Homes in Movies & TV | Empire Learning

**Sources (with links) used for this article are compiled at the bottom. These sources would also be good for further reading/research into the topic.

Houses in movies and television have a way of sticking in our minds. They aren’t just backdrops. Sometimes the home ends up feeling like another person in the story. As real estate agents, we might hear about these places all the time. Clients will talk about the Brady Bunch staircase, the Home Alone dining room, or even the floating house from Up when describing their own wish lists.

Pop culture sets the stage for what people think a dream home should look like. It even influences the color palettes and layouts we see trending. This article looks at some of the most famous on‑screen homes and how they continue to shape the way our clients imagine “home.”

Classic TV Houses that Still Influence Buyers

1) The Brady Bunch House

Many of us grew up watching the Brady kids walk up and down their orange‑carpeted staircase. The real house used for the exterior shots is a modest ranch on Dilling Street that is about 2,477 square feet. All of the interior scenes were built on a soundstage, which meant set designers could ignore structural logic and instead focus on camera sightlines.

They created an open‑plan core, a sweeping staircase as the social centerpiece, and flexible rooms like an attic bedroom. Color “zones” separated spaces instead of walls. These design tricks made a small house feel much larger and gave the impression of endless space. No wonder viewers thought of it as the ultimate family home.

The fascination hasn’t faded. The house exterior became the second most‑photographed home in the United States after the White House. In recent years, HGTV bought the property and renovated it to match the 1970s set for a series called A Very Brady Renovation. Fans can now walk through the recreated rooms, sit on the shag carpet, and relive the show.

The nostalgia is strong. When we work with buyers from the boomer and Gen X generations, they often describe a dream of an open staircase or a den that feels just like Mike and Carol’s. It’s a reminder that a set built fifty years ago can still set design expectations today.

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2) The Home Alone House

If there’s one movie home everyone recognizes, it’s the red‑brick Georgian in Winnetka, Illinois, from Home Alone. According to Vanity Fair, the 1990 film grossed more than $476 million and turned the real house at 671 Lincoln Avenue into a tourist destination. The home, built in 1920, has a grand staircase and generous rooms.

Only some scenes were filmed inside. Others were shot on a soundstage with fake basement stairs and even a temporary treehouse. Yet the house became an instant character. It served as Kevin’s accomplice, setting traps and giving us those memorable booby‑trap sequences. Tourists still drive by, and the family that owned it recalls pranksters knocking on the door, inspired by the film.

The Porch survey on iconic homes found that the Home Alone mansion is the most recognizable movie home for many viewers, with millennial respondents joking about how Kevin’s dad could afford such a house. As real estate agents, clients compare large colonial or Georgian homes to the movie and picture themselves hosting big family holidays there.

Houses That Stole the Show

Many films use a house to set the mood. Sometimes the home steals the scene more than the actors. A 2024 article in Dengarden notes that movies can showcase homes that “capture our imaginations” and “stand out as their own characters, drawing you in just as much as the heroes and villains”. Here are a few homes that continue to inspire conversations with clients.

1) Beetlejuice

Tim Burton’s ghostly comedy features a farmhouse that transforms from simple to eccentric. The house’s skewed angles and exaggerated features reflect the quirky new inhabitants. Buyers interested in odd or Gothic homes might mention this movie.

2) Bag End

The hobbit hole in The Lord of the Rings is cozy and inviting. It creates an atmosphere of warmth and wonder. People looking for cottage‑style homes with wood beams and rounded doorways might refer to this imaginary hillside home.

3) Tony Stark’s Mansion

The cliff‑top mansion in Iron Man is the epitome of high‑tech living. It’s perched over the ocean and reflects Stark’s wealth and Playboy lifestyle. When clients ask for sleek, modern builds with smart‑home features, this might be the reference point.

4) Up

Pixar’s floating house symbolizes dreaming big and holding on to hope. The house acts as a character, representing the desire to escape the mundane while staying rooted in love and memory. It reminds us how much emotional weight people attach to a home.

5) Tara from Gone With the Wind

The plantation house named Tara is described as a symbol of resilience and longing, with a spirit of its own that rivals the human characters. This shows how architecture can embody values and history.

Home Had Personality

Each of these homes had a personality that shaped the story. When clients reference them, they’re telling us about the mood they want in their own houses:

Cozy
Eccentric
Grand
Futuristic

Modern Pop Culture and Design Trends

Pop culture doesn’t just entertain us. It shapes the way we decorate. A 2025 blog on Scale and Structure explains that movies and TV shows plant ideas in our minds about how spaces should feel, whether nostalgic, futuristic, or cozy.

The mid‑century furniture boom came after the success of Mad Men, while Bridgerton sparked a revival of romantic, Victorian‑inspired décor with ornate mirrors and pastel tones. Films like The Great Gatsby can inspire glamorous Art Deco touches, whereas Ex Machina encourages modern minimalism.

The same article notes that celebrity home tours and social media accelerate these trends. When viewers see their favorite actors in minimalist mansions or bohemian lofts, they adapt similar styles. Viral aesthetics, such as “cottagecore,” “dark academia,” and the Y2K revival, take off on TikTok and Pinterest.

Even gaming cultures like The Sims or Animal Crossing influence real‑world décor. As professionals, it helps to stay aware of these shifts. Clients might ask for a dark library with vintage lamps because they’ve fallen for “dark academia,” or request pastel kitchens after binge‑watching a Regency drama.

The Parasite Effect

One of the most talked‑about film houses in recent years is the modern dwelling from the 2019 Korean film Parasite. The production design, with its clean lines and open spaces, became a silent character in the story. The film’s minimalist look, like simple shapes, neutral materials, and monochromatic color schemes, has become a popular interior trend.

Designers note that Japanese‑inspired, low‑lying furniture featured in the movie has led to a renewed love for sleek, functional seating. At the same time, Parasite celebrated vintage pieces in the poorer family’s cramped apartment, spurring interest in:

Antique chairs
Victorian mirrors
Art Deco lights

The movie also highlighted clever use of space. In the lower‑level home of the Kim family, modular furniture made the most of limited square footage. Today, many homeowners seek flexible, space‑saving pieces for small urban apartments. Indoor plants, statement lighting, natural materials, and sustainability, all on display in the film, have become design staples. The film even sparked conversations about eco‑friendly choices and using reclaimed wood or recycled plastic at home. These trends show how a single movie can shift taste worldwide.

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Regencycore and Bridgerton

Netflix’s Bridgerton hooked viewers with its lavish sets and pastel ballgowns. According to House Designer’s blog, the show’s Regency‑era elegance has inspired a trend called “Regencycore”.

Soft pastel colours like dusky pinks, soft blues, and gentle greens paired with creams and ivory set the tone.
Furniture with clean lines and subtle curves, like mahogany tables, gilded mirrors, and upholstered settees, adds to the look.
Rich fabrics such as velvet and silk, heavy drapes, and ornate moldings complete the style.

When clients ask for a “Bridgerton vibe,” they’re often thinking of romantic wallpapers, crystal chandeliers, and vintage accessories. It’s our job to translate that into practical design and help them decide whether they want genuine antiques or modern reproductions.

The Power of Nostalgia and Micro‑Trends

Our culture is also leaning into nostalgia. The same Scale and Structure article observes that reboots and retro trends have revived design elements from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, like velvet sofas, terrazzo floors, and lava lamps.

Social media micro‑trends like cottagecore celebrate simple, rural life; dark academia embraces moody libraries; and Y2K revival brings back bright colours and iridescent surfaces.

These trends show up in bedroom decor, home offices, and even landscaping. As an agent, being conversant in these aesthetics helps you understand why a buyer wants a claw‑foot tub or a reading nook lined with bookshelves.

How to Use Pop‑Culture Awareness in Your Work

Film and television references are more than small talk. They give us insight into a client’s emotional drivers. When someone says they want a Brady Bunch staircase, they’re asking for an open, welcoming centerpiece. When they mention Kevin McCallister’s house, they may be dreaming of a big kitchen and a yard for sledding. Here are a few ways to use this knowledge.

Ask about favorite movie homes. It’s a great conversation starter. People often light up when talking about the houses they grew up seeing on screen.
Translate fantasy into reality. Remind buyers that TV interiors are usually sets. The Brady Bunch kitchen was built on a soundstage. You can still capture the feeling with an open floor plan or a central staircase without expecting hidden square footage.
Highlight similar features. If a listing has a grand staircase or a cozy reading nook, reference the on‑screen homes your client loves. It helps them imagine their life there.
Educate on practicality. Tony Stark’s cliffside mansion is spectacular, but wouldn’t meet your local building codes. Similarly, Up’s floating house is a metaphor. Help clients balance aesthetics with safety and budget.
Stay current with trends. Keep an eye on shows like Bridgerton or films like Parasite. Understanding why pink velvet sofas or modular furniture are popular right now will make you a more informed guide.

TLDR & Final Thoughts

Houses in movies and TV shows do more than provide a setting; they become characters that shape the narrative and our imaginations. From the cheerful chaos of the Brady Bunch house to the booby‑trapped halls of the Home Alone mansion, from the quirky transformations of Beetlejuice’s farmhouse to the minimalist elegance of Parasite, these on‑screen homes tell stories that viewers internalize.

Pop culture has a powerful effect on how people envision their own spaces. As real estate agents, we can use this awareness to connect with clients, decode their dreams, and guide them toward homes that suit their lives. After all, every buyer wants a house with personality. Listening to the stories they love means we help them find a place where their own story can unfold.

Sources

Los Angeles Times. “The real ‘Brady Bunch’ house architect and HGTV’s ‘Very Brady Renovation’.” Sep 23, 2019. Los Angeles Times
Architectural Digest. “Everything You’ve Ever Wondered About the Home Alone House.” Jan 24, 2025. Architectural Digest
The Guardian. “Home Alone house on sale for $5.25m.” May 28, 2024. The Guardian
Vanity Fair. “Fake Treehouse, Real Memories: Life Inside the Home Alone House.” Nov 2020. Vanity Fair
IndieWire. “Building the ‘Parasite’ House: How Bong Joon Ho and His Team Made the Year’s Best Set.” Oct 29, 2019. IndieWire
Architectural Digest. “Inside the House From Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite.” 2019. Architectural Digest
House & Garden. “What was a Regency interior really like and do TV shows like Bridgerton get it right?” May 16, 2024. House & Garden
The Telegraph. “The Bridgerton effect: How the Netflix show has shaped our homes.” Feb 13, 2021. Telegraph
Business Insider. “Mary Fitzgerald: How ‘Selling Sunset’ affected our real-estate business.” Nov 6, 2022. Business Insider
MCU Location Scout. “Stark Estate, Malibu | MCU Location Scout.” Jul 21, 2020. MCU: Location Scout
People. “Airbnb Announces Stays at Pop Culture ‘Icons’: See the Floating ‘Up’ House…” May 2024. People.com
The Washington Post. “HGTV is making our homes boring and us sad, one study says.” Jul 7, 2023. The Washington Post
Bucknell University News. “Bucknell study finds home improvement media influences consumers.” Oct 18, 2022. Bucknell University
JSTOR. S. Shimpach, “Realty Reality: HGTV and the Subprime Crisis.” 2012. JSTOR