gives a room instant presence. A sculptural chair is an easy place to start.

2. Make stone the star. A dramatic marble splashback, a travertine table or a stone vanity brings her signature drama into a kitchen or bathroom. A seamless microcement bathroom is a softer, more affordable way to get a stone-like look.

3. Mix raw and refined. Pair rough plaster, raw wood or unpolished stone with polished brass, silk and velvet. The contrast is what makes her rooms feel so alive.

4. Use colour with confidence. Try a rich olive green, a warm terracotta or a deep plum on walls or upholstery, and repeat it two or three times in the room.

5. Add graphic pattern. A bold geometric floor, a striking wallpaper or a large abstract artwork gives a room energy. There are plenty of wallpaper ideas for bolder schemes, including gold wallpaper for a touch of glamour.

6. Treat lighting as art. Choose one sculptural pendant or a pair of statement wall lights and let them be the focal point.

7. Mix eras. Combine a 1970s armchair, an antique rug and a contemporary sculpture. Nothing should look like it came from one shop.

8. Go for chunky, organic shapes. Rounded edges, heavy bases and carved forms feel more Kelly Wearstler than delicate, spindly furniture.

9. Create a dramatic dining room. A heavy stone or wooden table, mismatched sculptural chairs and an oversized pendant turn dinner into an event.

10. Make a statement in the hallway. A graphic floor, a sculptural bench and a bold piece of art set the tone from the moment you walk in.

11. Style shelves like a gallery. Group chunky ceramics, stone objects, vintage books and a sculptural lamp, with space around each piece.

12. Try the softer California side. Her coastal work is calmer, with whitewashed wood, rough linen, handmade ceramics and sea light, proof that her approach works in a relaxed home too.

13. Build a kitchen around one monolithic island. A solid stone island with warm wood cabinets and sculptural pendants brings her bold, material-led look to the heart of the home.

Kelly Wearstler vs Nate Berkus

Both designers mix old and new and believe a room should tell a story, but where Nate Berkus is all about comfort and personal meaning, Kelly Wearstler is about drama, form and material.

How I Use Bold Design With My Clients

After more than 15 years of designing homes, pubs and restaurants, I've learnt that a little drama goes a long way, especially in a home.

• I pick one hero. A marble wall, a sculptural light or a bold sofa leads, and everything else supports it.
• I balance bold with calm. A dramatic dining room works beautifully next to a quieter living room.
• I think about touch. Velvet, stone, plaster and linen make a room feel as good as it looks.
• I use bold flowers. As a florist, I love sculptural branches, proteas or a single dramatic stem in a heavy vase, which suits this style perfectly.

Common Mistakes When Copying the Look

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kelly Wearstler?

Kelly Wearstler is an American interior designer based in Los Angeles who founded her studio in 1995 and is known for bold, sculptural interiors for homes, hotels, restaurants and shops, as well as her own furniture and lighting collections.

What is Kelly Wearstler's design style?

Her style is bold, sculptural and layered, mixing vintage and contemporary pieces, raw and refined materials, statement stone, rich colour and graphic pattern.

What hotels has Kelly Wearstler designed?

Her hospitality work includes several Proper Hotels, such as the Santa Monica, San Francisco and Austin Proper Hotels, and Four Seasons Anguilla.

Where did Kelly Wearstler study?

She studied at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston.

Does Kelly Wearstler design lighting?

Yes. She designs her own collections of lighting, furniture and home accessories, and sculptural lighting is a signature of her interiors.

How can I get the Kelly Wearstler look on a budget?

Choose one sculptural piece, add a bold colour or wallpaper, mix in vintage finds and use stone-look or plaster finishes instead of real marble.

What is the difference between Kelly Wearstler and Nate Berkus?

Kelly Wearstler's style is bold, sculptural and dramatic, while Nate Berkus's is warm, layered and relaxed. Both mix old and new and believe a home should tell a story.

Design That Makes You Feel Something

The lasting lesson of Kelly Wearstler interior design is to be brave: choose materials you love, let one piece take centre stage, mix eras and textures, and build every room around a story. Even one bold idea can transform the feel of your home.

And if you'd like help adding a little drama and personality to your home, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.