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I wasn't a huge Star Wars fan growing up, so I don't claim to know the answers, so please don't ask me anything super vague about canon. I've seen bits and pieces of the original trilogy of films over the years here and there, but what I remembered – the puppet show, space opera feel – was a little creepy, if a little creepy. , I meant it in a good way. But like many others, the cuteness of Baby Yoda in “The Mandalorian” drew me back into the world of “Star Wars” like a black hole. Since I didn't have much else to do during his year, this series became the jumping off point for me to become a complete nerd, and I watched all of the Star Wars films not once but twice. I first watched his 1999 episode “Episode I: Phantom” in chronological order. From “Menace” onwards, they are arranged in order of release date. Along with the interpersonal and familial plotlines, it was the interiors of the original trilogy, especially his 1977 “Episode IV: A New Hope,” that impressed me the most.
Maybe it's an occupational hazard, but I've been obsessed with interiors in all media lately, including movies. While watching, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. More than 40 years later, major home decor brands and small manufacturers alike are borrowing liberally from the minimalist furniture and styling of Star Wars' two opposing worlds, and of course the ruthless world of the Empire. It seems so. Warm Tatooine interiors – both expertly created by original set decorator Roger Christian.
Whenever you're creating a fictional world or universe, there are plenty of opportunities to be creative without being constrained by historical context or precedent to shape your aesthetic decisions. That said, George Lucas' ideas still come from somewhere, with the original Empire with its symmetry and sophisticated futurism about the influence of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey on his set. Much has been written about it. As it turned out, Lucas commissioned Kubrick's own collaborator, conceptual artist Colin Cantwell, to create a prototype for the Death Star.
For Tatooine, however, the inspiration may have been more of a happy accident during scouting, even extending to the final set's modest but stylized furniture. Luke Skywalker's childhood home, filmed on location at the Hotel Sidi Doris in Matmata, Tunisia, is actually an underground dwelling built by the Berbers hundreds of years ago, and filming began in the 70s. It was eventually converted into a hotel. Desert homes and sandy canyons were meant to feel lackluster, reinforcing Luke's desire to escape his idyllic life and discover his true calling: the Force. I think it is. Oddly enough, this kind of muted hue is a common palette in home design today, but I really think it probably has a little to do with Star Wars — and it's I promise it's not just the die-hard fan in me talking.
I'm not the first to notice the attention Star Wars set design receives from designers and creators alike. The internet is full of famous and lesser-known copycat projects. In 2019, Kayne West famously built four Star Wars-inspired domed homes for the homeless on his property in Calabasas, but they were later demolished due to lack of permits. Death Star panels aren't just featured in the miniature world, they're also featured in real-life playrooms, home theaters, and even bedrooms (not just kids' spaces), where they're trending on Pinterest. Why customize your furniture with paint or peel-and-stick wallpaper when you can hack BILLY's bookcase to create a bespoke display case and add Death Star detail to the back of the shelf?
It turns out that's just the tip of the iceberg of galactic-looking decorations. Danish brand Hay is now selling off-the-shelf decorative neon tube LED lights that not only resemble the lights scattered around Darth Vader's lair, but also (and perhaps even more obviously?) a lightsaber. GenZers sure love neon lights. All he has to do is place one or more of these neon lights along the walls of his home to recreate his own Death Star-inspired corners and hallways. You can also choose from 5 different colors to create a custom his combo or pay homage to your favorite Jedi or Sith weapon.
But if you're now looking for more convincing evidence of Star Wars' influence on home design, the companies riffing on a version of warm minimalism offer real-life examples. That means you are doing it. As you may remember from the early movies (and if you're reading this, you've probably seen them), Luke and the rest of his Rebel friends are forced to live in the dirt, as opposed to the cold. I'm wearing clothes in neutral colors. Mainly imperial black and white clothing. As expected, the internal forces of both armies followed suit. Instead of Empire's high-contrast geometry, Tatooine is all creams, curves, and tonal textures.
So when I looked at Isobel's bookshelf at Urban Outfitters (pictured above), I saw Luke's house (also pictured above) with its irregularly shaped round niches and faux stucco cut-out windows and arched openings. I couldn't help but see the part. It's not just a one-of-a-kind item. The Isobel collection also includes storage consoles and wall shelves with similar silhouettes. Did I mention they also have resin lamps and full-length mirrors? “With the Space Age look we love, this modernist floor mirror makes a big statement with minimalist charm,” the product description reads. Is it the “Space Age”? Close to the space (opera) era.
Star Wars-inspired minimalism can perhaps also be seen in the warmer palettes currently prevalent in home design. From shell pink to saffron yellow, sunset colors are everywhere. These calming colors bring a sense of coziness and a soft yet uplifting energy to your interiors. It's something that many of us still need. It also pairs well with the warm, minimalist creams, tans, and greens (and, of course, the dunes and sandscapes of Luke's home planet). Admittedly, it's hard to prove a direct correlation to Star Wars here, but try saying it with humor. When it comes to certain home decor products available today, even glassware and mirrors are getting a makeover in the sun. They look just like Tatooine's twin suns, as evidenced by this copper-colored pottery barn Violeta mirror.
To bring things full circle, it would be remiss not to talk a little about Yoda's hut, which debuts on screen in “Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back,” as Luke learns to fully wield the Force from the Grandmaster. Sho. Himself. Much like Luke's Tatooine home, this cabin has a rounded, smooth, and completely organic shape. This is also warm minimalism at its best. — Made from the mud found inside the roots of trees. Oddly enough, Yoda's choice of decorative and functional objects feels especially on-trend right now. Glowing crystals to light up the house (salt lamps!) and bunches of herbs hanging on the walls (this feels like a world in the making). Eucalyptus shower stall hack to take over Instagram).
Perhaps the point of this article is to expand on how widespread Star Wars is in the creative world – filmmaking, of course, but also costumes, fashion, and even home design, especially warm minimalism. Steaming in your interior now is also expanding in terms of brands. That aside, if you want to incorporate a “minimalist Star Wars” aesthetic into your space, you don't have to use licensed products to get that look. Sure, Yoda's tiki glasses and Darth Vader's toaster are fun, but these days you can find stylish items that would look good in a Tatooine tavern or the Death Star itself.