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This story was updated on Aug. 18, 2023.
It’s a Barbie World in interior design these days.
Americans have rushed to theaters in droves to see Barbie, the movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling and directed by Greta Gerwig. Released in theaters on July 21, the film grossed roughly $155 million during its opening weekend, giving it the biggest opening weekend of 2023 and the largest-ever debut for a female director.
As of mid-August, the film had also topped $537 million at the box office, the highest-ever grossing domestic film in Warner Bros. Discovery’s history, besting Christopher Nolan’s $536 million-grossing The Dark Knight released in 2008.
But the Barbie craze began well before the film hit the screen as fans celebrated the 60-year anniversary of the Barbie Dreamhouse, making “Barbiecore” the interior design trend of the moment, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported on its blog nearly one year before Barbie premiered.
The design wave includes — you guessed it — lots of pink, frills, vintage finds, florals, curvy furnishings and beds and sofas evocative of clouds. Plenty of holiday shoppers also channeled the trend last holiday season to find gifts for the Barbie-obsessed people in their lives.
“The nostalgia of Barbie’s iconic home has influenced the ‘Barbiecore’ movement, which draws on colorful, playful designs — and, of course, includes plenty of pink!” NAR blog contributor Melissa Dittmann Tracey wrote.
Dittmann Tracey noted that homeowners and designers are adapting the design movement to their own tastes by using varying shades of pink, for instance, rather than staying true to Barbie’s classic bubblegum hot pink.
Homeowners are playing with different shades of pink as part of the “Barbiecore” trend. | Євгенія Височина / Unsplash
Lean into waves and scalloped designs, whether in the kitchen, bedroom or bathroom to draw in Barbie’s iconic style.
The bright pink color and scalloped edges featured in this tray say “Barbie.” | Bloomingdale’s
Floral prints on linens or wallpaper are another theme of the trend that gives off Barbie vibes.
Floral wallpaper and curved furniture channel “Barbiecore.” | Vostok / Getty Images
Vintage artwork, like postcard prints that hearken back to Barbie’s start in the ’60s, also helps set the Barbie party scene in a home.
California Retro Poster | VectorUp | Getty Images
Bring out a home’s tropical Barbie with plenty of pink flamingo accessories and decor to jazz up a pool area.
Pink flamingos are so pool-side Barbie. | akinbostanci | Getty Images
Curved home furnishings, like this rounded sofa, also exude the Barbie aesthetic.
Round sofa with glam pillows | Kwanchai_Khammuean | Getty Images
During the holiday season, a pink artificial tree can set the tone for a smashing holiday party — à la Barbie.
Pink artificial tree | mela nie | Unsplash
There may be no better place to channel Barbie than in a home office, since Barbie, after all, is a woman of many careers. Pink desk + shag rug + sheepskin chair = a Barbie success.
Barbie is a career woman too. | Amazon
Whether inadvertently or not, socialite Paris Hilton also played into the Barbiecore trend back in August 2022 with a TikTok tribute to celebrity pal Britney Spears and her collaboration with Elton John on a song called “Hold Me Closer,” which was released on Aug. 26, 2022. The song marked Spears’ first new release in six years.
@parishilton “Hold Me Closer” is officially out & I’ll be playing it on repeat until further notice! So proud of you sis @britneyspears 👑🧚♀️💖 #HoldMeCloser #Sliving #ThatsHot ♬ Hold Me Closer – Elton John & Britney Spears
In the video, Hilton rocks out to Spears and John’s new tune while decked out in a bubblegum-pink athleisure suit, sneakers and matching sunglasses, all atop a bubblegum pink sports car. “Yaaass Britney the queen is back!” text superimposed above the video proclaims.
The real-life “Barbie penthouse” | Zillow
The real-life “Barbie penthouse,” located in Los Angeles and once owned by Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler, who raised their children Barbara and Kenneth there (AKA “Barbie and Ken”), went on the market for the first time in August 2021 for $9.99 million. At that time, the listing was represented by Douglas Elliman’s Scott Segall and Carrie Berkman Lewis. Today, the Altman Brothers Team is representing the three-bedroom, 3,200-square-foot property for $8.99 million.
