6 Design Ideas From Aquarius Celebrities

Last fall, my mom and I were walking through SoHo when we came across a new ultramodern apartment building. “I would love to live there,” she gushed, while my face twisted into a frown at the sight of the towering glass structure. Our tastes in homes are diametrically opposite of each other—she would be thrilled to take up residence in Carrie Bradshaw’s all-white and robot home in And Just Like That…, and I’ll only live in old prewar apartments with crown molding and built-in mantles. She’s happy with a few abstract paintings on the walls, and I used to try and make my room look like an iSpy book (the more trinkets, the better). My mom and I are respectively a Pisces and a Virgo, but we both have Aquarius moons. Our difference in taste reminds me of the multifaceted nature of Aquarius: No two are alike, as demonstrated by all of the Aquarius celebrities and their fascinating lives behind the scenes.   

Let’s be real: Aquarius is a weird Zodiac sign. It’s ruled by both Saturn, the planet of rules, and Uranus, the planet of breaking all of the rules. These signs are innovative and forward-thinkers, but they can also be stubbornly rooted in their ideas. Aquarius wants to stand out, but also desperately wants to fit in! When it comes to design, Aquarius can be all over the place—some are living in the funkiest antique shop, and others prefer staunch minimalism. But it’s important to just let an Aquarius do their own thing, even if it seems a little out there. Take this season to tap into what really makes you unique with a little help from the following six Aquarius celebrities. 

Collect and display oddities 

There’s not a single Aquarius celebrity who doesn’t have something offbeat or unusual in their home, but Sheryl Crow takes the cake. Her rustic and romantic Nashville home is filled with some of the most delightfully bizarre items. There’s vintage coin-operated horses, a papier-mâché elephant head, and a chapel filled with creepy religious figurines. Have something you’re worried will freak people out if they come over? Put it on display! It’ll be a great conversation starter. 

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Ascend to the clouds

In an ideal world, an Aquarius would have the gift of flight because this brainy air sign loves to be airborne. That stereotype fits with Kerry Washington’s sky-high New York City apartment that looks as if it were floating in the clouds. Since we can’t all have floor-to-ceiling windows with an incredible view of the city, find a way to emphasize the windows you do have and give yourself the gift of natural light. Consider some cute sheer curtains or add mirrors to create the illusion of more light (like Kerry did in her home).  

Support a good cause 

Aquarians aren’t necessarily driven by personal success; they recognize the greater value of supporting and uplifting the collective. Actor Rainn Wilson clearly had this in mind while decorating his sprawling Spanish-style estate (and pig farm) on the California coast. He and his wife started a non-profit in Haiti that led him to amassing a collection of beautiful Haitian art. For your next piece of furniture or painting, look for sellers and artists who are representing themselves or donate a portion of their proceeds. 

Combine the unexpected

From the outside of Alicia Keys’s industrial La Jolla, San Diego, mansion, you would think that the interiors look like a scene from The Jetsons and that they are focused on a futuristic aesthetic. Instead, she and husband Swizz Beats filled their home with a mix of modern art, African sculptures, and quirky painted pottery that adds plenty of warmth to the colder stone architecture. Try mixing and matching items that seem like they might not go together—you could be surprised with the results. 

Find a strangely specific statement piece

When Matty Matheson set out to design his first Toronto restaurant, he specifically requested a sink that looked like Lake Erie. He got his wish and now has the coolest bathroom sink in maybe any restaurant ever. Fellow Aquarius and Hamilton actor Daveed Diggs had a similar approach to one of the bathrooms in his breezy LA house. The tiny powder room is outfitted in toile-esque wallpaper that contains extremely specific references to famous Bay Area residents and locations. Apparently, Aquarians love a statement bathroom! 

Foster community within your space

In almost every episode of Open Door, celebrities will emphasize their cozy living room or massive kitchen island that everyone likes to gather around when they have company. But having a place where their loved ones can come together is extra important for Aquarians—their sign rules friendship and community! Musician Maluma keeps it simple in his modern Colombian glass mansion with a pile of oversized pillows on a shaggy rug to create the perfect nesting ground for his guests to relax and gab. 

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest