Paul McCartney's Anti-Trend Living Room Is Cozy and Lived-In

Paul McCartney’s home has a lived-in look. Ultra-modern, minimalist design has been all the rage for the past few years, but the iconic musician offers another alternative to this washed-out look. The result is an incredibly human style that reflects the personal style of the person who lives there.

Rather than blindly following trends, the Beatles’ living room embodies the timeless style of ’60s design. McCartney’s space is filled with warm, natural wood, from the built-ins to his coffee table and piano. Cozy textiles like the white and blue curtains and plaid bench add texture and quirkiness. Almost every spare surface in the room is covered in art objects: books, records, and sheet music. The overall effect is a space that practically invites you in.

The cozy living room embodies the anti-trend philosophy that has been sweeping the interior design world in recent years. For example, Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson predicted the rise of “rom-com interiors” in 2024. The phrase, which describes cozy interiors with a welcoming, lived-in feel like those seen in rom-coms from the ’90s and early 2000s, is just a new name for a style that’s been around forever: a polished, midi-malist look created for the atmosphere it creates rather than just the aesthetic.

The retro-style sensibility of McCartney’s living room, which draws inspiration from the 1960s and ’80s, reinforces the cozy, lived-in feel that defines the space. Jennifer Ebert, interior design expert and digital editor at Homes and gardenssays: “The ’60s style tends to be a celebration of patterns and upholstery fabrics. McCartney’s window treatments and piano bench evoke that feeling. The warmth of the wood stain in the space also draws inspiration from that period.”

Retro living room with brightly patterned accent chairs

A retro living room incorporating a variety of textiles, furniture styles and natural wood, similar to Paul McCartney’s space

(Photo credit: Andrew Martin)

She continues: “Rather than limiting herself to decorating based on that era, McCartney’s space draws inspiration from different periods while incorporating a personal touch. The antique Tiffany lamp in the background infuses the space with a sense of history, while the presence of personal objects tells a story about the lives of the people who live in the home.”

Discover H&G’s retro living room collection

To help you recreate Paul McCartney’s look, we’ve compiled high-quality textured pieces that can be used together for a vintage ’60s feel or incorporated into existing decor to add character.

This Tiffany-style lamp from Wayfair has a look that’s indistinguishable from designer versions, but at a fraction of the price. Pottery Barn tends to offer high-quality textiles at an accessible price point, and these elegant floral curtains are no exception. Finally, our editors love how this Wayfair coffee table can bring natural wood into your living room in addition to serving as an extra shelf. With these pieces, designing a living room is a breeze.

wayfair tiffany lamp

Curtains

Slatted table

Wooden slatted coffee table

However, decorating in a retro style isn’t about prescriptively following a look you’ve seen before. Replicating the look requires paying attention to your personal style and decorating according to your own interests. It’s an exercise in authenticity that works best if it’s a collection of things you love. To discover your interior design style, focus on determining the colors, patterns, and common threads that run through the different spaces you’ve created.

Paul McCartney never followed interior design trends, he set them. This space is proof that authenticity, warmth and welcoming energy never go out of style.