How Music Shapes The Way We Decorate Without Us Even Noticing

Marieke Rijksen
6 hours ago
2 min read

Most people assume interior design is a purely visual exercise. Colours, textures, shapes, light. But there is another influence quietly at work in many homes — one that slips into the atmosphere long before a paint chart does. Music.

Even if you are not someone who decorates with a soundtrack (and many people genuinely do not), the music you gravitate towards in daily life has a way of settling into your design instincts. Not overtly. No themed rooms. Just subtle shifts in rhythm, pace and mood that end up shaping the spaces you create.

Wooden stereo setup on a light wood cabinet. Includes speakers, books, and decor against a textured brown wall, creating a cozy mood.

The Slow Music People

Slow music listeners decorate with an unhurried kind of coherence. They layer naturally. They soften edges without meaning to. Their rooms feel like exhalations — calm, slightly warm, and quietly confident.

These are the homes with chairs you sink into rather than perch on, lamps that behave like late afternoon light, and textiles chosen for comfort rather than show.

Woman drawing on sketchpad, reclining on brown sofa in a cozy room with a wooden coffee table and potted plant, wearing jeans.

The Upbeat People

People who favour upbeat, energetic music often move through design decisions quickly and instinctively. Their interiors almost always have a sense of readiness — spaces that feel sociable, open and just a touch optimistic.

Think clean lines, bold art, furniture arranged to encourage conversation and kitchens that always seem prepared for unexpected guests.

Modern kitchen with yellow cabinets, black and white patterned backsplash, and appliances. Sunlit windows, calm and tidy atmosphere.

The Moody Playlist People

Moody, atmospheric music tends to create rooms with depth. Not necessarily dark, but layered, intentional and slightly introspective.

These homes often have corners made for thinking, richer palettes, grounding textures and a strong understanding of the emotional pull of a well-placed lamp.

Brown leather sofa with yellow cushion, art on dark wall, wooden floor. Potted plants and wine on tray create a cozy, elegant setting.

The Eclectic Listeners

Then there are the people whose playlists jump from one extreme to the next — and their interiors follow suit.

They often live in homes with cosy zones that feel like ballads, energetic hubs that behave like a chorus and hallways that move with surprising rhythm.

Their spaces are intuitive rather than curated, and more honest because of it.

Sunny bedroom with a large bed, colorful rug, and modern art on white walls. Plants by the window and wooden furniture add warmth.

Does It Matter?

Music influences pace, and pace influences design. It alters mood, sharpens certain instincts and softens others. Even if you do not decorate to music at all, the sounds you enjoy in everyday life filter into your sense of atmosphere.

It is why some homes feel inherently calm and others feel naturally lively, regardless of the style. The emotional tone is already set long before the sofa is ordered.

We like to think we decorate with our eyes, but a surprising part of it happens in our ears.