Each year, our sister brand Real Simple gathers top interior designers and architects to transform a blank canvas into a curated spectacle—and it never fails to inspire. The 7th annual home took place in the coziest Brooklyn brownstone, and we can't wait to see this year's highly anticipated two locations inside the newly built One Park Row in Lower Manhattan.
Not only is Real Simple taking it up a notch by adding a second decorated home, but the brand is also introducing a special guest designer: actress, director, producer, design enthusiast, and talk show host Drew Barrymore.
In a recent interview with Real Simple, Drew shared her design tips for creating intentional wellness spaces, and we're giving you a peek at the relaxation hub she's designing for the 2025 RS Home.
Drew's Relaxation Aesthetic
For Drew, accessible design and joyful living are key to a thoughtfully decorated home, aligning perfectly with the aspirations of this year's RS Home. When asked about the ideal aesthetic for wellness spaces, she said there simply isn't one.
"I think I'm too greedy to settle on any particular style," Drew said to Real Simple. "I want to be able to have every type of art and every type of color. I want to have midcentury that works with the florals, that works with the Moroccan, that works with the antiques.”
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Creating a Balanced Room
According to Drew, wellness means remembering to put yourself into the mix, if not first. She said many people have forgotten the importance of taking care of oneself, and wellness rooms can be that first step.
Expect her space in the 2025 Real Simple Home to be a haven that immediately puts you at ease. Vibrant colors instead of typical whites, creams, or yellows flow throughout, and most importantly, it will feel grounding and calm.
"That's what the room is," Drew said. "The room should represent how to lower your eyelids, calm your nerves. Not think about this morning or this afternoon, but just be. I know maybe something good is around the corner, something just for you. And you did it for yourself. You carved it out for yourself. You somehow didn't forget yourself today.”
More Details on the 2025 Real Simple Home
For this year's RS Home, six interior design pros transformed a four-bedroom penthouse suite. In the DIY Annex, three content creators revamped a two-bedroom apartment. We're anticipating ingenious decor ideas, stunning paint colors, and endless storage tips.
The Real Simple Home's monumental reveal doesn't happen until October, but for now, you can read all about this year's project on the Real Simple website. And if you’re in New York City, you’ll even be able to tour it in person.