Practical Magic Home Decor Style: How to Get This Cozy Witch Aesthetic in Your Apartment
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Ah, the Practical Magic house… I know I'm not the only girly who has fantasized about what it might be like to live in that cozy Stevie-Nicks-hippie-witch paradise of a home, especially now that that it's fall.
There's just something about the newly autumnal air that puts me in the Practical Magic mood, you know? I find myself craving a rainy day indoors where I'm curled up on the couch with my cat Helo, watching Practical Magic, drinking a cozy drink, magically lighting candles by blowing on them… You know, the usual fall fantasies we all have.
And I know I'm not the only apartment dweller who wistfully dreams about the charm and character that comes with a Victorian house like the one in the movie. But even if your apartment lacks those iconic old world features, it is possible to conjure the spirit of the Practical Magic aesthetic through the power of styling!
So in this post, I'm exploring the Practical Magic decor look and give you some ideas that will make it more attainable in even the most basic new build apartment.
Would you rather watch than read? Here’s the video! ↓
When it comes to capturing the essence of the Practical Magic look, it really comes down to cozy nostalgia, vintage elements, thrifted oddities, rustic homeyness, and a free-spirited sense of self.
And there's a very interesting duality to the Practical Magic decor style; on one hand, it's very enchanting and whimsical, and then on the other hand it's very grounded, very down to earth and rustic. Visually, it's kind of like this dance between these two opposite forces: the practical and the magic, the grounded rustic and the enchanting whimsy.
So let's get into some specific decor ideas that will help you summon this style in your space, starting with decorative accents!
Decorative Accents
When shopping for decorative accents for this look, you want to aim for an earthy color palette, warm cozy fabrics, nature-oriented subject matter like vintage botanical prints, and really anything that looks like you could find it in a witch's cottage.
Remember, we're balancing the whimsical with the grounded, so rustic-meets-witch-aesthetic should be top of mind.
Apothecary bottles, velvet curtains and throw pillows, old books, peel and stick wallpaper that's reminiscent of the wallpaper they have in the Practical Magic living room… these are the things that will help you imbue the essence of this style in your apartment, even if you might not have the the Victorian architectural details.
And get a little playful with it! For example, I was looking for wall art like they have around their staircase in the movie - you know, that vintage portrait look - and I found this piece on Society6. It may not be exactly the same look, but it has a similar essence. And I also like that it it looks as though she's being consumed by plants, like she's some kind of forest witch who has become one with the woods. And thematically, that totally aligns with this style!
So when you're decorating with a specific inspiration in mind - like a movie - remember that you don't have to literally translate the style piece by piece. Sometimes it can be about capturing the themes and the spirit of the look, not making an exact copy.
And of course, for the Practical Magic look you’ll want to layer tons of plants and basically make a botanical wonderland out of your apartment. Whatever you have room for. Plants play a huge role in this aesthetic, so you can really go crazy with them. Same thing with candles.The more candles and plants the better!
And you'll want to hit your local antique store to see what little decorative objects you can find. Because ultimately, a Practical Magic decor aesthetic should look collected, cozy, and a little quirky, so an antique store is perfect for gathering those little odds and ends that will make the look come to life.
Lighting
When decorating an apartment in the Practical Magic style, the lighting should be soft, warm, and enchanting. You’ll want to set the kind of ambiance that makes your space feel like the air itself is made of magic.
So much of what makes the Practical Magic house special is its distinct lighting. Vintage style pieces with stained glass shades (a la the iconic Tiffany lamp), lamps with intricate brass or wrought iron details, lampshades with fringed or lace details that add a cozy, romantic touch… Really, it's all about classic, timeless lighting that you’d find at an antique store, or that you’d inherent from your cool great aunt.
Speaking of cool aunts, this lamp in particular looks like if Stockard Channing’s character in the movie were a lamp. Don't you think? 😂
So when decorating with a movie as your inspiration, you can use the characters as muses to guide your styling choices.
If you find a piece that maybe wasn't specifically in the movie but feels like the decor embodiment of a character in that movie, go for it!
Furniture
To conjure the Practical Magic aesthetic in your apartment, the furniture should be eclectic, lived-in, and irresistibly cozy.
You can opt for a plush sofa with soft velvet upholstery; something in a deep earthy tone like moss green, warm amber, or muted plum. And then of course you'll want to pile it with mismatched embroidered pillows and cozy throws.
For armchairs, think classic wingback or tufted leather chairs. A worn, imperfect, vintage chair would be ideal if you can find one!
The surfaces like your coffee table or side table could be sturdy wooden pieces weathered with age, perhaps with a few scratches and scuffs that tell a story. And every surface in your apartment is an opportunity for the types of decorative accents we talked about earlier: old books, candles, dried flowers, apothecary jars… with your surfaces you can go crazy with all those pretty little witchy things!
Another fun thing you could consider is a little cabinet like this, which would channel the glass cabinets in the Owens’ kitchen.
Of course, if you live in an apartment, you can't renovate your kitchen to have cool cabinets like they have, but something like this would be the next best thing! You could display a little collection of vintage glassware and little sparkly trinkets in it to give that pretty, collected-over-time feel.
Basically, if you're decorating your apartment with a certain house in mind, it's all about taking the things that make that house special and then translating them into apartment-friendly versions.
And regardless of how small or inexpensive you need the furniture in your apartment to be, you really can still find ways to create an environment that evokes the spirit of the space you're inspired by. Again, we don't have to be literal here. The limitations that come with living in apartment don't actually have to be as limiting as we think!
Kitchen Decor
The Practical Magic kitchen is nothing short of iconic. And to translate this into a rental apartment kitchen that you can’t renovate, it comes down to the little details.
Think about how you can incorporate the little things that will make your kitchen feel like the movie's unique farmhouse-style kitchen, even if you live in a generic new-build city apartment, like I do. 🙃
These little details can be glass jars full of herbs, spices, and teas to create a witch's apothecary vibe. Ceramic containers are perfect for storing everyday essentials like coffee, sugar, and all kinds of little treats and treasures.
An example of how style and utility can go hand in hand is you could display copper pots and pans hung on a rustic open rack or displayed on your counter. The warm aged copper would instantly add that old world farmhouse feel to your kitchen!
You could also swap out your plain cabinet knobs for vintage-inspired ones. Think ornate brass, ceramic, or crystal knobs that will give your cabinets a touch of antique flare!
And a very key aspect to this look is layering. Layering, layering, layering. Like, borderline clutter. But mindful clutter. Demure clutter. 😉
You want to give your kitchen that lived-in, cozy charm, like it's a kitchen that has a soul and actually gets used. (…Even if you order take out half the time… most of the time… too much. 🙃)
Even in a rental that has seen its fair share of Postmates deliveries, these layered touches will help you make your kitchen feel like a well-used and well-loved kitchen. Like a place where family recipes have been whispered like forbidden spells throughout the ages… and that you actually cook with those recipes!
The overall vibe should be warm, inviting, and bountiful. A space where cooking feels like its own magical ritual, whatever that might mean for you.
So those were my decor ideas for creating the Practical Magic aesthetic in a rental apartment!
It's all about casting the illusion of this style, which is actually quite apt because the Practical Magic house itself doesn't exist. It was a shell that was built for the movie and then demolished after filming. So you know, everything is an illusion. 🙃 And styling is about casting your own illusion that makes you happy in your space every day.
And if you love the Practical Magic aesthetic, I recommend you watch this video of mine next! It's all about dark cottagecore, which is another cozy, witchy style. So if you want some inspiration for that, watch this one next! ↓
