There’s nothing like a Nancy Meyers home, and you can create one too, with these decor ideas inspired by It’s Complicated!

“Home Sweet Home.”

Have you ever been in a home that looks elegant and polished without anything looking ornate or decorative? Everything appears effortlessly stylish, while also being warm and welcoming. If you love spaces like that, you’ll love all the homes in Nancy Meyers movies!

Take the 2009 movie, It’s Complicated, for instance. It’s owned by Jane, a bakery owner, who’s also a single Mom of grown-up children. Jane is pleasant, easy-going, stylish and good at her job, and her Santa Barbara home reflects these qualities.

If you’re a fan of this charming, casual and lived-in aesthetic, you’ll love these decor ideas inspired by It’s Complicated. They are actually as effortless as they seem, and you’ll enjoy the process!

Decor Ideas Inspired by It’s Complicated

While all of her movies do have Nancy Meyers’ signature all over them, the sets of It’s Complicated were designed by production designer Jon Hutman and set decorator Beth Rubino. They infused a 1920’s Spanish-style ranch with some Belgian touches, resulting in a gorgeous home that feels comfortable, classic and certainly very ‘homey’!

Organized kitchens

When you talk about Nancy Meyers movies, you can’t help but discuss the absolutely stunning kitchens in them. In Jane’s home in It’s Complicated, she features a kitchen that is well-stocked and organized, without looking too sterile.

Open shelves have neatly stacked dishes and bowls, most of them in neutral colours. Well-worn copper pots and pans hang from hooks, adding to the lived-in aesthetic. Not all cabinets have doors – some have a ‘curtain-skirt’ covering them, which looks charming. There are closed-door cabinets too, with glass doors that give you a peek into what’s inside.

Kitchen islands and carts

Jane’s kitchen has a nice big island in the middle, which is a great spot for a quick bite while also offering extra countertop space. If you have the space, it’s a good idea to create an island like this, and you’ll certainly be grateful for the extra space!

If you can’t go for an entire island right now, you can try something else Jane has – a kitchen cart or trolley. This acts as a movable island, and also has shelves underneath for extra storage. It’s a great way to add a little extra space without taking up too much room, especially since you can roll it to the side when not in use.

Baking area

Jane is a baker who owns her own bakery, which deserves a post of its own! It’s only natural that she’d bake at home too, especially when she has special guests over, like Adam! For this, she has large containers of baking supplies along with baking equipment, some of which are on display.

You can create your own little baking area too, with cute matching containers for your flour, sugar and other supplies. If you’re short on space, well, that’s where the kitchen cart or island can come in handy!

Fresh fruit and flower displays

Jane may be a baker, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t eat healthy at home! In fact, you’ll find that she has a fruit bowl on nearly every surface in her home – kitchen counter, island, dining table and coffee table. Fresh fruit in a wooden bowl is such a great accessory to give your home a pop of colour instantly.

But fruit is not the only thing Jane has; she also has lots of flowers and plants in vases and pots around her home. She seems to love growing her own herbs, and it’s also a fun way to add some greenery that you can actually use when you cook!

Elegant table settings

There are lots of scenes in It’s Complicated that focus on food, and they’re all presented beautifully. Being in the food industry, Jane takes her meals seriously, making even a simple lunch an elegant affair. She achieves this by using neutral dishware, good quality glassware and wooden trays and bowls.

Make the moment more special with good linen napkins, candles, and beautiful centerpieces. Avoid anything with too many prints or patterns – let the focus be on the gorgeous food, the company and the interesting conversation!

Gardening spaces

Jane has a garden that looks like heaven, and we can see where she gets all her fresh produce from! A garden that big needs a fair amount of maintenance and tools. These things aren’t usually attractive, but Nancy Meyers manages to turn even unsightly items into aesthetic vignettes!

Jane puts all her gardening supplies in one spot, and they’re neatly organized in large boxes and baskets. By keeping them all in the same color scheme, you get a good-looking organization solution, and you won’t misplace anything!

Neutrals with orange pops

Jane’s home uses warm neutrals like taupe, beige and cream as base colours – apparently, the director thought they would complement Meryl Streep’s complexion best! But she stops things from getting boring by infusing her spaces with pops of bright orange and a few navy touches.

Orange is a warm, cheerful color and perks up the space right away. It’s used in table runners, fruit, cushions, throws and even larger pieces like accent chairs. It’s spread across all the rooms of the house so it looks cohesive.

Black accents

Besides the orange, black is also a prominent colour, with accents appearing in all the rooms. The window panes, fireplace, spindle chairs and photo frames are all black, and they go very ell with the orange and neutrals. The trick is to keep them under control and to not overuse them, or you risk ruining the light, airy feel of the space.

Natural light

One of the easiest ways to make your home look comforting and welcoming is to use lots of natural light. Jane’s home has huge windows and doors that are completely made of glass, letting in large swathes of natural light. You can make the most of your natural light by ditching the heavy drapes and choosing sheer curtains or blinds made of natural materials.

Natural textures

Nothing spells quiet sophistication like using natural materials in your home. This is a feature in all Nancy Meyers homes, including Jane’s in It’s Complicated. The kitchen island is made of marble, which goes well with the ceramic sink and utensil holders.

Wood is also quite prominent, in furniture, utensils and bowls. Meyers also prefers natural fibers like bamboo for blinds, linen for napkins and sisal for rugs. Even the sofa slipcovers and table runners are made of natural linen, which adds to the homely feel.

Conversational layouts

Jane is a pleasant, friendly person, and she hosts frequently – family, friends and of course, lovers! Frequent entertaining means she needs spaces that are suitable for the purpose, and she’s done an excellent job of creating them!

The dining table is placed right next to the kitchen, so cooking, serving and dining all happen in a smooth flow. The sofas and armchairs are arranged in a layout that encourages conversations, sharing and lots of cuddles!

Comfy furniture

One reason we think of Jane’s home as cozy and comforting is because that’s the message the furniture gives us! The beds are nice and fluffy, with thick quilts, multiple pillows and upholstered headboards. The sofas are chunky and large, with lots of cushions and throws.

It’s this kind of layering that gives the home its cozy feel. There are other elements which help, like extra-large floor cushions, and thick chair pads for dining room chairs or bar stools. Add a nice, soft rug underneath and your cozy haven is ready for relaxing!

From these decor ideas inspired by It’s Complicated, you’ll notice that most of the things in Jane’s home are basic, classic pieces, but they’re well-made and crafted from natural materials, which is what gives them that polished, elegant vibe. If you want the same feel, avoid extremely trendy pieces, or anything that has too many bells and whistles. Clean and comforting is the way to go, and it’s also easier to maintain over the long term!

This post is a part of Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026.

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