For being a renowned filmmaker and writer best known for romantic comedies, Nora Ephron accomplished something particularly challenging: She made her sets as charming as her stars. When you think about standouts like Meg Ryan chatting with Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally or Meryl Streep moving around a kitchen as Julia Child in Julie and Julia, there’s a good chance you’re also thinking about their backgrounds. Those distinct details have stayed with Rachel Robinson, architect and founding partner at Dunham Robinson, too. 

“Each film has a comprehensive and recognizable visual identity that completely fits the characters and the narrative,” she says. “You almost don’t even notice how much work the architecture and design are doing because it feels so obvious and effortless.” To learn more about the Nora Ephron aesthetic and how to give your home a spring refresh akin to an Ephron-worthy happily ever after, read on.

What Is the Nora Ephron Aesthetic?

Ephron’s movies may have many recognizable lines, but design fans also know to use her name as shorthand for a specific style. It’s warm and cozy, traditional yet timeless, and the seemingly ideal place for characters to do everything from cooking a French-inspired feast to, well, sending an email. “Once you start seeing their surroundings as true representations of who they are, imperfect but relatable humans, you can’t unsee it,” says Melissa Oholendt, founder and design principal at Oho Interiors. 

If you’ve spent years watching and rewatching Nora Ephron’s movies, spring can be the time to bring those fictional settings into your everyday life. “Her aesthetic offers a certain and very humane type of luxury that I think so many of us want,” Robinson says “Her spaces look lived-in without being worn down.”

How to Achieve the Nora Ephron Aesthetic in Your Home

Choose Textures That You’ll Curl Up In

While spring is the time to go for a sunny walk in your local farmer’s market or neighborhood garden, you still want an inviting place to call home when downtime is a must. To do this, choose textures that are easy to layer and don’t need a lot of attention. 

“I have lots of theories on why the interiors in her movies still feel fresh, but what I think it all comes down to is that they all carry an air of ‘nothing is too precious,’” Oholendt says. “We get to see characters really live in their spaces and not just sit on the edge of a sofa. They are surrounded by blankets and a box of tissues.”

Oholendt notes that Ephron’s living rooms often feature overstuffed upholstery and various throw pillows in a range of patterns. Follow suit by considering a slipcover for an armchair or sofa, she recommends, with bonus points for a ruffled edge. “Bring a bit of levity to your throw pillows by focusing on florals with a mix of stripes,” Oholendt continues. “The key to nailing the look is that nothing should coordinate perfectly, so pattern-mix without fear!”

Bring in Books—Lots of Books

Even a casual observer of Ephron’s cannon will notice just how much books are a routine backdrop to her movies—heck, they’re the whole reason behind You’ve Got Mail’s entire plot! To replicate the bibliophile quality of these worlds, let books be just as prominently featured in yours. But stick to the script: Nothing needs to be stacked just so. 

“The beauty of Ephron’s interiors is how real they are. It’s actually great not to have every book arranged by color or size,” Robinson says. “Try re-shuffling the books themselves, and incorporate other items like small objects or family photos. Seeing those kinds of things will make you feel much more at home than three giant coffee table books laid out in a grid.”

If one of the books on your shelf happens to be Pride and Prejudice, that’s even better (don’t forget to read the last page first, just in case). 

When in Doubt, Add Flowers and Lighting

Accessories are just as important as the main-character furnishings in an Ephron film, which is why you might recall one of the most recognizable tidbits of You’ve Got Mail: daisies. While you could design with this friendly flower as a true devotee, Oholendt says any bloom will do. 

“Whether it’s a small, intimate dinner party or a Saturday morning over coffee, Nora Ephron and I love adding a fresh floral bouquet as the perfect way to welcome spring and bring a bit of the sunshine indoors,” she adds. “Pick up a bouquet or two from the local grocery store and break it into smaller bouquets that can be added to a side table, nightstand, or even a kitchen shelf.”

To go with your tabletop display, Oholendt recommends thinking about lighting—lamps are a big reason why Ephron’s films always feel so warm. “Add a few additional lamps to side tables and even bookshelves to really ace that uncomplicated, cozy feeling,” she continues. “If you don’t have access to power in that spot, bring in a rechargeable option.”

Even when the days are longer, evenings will feel much more intimate when lit by lamps instead of overhead lights. “Bring interesting lighting into the kitchen as well, like the lamp in Julia Child’s kitchen in Julie and Julia, for some cozy personality,” Robinson adds. 

Put Your Most-Used Items on Countertops 

In Julia and Julia, the kitchens are not just backdrops, they’re workhorses. To show just how much each character uses their kitchen, Ephron’s sets have tools on hand, not put away, and Robinson says that you should embrace the same philosophy. “The kitchens in the movie are completely packed but also really usable, and they don’t ever feel crowded,” Robinson says. “We always tell our clients: It’s okay to keep your most-used items out.”

Another detail to note about Julia Child’s kitchen is how personalized it was for her needs—so much so that Julie points out the customizations in the movie. Robinson says that art should imitate life, and your kitchen should match your routines. A pegboard might not be required, but it is appreciated—whatever you need to emulate Ephron’s warm and inviting sets. 

“A lot of effort and thought goes into making a space feel lived in,” Robinson says. “Looking carefully at Ephron’s interiors, which have always just felt right to me, was such a great reminder of how design choices really do create a life.”