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How to give your home an Almodóvar makeover
Want to bring more main-character energy to your interiors? Look to the exuberant films of the great Spanish director for drama and inspiration
Almodóvar films are instantly recognisable thanks to their distinctive interiors. The Spanish director has worked with the production designer Antxón Gómez for years, and their fruitful collaboration has resulted in a signature style defined by vibrant shades, mid-century design classics and amazing art.
There has also always been a nod to La Movida, Spain’s early-1980s countercultural movement that ran in parallel with the Memphis group in Milan, sharing its love of boundary-breaking shapes and colours. Sharp-eyed design fans will spot pieces by the director’s fellow Spaniard, Patricia Urquiola, throughout his films. Here’s how to add some Almodóvar energy to any space.
‘Ark’ dining chair, Ferm Living
The perfect seat for Almodóvar-stye melodrama around the dining table, Ferm Living’s simple chair made from solid wooden planks has an unpretentious charm, while the royal blue colour packs a punch. It’s made from 100% FSC-certified wood and is designed to be easily dismantled, reducing its carbon footprint further. £249, fermliving.co.uk
‘Tones Pieces’ rug, Nanimarquina
There’s plenty of Almodóvar-level dynamism and drama in the graphic shapes dancing around this rug by Clàudia Valsells for Nanimarquina. The painter changed her usual medium to compose a design in Afghan wool which is hand tufted to translate her creative vision most effectively. From approx £2,417, nanimarquina.com
‘Ball Clock’, Vitra
Colourful, playful and slightly surreal, George Nelson’s famous ‘Ball Clock’ for Vitra ticks all the boxes for when it comes to capturing the Spanish director’s style in a single object. Use it to bring a touch of mid-century kitsch to a living room or kitchen. £285, vitra.com
‘Blossom’ dessert plate, Liberty
The rustic charm of Cabana’s ‘Blossom’ plates – hand-painted by artisans in Umbria – captures the nostalgic quality of Almodóvar’s films, where the past is constantly making its presence felt in the lives of his characters. £75, cabanamagazine.com
‘Botanicals’ wallpaper, Schumacher x Peg Norriss
Who needs real plants when you can have this joyfully colourful potted plant wallpaper by Schumacher x Peg Norriss climbing up the walls? Add it to a corner of the kitchen for an instant pop of colour and vigour. £48 per m, schumacher.com
‘Utrecht’ armchair, Cassina
Gerrit Rietveld’s ‘Utrecht’ sofa and chairs, designed in 1935 and reissued by Cassina, appear in several Almodóvar films including Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces). The sharp angled silhouette has an almost cartoon-like quality that perfectly suits the hyperreal nature of the filmmaker’s work, plus it looks good in every colour from cherry red to lilac. £3,844, chaplins.co.uk
Picasso ‘Femme Assise’ cushion cover, The Conran Shop
Any surface can be a showcase for art, including a sofa thanks to this cushion cover from The Conran Shop. Created in collaboration with the Picasso Foundation, it features the 1927 work ‘Femme Assise’ and is handcrafted in Flanders on jacquard looms. £145, conranshop.co.uk
Hexagonal lacquered side table, Studio Atkinson
The deep turmeric-yellow hue of this pop-art-inspired side table, plus its glossy finish and hexagonal shape, make it a real statement piece that will bring energy to any corner it’s placed in. £1,400, studio-atkinson.com
‘Deconstructed Stripe’ wallpaper, Schumacher
The fiery red lines in this geometric patterned wallpaper make for an engagingly dramatic atmosphere, and would give any living room a maximalist look in a heartbeat. Tone down the harsh lines by pairing it with softer details in creamy hues. £165 per roll, schumacher.com
‘Pompidou’ floor lamp, Jonathan Adler
The interiors in Almodóvar’s films are characters in their own right and Jonathan Adler’s pieces often make cameo appearances. This lamp represents his slightly surreal take on mid-century modern design perfectly. £1,650, uk.jonathanadler.com
‘Relax’ sofa, Knoll
A vivid tomato red is the director’s signature colour, appearing everywhere from Enzo Mari’s 1963 curvy ‘Apple’ print to Knoll’s ‘Relax’ sofa which can be spotted trying to upstage Tilda Swinton in The Human Voice (2020). From £5,650, skandium.com
‘Fabthirty+’ fabric, Rubelli
Upholstering your outdoor cushions and seating in this contemporary tweed fabric, which is made with an impressive five different yarns, means you’ll no longer have to worry about leaving them out in the rain again. With so many colours to choose from, make like Almodóvar and throw several of the brightest together. £137 per m, rubelli.com
‘Santita’ ceramic vase, Matchesfashion
The sculptural form and shiny glaze of this vase by Tina Vaia, which is handmade in Spain, makes it one of those vessels that will look just as good empty as when filled with flowers. £175, matchesfashion.com
‘Mezzola’ fabric, Designers Guild
The highly saturated red found in Designer Guild’s Mezzola fabric in ‘Persimmon’ recalls the rich reds that Almodóvar used throughout his production and that is often seen on clothing worn by the main characters in his films. Steal their main character energy by using it throughout your home to upholster statement pieces. £64 per m, designersguild.com
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