7 Ways to Capture the Soho House Style in Your Own Home

The exclusivity of Soho House undoubtedly adds to its allure, but if you’ve ever gotten a peek inside one of this members-only organization’s 30+ locations around the globe, you know that a large part of the draw lies in its beautiful, eclectic-yet-cozy aesthetic. Vibrant images of the club’s interiors have been making a splash, inspiring countless Pinterest boards and prompting homeowners to wonder how they can recreate this style in their own homes. As luck would have it, Soho House sells many of their favorite pieces via their retail brand, Soho Home, making that a totally realistic prospect! We spoke to Lead Designer Harriet Liley to hear about the design elements that define “Soho House Style” — and to learn how we can achieve a similar look and feel in our own spaces.

Embrace the Local History and Flavor

The Soho House interior design team gathers much of its inspiration from the local culture. With only one exception (Austin, TX, if you’re curious), every Soho House is in a historic building with a storied past. For instance, the Istanbul, Turkey location, which happens to be the largest Soho House outpost, is located in the former American embassy — a 19th-century palazzo that’s rumored to have been transferred to the U.S government in a poker match. Other locations range from former convents and converted warehouses to post-war reconstruction landmarks and even countryside English manors.

The design team embraces the narrative of each location and captures elements to infuse into the design. In Nashville, TN, for example, Soho House took over the former May Hosiery Mill (which supposedly provided socks for the first astronauts on the moon). In keeping with the building’s history, socks were used as a conceptual design element. There’s an intimate event space aptly dubbed “The Sock Room,” industrial metal lamps inspired by traditional sock machinery, and even decorative velvet trim on the curtains reminiscent of athletic socks.

Additionally, each city’s creative influences play a significant role. In Nashville, that includes the bold stripe on the pool terrace inspired by BB King’s guitar and an impressive collection of local art. In Chicago, you can browse work from artists like Theaster Gates, Damien Hirst, and Kerry James Marshall. In Austin, there are pieces from Texas-based artists such as Deborah Roberts and muralist Desireé Vaniecia. “Incorporating original artworks into our Soho Houses has been part of the core aesthetic since the founding of the company,” says Harriet. “As a space designed for creatives, it was integral that artists be involved. That relationship has only deepened throughout the years, and we now focus our collections on featuring artists born, based, raised, or trained in the cities where new Houses are opening.”

To achieve this look: A little research goes a long way. If you live in an older home or neighborhood, you’ve already got a leg up on embracing your area’s history. If not, head to your local library and do a deep dive into what makes your city unique, then use it as a foundation for your home design details — whether you pick up the local flora and fauna in your wallpaper or pay tribute with vintage pieces from the era of your city’s birth. Scour nearby galleries and estate sales for original local artwork, or even commission a few pieces from friends and family who live in the area — they’re part of the local fabric, too!

Find Your Colors

Capitalizing on local flavor extends to each House’s color scheme — the design team typically pinpoints a building feature or nearby element to use as the basis for their palette inspiration. In Tel Aviv, earthy terracotta tones saturate the aesthetic with exotic Mediterranean elegance, from bedroom upholstery to poolside umbrellas.

In Nashville, timeworn exterior doors prompted a range of shades that represent the current patina. “The tones of turquoise throughout the House were inspired by lots of the building’s original features, which had aged and oxidized over time into a beautiful verdigris copper,” says Harriet. “You’ll see our interpretation of this on the main club bar front, throughout the upholstery, and across some of the tiles and mosaic flooring.”

To achieve this look: Find a color that speaks to you and run with it! Pull out a blue shade from the hydrangea in your garden, match the crimson from drapery at your historic town library, or highlight the original 1970s kitchen backsplash that you retained from your home’s original design. Once you’ve chosen your color (or several), incorporate it into your design details, from bookshelf vignettes to your master suite headboard fabric.

Add Layers, Textures, and Patterns

To open the door to any Soho House is to step foot into a world of highly saturated layers, textures, and patterns. “Layers in our interiors are fundamental to Soho House,” explains Harriet. “Mixing textures, materials, colors, and patterns adds vibrancy to a carefully curated, yet familiar aesthetic.” This maximalist approach is all in the name of comfort. “Comfort, lighting, and layers,” Harriet confirms. “Comfort is key to creating a home-away-from-home for our members, wherever they are in the world.”

To achieve this look: Don’t be afraid to overlap patterns, pair multiple fabric types, and combine styles. Are you drawn to ceiling tiles, exposed brick walls, and rustic hardwood flooring? Embrace it! Throw caution to the wind and take a few chances with your style. The beauty of maximalism is it allows for freedom of expression. Just be sure you maintain a common color or pattern throughout your space to tie it all together and keep it from appearing overly “busy.”

Choose Statement Area Rugs

Statement rugs can elevate a room by infusing patterns, adding coziness, or contributing a vibrant focal point for an otherwise monochromatic space (for more on that, check out this article on 4 Ways to Make a Statement with Rugs). At Soho House, the design team uses rugs to accentuate furniture vignettes and add warmth and depth — particularly in bedrooms, event spaces, and club seating areas. From hand-knotted artisanal rugs to vintage iterations inspired by mid-century interior design, they employ a wide range of styles to support the aesthetic narrative.

To achieve this look: Let your area rugs offer a platform to highlight your furniture, but let the rugs help tell your story, too! Whether you opt for bold graphics or muted florals, adding rugs is an easy way to bring in another layer of depth.

Combine Vintage + Custom Pieces

The classic-meets-contemporary style of Soho House is one of its most charming draws, and much of that can be attributed to the furniture. From velvet armchairs (more on that later) to vintage mirrors, the design team searches high and low to find the perfect combination of custom and vintage pieces for each outpost. Their furniture is so sought after that the company created its own line called Soho Home, where you can find pieces inspired by all of the existing Soho House interiors — from intricate oak bar cabinets with antiqued brass fittings to marble dining tables and tufted bed frames.

To achieve this look: If your budget allows for it, you can, of course, source exquisite vintage and custom pieces for your abode. But you don’t have to empty your wallet on one-of-a-kind pieces to accomplish your dream space. Keep your eye out for thrift store finds and clearance sales. Take your time to assemble a curated collection of furnishings that both speak to you and embody the style fusion you’re going for.

Catch the Velvet Vibe

Rich fabrics are the name of the game, and none is more prevalent at Soho House than velvet. The interior design is rife with plush velvet seating, throw pillows, drapery, and beyond. If you were to pick up on only one recurring theme among all of the House locations across the globe, velvet upholstery and embellishments would likely be it — at any given site, you can expect a strategic smattering of velvet in pops of color such as indigo, currant, goldenrod, and celery.

“Upholstery is key, of course, for the right level of comfort,” says Harriet. “However, adding the right lighting and textures in cushions, throws, and home accessories … can enhance a space that’s already been designed and developed. These are also items you regularly touch, and there’s something about that touch and feel that makes something feel even more special — more than just looks!” In Paris, you’ll find deep olive velvet seating in the theater, while the bedrooms in Mumbai, India, boast lush velvet jewel-toned sofas.

To achieve this look: Anchor your space with an emerald velvet couch, flank your fireplace with eggplant-colored velvet chairs, or toss a few canary yellow accent pillows on your bed. Given its popularity, velvet pieces aren’t challenging to find these days, and it’s typically durable enough to withstand your home’s daily wear and tear, so you’re looking at purchasing a piece that should stick around for a long time. Soho Home also makes taking care of your velvet pieces a little easier with its handy dandy Velvet Furniture Guide, which (aside from giving you an overview of their in-house offerings) walks you through how to select and care for your velvet furniture.

Employ Mood Lighting

If you’ve never thought much about your interior lighting and its impact on your overall aesthetic, Soho House will have you sourcing custom fixtures in no time flat. After all, lighting sets the mood of a space, so you’ll need to consider toning down those bright white bulbs and opting for a softer, moodier approach.

“Lighting always sets the scene, and we work hard to make sure we’re incorporating the right shades, diffusers, and lighting levels to create a sense of warmth,” Harriet says of the design team’s outlook on lighting. “Lighting levels are key, and we set specific levels for day and night to create the right atmosphere for our members. This is so important and adds one of the final touches to our interiors. The lighting is carefully designed and lovingly made by many of our wonderful artisans around the world. We love pairing Italian glass, colorful ceramics, and aged metals with custom lampshades. Lampshades and their many design possibilities are essential to creating the perfect glow.”

To achieve this look: Fret not; the Soho House ambiance is within your reach. Even if custom shades aren’t in your budget, mood lighting can be achieved by swapping out your traditional switches with dimmers. Additionally, there are a variety of lightbulb options that offer a built-in mood factor. For example, Vintage LED bulbs can add an industrial touch, while halogen bulbs cast a warm amber hue.

Best of luck with your interior design endeavors. We hope you’re feeling inspired!

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