The new Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi and directed by Emerald Fennell, is not playing it safe. It is not beige. It is not restrained. It is not politely historical. Instead, it is visceral, dramatic, sensual, and emotionally charged. And the interiors? They are stealing the scene.

From skin-like walls to sculptural details that feel almost alive, the set design reimagines period interiors through a psychological lens. This is not about recreating the 1800s with perfect accuracy. It is about creating spaces that feel intense, intimate, whimsical and alive with Cathy and Heathcliff emotion.

Inside the Set Design

What makes the new Wuthering Heights interiors genuinely compelling is the way the sets function almost like characters themselves. According to Architectural Digest’s, production designer Suzie Davies and her team embraced surrealism and symbolism rather than strict historical accuracy, using fabric, lighting, and texture to echo the emotional currents of the narrative. Catherine’s bedroom, for example, was conceived not as a period-accurate chamber but as a visceral space, walls layered with printed fabric and stretched latex that resembled skin, mottled and warm, as though the room itself were breathing.

Corridors and parlours used exaggerated colour fields, sculptural hand motifs, and reflective surfaces to distort light and perspective, creating an environment that feels alive, unstable, and psychologically charged. These choices are less about replicating an era and more about conveying emotional intensity, suggesting that interiors can be metaphors, portals into feeling rather than merely settings. The result is a design language that marries narrative and space, turning every room into an expressive, atmospheric experience rather than just a backdrop.

When Walls Feel Alive

One of the most talked about design details in the film is Catherine’s bedroom. The walls were created to resemble skin. Yes, skin. Stretchy, textured, subtly veined surfaces that feel almost human. It is bold and slightly (ok completely!) unsettling. Deeply romantic. While you may not be lining your walls with latex any time soon, the underlying idea is powerful. Interiors can be tactile. They can feel warm, organic, imperfect. They can have depth.

Instead of flat white paint, consider:

• Limewashed walls with visible movement
• Plaster finishes with subtle texture
• Soft, tonal colour that feels layered rather than flat, or textured wallpaper

The lesson here is not to copy the set. It is to embrace atmosphere.

Dark Romance Is Back

The moors, the candlelight, the shadow play. This version of Wuthering Heights leans into emotional drama and the interiors follow suit. Forget stark minimalism. These rooms are layered, moody, and unapologetically rich. Think:

• Deep charcoals and inky blues
• Burgundy velvets and worn leather
• Aged timber and antique brass
• Flickering light instead of harsh overhead glare

There is a growing appetite for homes that feel cocooning rather than clinical. After years of pale neutrals and barely there styling, this film taps into something more primal. Texture. Depth. Mood.

Thrushcross Grange vs Wuthering Heights

One of the most exciting elements in the film is the contrast between locations. Thrushcross Grange feels lush, saturated, almost decadent. Wuthering Heights feels raw, windswept, and elemental. This duality offers incredible inspiration for zoning your own home.

Design ideas:

• A moody, velvet layered living room with rich colour
• A softer, lighter bedroom retreat with flowing textiles
• A dining space that feels dramatic at night and airy by day

Interiors do not have to be one note. They can hold contrast and reflect different moods within the same home.

The Return of Statement Texture

Interiors are having a texture moment too. The film’s sets mix surfaces that feel almost wet, sculptural, and dimensional. Nothing is flat. Nothing is sterile. To channel this energy at home, consider:

• High gloss ceramic pieces mixed with matte walls
• Chunky wool throws against polished wood
• Sculptural lighting instead of generic pendants
• Statement art with emotional intensity

It is about touch as much as sight.

How to Bring Wuthering Heights Energy Into a Modern Home

You do not need a windswept moor outside your window to capture the mood. Here is how to adapt the look without going full gothic drama. Start with colour. Choose one rich tone. Deep forest green. Burnt sienna. Midnight blue. Use it as an anchor in cushions, art, or a feature wall.

Layer lighting. Replace overhead glare with:

• Table lamps
• Wall sconces
• Candles
• Soft floor lamps

Introduce aged elements. Vintage side tables. Worn leather chairs. Antique inspired mirrors. Add one unexpected sculptural piece. Something slightly dramatic. A bold ceramic. A curved lamp. A textured headboard. The goal is not perfection but rather atmosphere.

After years of ultra clean, highly curated interiors, there is a craving for something more emotional. Something less filtered. The new Wuthering Heights embraces imperfection, intensity, and storytelling. And that is exactly where interior trends are heading. Homes are becoming more personal. More layered. More reflective of inner worlds rather than Pinterest boards.

We are seeing a shift toward:

• Dark romantic palettes
• Texture heavy styling
• Dramatic lighting
• Emotion driven design choices

It is less about minimal perfection and more about the mood.

The Wrap

If Margot Robbie’s Cathy teaches us anything through those haunting interiors, it is that spaces can hold feeling. Design does not have to be polite. It can be romantic. Intense. Slightly wild. You can bring this spirit into your home through colour, texture, lighting, and personal storytelling.

Wuthering Heights is in cinemas across the globe on February 13.