30 Apr 2025
Does Martha Stewart Do Interior Design? Real Talk on Her Signature Style
- Garrett Thorburn
- 30 Apr 2025
- modern home interiors
You’ve seen Martha Stewart’s name everywhere—on cookbooks, TV shows, towels, even pots and pans. But does she actually do interior design? That’s a question people keep asking, and the answer is more interesting than you might think.
Martha never claimed to be a professional interior designer with a fancy degree, but she’s influenced home interiors for decades. From the way she styles a mantel to her knack for making any room look chill, warm, and actually livable, Martha’s ideas shape what people think a modern home should look like. And honestly, a lot of pro designers borrow her tricks—open shelves, layered roses, linen everything? That’s classic Martha.
If you’re looking to freshen up your space but refuse to deal with stuffy rules, you’re in the right place. There are plenty of ways to use the Martha approach at home—even if your space is nowhere near her New York farmhouse or that famous Maine cottage. Ready to see what she actually does, and how you can steal the best ideas? Keep reading.
- Is Martha Stewart Actually an Interior Designer?
- How She Shapes Modern Home Interiors
- What Sets Martha's Style Apart?
- Most Popular DIY Tricks from Martha
- Simple Ways to Get the Martha Look at Home
Is Martha Stewart Actually an Interior Designer?
Here’s the straight answer: Martha Stewart isn’t a professional interior designer by training, but she’s shaped American home style more than most people with the official title. Her background is actually in modeling and catering—yep, nothing to do with a design degree or a fancy art institute.
What makes Martha stand out in the world of modern home interiors is her hands-on experience. She started out running a catering business from her own home and naturally got obsessed with how her spaces looked and felt. When Martha published her first big book, "Entertaining," in 1982, people got hooked not just on her recipes but on the way she set up her home. That book and her TV appearances made regular folks care about their kitchens, living rooms, and even backyards in a new way.
Martha’s style isn’t about chasing trends or showing off. She highlights stuff like practical storage, cozy throws, and real flowers on the table. You won’t see anything overdone. If it isn’t useful, it usually doesn’t make the cut.
What’s wild is that a 2023 survey by House Beautiful showed that nearly 40% of homeowners said “Martha Stewart” was the first style inspiration that came to mind when they thought about home upgrades. That’s not just fame; that’s real influence, especially in interior design circles.
So, no official interior design certification, but a lifetime of making homes look better for millions? That’s probably why people keep asking if she’s a designer. In short, she may not have the formal title, but her daily work, products, and endless advice make her a guiding force in the world of modern home interiors.
How She Shapes Modern Home Interiors
Martha Stewart makes modern home interiors look thoughtful and easy at the same time. While she’s not a licensed interior designer, her stamp is everywhere. Her magazine, website, TV shows, and product lines all highlight ways to make your place look pulled together without calling in a pro. She brings an approach that mixes practicality, comfort, and that little something extra you can actually live with.
One big thing Martha did was change how people see “good taste” at home. Her early TV shows got folks thinking about the details—organizing a kitchen with clear glass jars, using white plates for any dinner, and mixing old and new furniture so your house doesn’t look like a showroom. Before Martha, “modern” usually meant super sleek or cold. She showed that you could pull off clean lines and soft textures at the same time.
If you look at her own homes, she’s big on natural light, neutral colors, and mixing classic pieces with affordable finds. Tons of homeowners and decorators picked this up. Sales of soft grays, cream linens, and light wood furniture took off in the late 2000s, right after Martha’s Bedford farmhouse started popping up in her publications and specials. According to a report by the National Kitchen & Bath Association in 2011, the use of neutral tones in kitchens went up by 27% in just three years—right in the Martha era.
| Signature Martha Stewart Elements | Modern Home Trends Impacted |
|---|---|
| Open shelving | More kitchens showing dishes and tools |
| Layered bedding | Textured, inviting bedrooms |
| Casual table settings | Less formal, more everyday style |
| Mixed materials (metal, glass, wood) | Popular in living rooms and kitchens |
Her influence goes beyond just what’s pretty. Martha Stewart is all about living well, which means creating spaces that work for real people. She’s known for storage hacks—like putting baskets in every room—and bringing garden elements inside to make a place feel fresh year-round.
If you want an easy way to tap into her style, try these basics: stick to light, calming colors, add some vintage touches, invest in a few baskets for instant storage, and keep things uncluttered but not bare. It’s the modern home interior formula that Martha’s been fine-tuning since the ‘80s, and it still works today.
What Sets Martha's Style Apart?
If you look at any photo of a Martha Stewart room, there’s just something about it—you know it’s hers. So, what makes her approach to interior design different from the rest of the crowd? First up, she’s all about blending classic American looks with a fresh, modern twist, and she does it without making spaces feel stiff or overdone. Think crisp linens, simple vases full of flowers, and a lot of natural light. Her rooms aren’t wild or trendy, but you notice every detail feels intentional.
Martha’s famous for mixing high and low. You might see a pricey antique next to a basket from Target—no snob factor here. She’s one of the first home experts to really push that idea on TV, and now it’s the norm. She also loves using calming, neutral colors as a base—creams, beiges, soft grays—and then adding pops of color with fresh plants or art.
- Fresh flowers: Somewhere in the room—always. She’s obsessed with garden blooms, and her arrangements are usually casual, not fussy.
- Organized everything: There’s a place for every tool, spice, or towel, and it actually looks good. She started the “labeled glass container” trend for pantry goods back in the ’90s.
- Mixing textures: You’ll spot linen slipcovers, woven baskets, rough wood, and glossy ceramics—sometimes all on the same table.
- Functional displays: Instead of hiding stuff in cabinets, she makes things like dishes and utensils part of the decor, usually on open shelves or hooks.
And she’s not about flashy, expensive makeovers for the sake of it. A 2022 report by Zillow showed listings using words like "open shelving" and "farmhouse sink"—trademarks Martha’s used for years—sold faster and got more views. So yeah, her modern home interiors touch has real staying power in the market.
If you want your place to feel put together but never precious, channel a bit of Martha. You don’t need money or a mansion—just pay attention to the mix, storage, and those little “wow, that makes sense” details.
Most Popular DIY Tricks from Martha
If you’ve ever watched a Martha Stewart show or flipped through her magazine, you know she’s all about practical, hands-on ideas for modern home interiors. Martha’s not just about fancy table settings—she’s given regular folks clever ways to make any space work better and look a whole lot cooler.
One classic interior design move she’s famous for is color-coding. Whether it’s bookshelves, kitchen supplies, or even towels, Martha loves a fresh, organized look that’s also easy to pull off. Want your pantry to look photo-worthy? Try grouping things by jar shape, labels out, and colors together. Instant upgrade.
- Paint Tricks: Martha is behind the trend of painting old furniture in soft, neutral colors—think off-white, sea glass green, or pastel blue. She often talks about picking one main color and adding matching accents (like throw pillows or vases) for that pulled-together vibe.
- DIY Centerpieces: If you see a Martha tutorial, there’s probably a simple flower hack. Her favorite tip? Use grocery store flowers—but arrange by type for a bold, modern look. She suggests trim each stem to a different length so your bouquet has some height and drama without being fussy.
- Open Shelves Done Right: Martha’s kitchens are known for their open shelving. The trick is to stack plates, bowls, and glasses neatly, and keep only what you actually use. She swears by clear glass jars for dry goods (flour, sugar, rice). Pro tip: Always keep labels simple, even handwritten.
- Soft Textures: She’s a believer in mixing up textures. She’ll use a chunky knit throw on a linen sofa, or cotton napkins on a rustic wood table. Layered looks keep a room from feeling stiff or staged.
Martha’s not all talk—she’s shared stats showing homes with open, organized shelves (not hidden cupboards) actually help people waste less food and save money. Take a look at this:
| Trick | How Fast You Can Do It | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Color-coded pantry | 30 minutes | $10-30 |
| Painted chair makeover | 2-3 hours | $15-40 |
| DIY flower arrangement | 15 minutes | $8-20 |
| Open shelf organizing | 1 hour | $0 (reuse jars) |
What’s cool about Martha’s decorating tips is that most don’t require fancy tools or a huge budget. She’s known for finding a way to make things easy—and teaching you how to do it, even if you’ve never held a paintbrush. All the little tweaks add up fast: rooms look better, life feels less cluttered, and you get that breezy, modern vibe in your home.
Simple Ways to Get the Martha Look at Home
If you want your place to have that Martha Stewart vibe, you don’t need a designer’s budget or a giant farmhouse. It’s more about habits and smart upgrades than chasing trends. Martha’s signature style for modern home interiors is all about being both cozy and put-together. Here’s how you can pull that off without going overboard.
- Go Neutral, But Layer Textures: Martha is famous for using lots of whites, beiges, and soft tones as a base. She piles on texture—think cotton throws, chunky woven rugs, linen napkins. Pick a calm color and build from there with comfy stuff you actually want to touch.
- Open Shelving Isn’t Scary: She loves showing off collections (like stacked white plates or glass jars on open shelves). It makes kitchens feel bigger and more personal. Just keep out what you actually use, and stash the rest.
- Mix Old and New: Martha’s spots never look too matchy-matchy. She’ll pair a vintage coffee table with a modern sofa, or throw a thrifted vase on a crisp new bookshelf. Don’t be afraid to blend family hand-me-downs with your newer buys.
- Fresh Flowers, Always: You won’t catch Martha’s homes without fresh flowers on the table—she’s even known for foraging from her yard. You can grab grocery store tulips, cut greenery from outside, or use dried lavender to get the look without fuss.
- Clear Out the Clutter: She’s all about everything having a spot. Use baskets, bins, or clear jars to store stuff out in the open but neatly. It keeps your space looking intentional instead of messy.
- Signature DIY Touch: Even if you’re not handy, there’s room to add your twist. Martha’s earliest magazine covers featured her own hand-painted pumpkins and homemade soaps. You can start smaller—tie your own napkin rings, or print out labels for your pantry jars.
Need a quick overview of some classic Martha-approved upgrades for your home? Check out this simple guide:
| Area | Martha-Style Upgrade | Time Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Open shelving, matching jars, fresh herb pots | 1-2 hours |
| Living Room | Neutral pillows, a big woven basket, fresh flowers | Less than 1 hour |
| Bathroom | Stacked towels and a tray for soaps | 30 minutes |
| Entryway | Storage bench, baskets for shoes, simple rug | 1 hour |
It really comes down to small changes that feel personal. Martha’s big secret? She makes things look easy, but it’s really about paying attention. Pick your favorite tip above and run with it. You’ll get a space that feels fresh, organized, and totally lived-in—all without having to hire anyone.
