There is no doubt that Korean pop or K-pop and Korean drama or K-dramas have become very popular around the world. It is not surprising that the culture has affected interior design as well, with Korean shows currently hot on Netflix and hundreds of people evangelizing Korean skincare products. This article presents Korean interior design, which subtly alters how new homeowners design their modest homes. They have taken into consideration the characters’ lives in such depth and have depicted them in the houses they’re living in. The thing to notice in K-dramas is the minimalist style that Korean homeowners choose to build their homes. Their interior appeals to the generally attractive modern aesthetics and design ideas while being modest and useful. Advocates of the ‘Less is More’ design philosophy, sophisticated aesthetic preferences, and open floor plans claim that it is a simple design theme to execute if the house is built to provide a comfortable place to live.

Some of the examples of interior designs from these K-drama series are mentioned below:

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Korean drama

Chief Hong’s Hanok House is quite impressive. Even Yoon Hye-jin was startled to see the well-kept, retro-inspired room. It is a warm and inviting interior design that represents a feeling of history. This theme never gets old. The cinematography, however, maybe the biggest design element that lends this series its recognizable sweet flavor. It captures the lyrical quality of a beach community.

Into the Interior Design of Korean drama and how they influence today's audience - Sheet1
Still from Hometown Cha-Cha-cha_©TvN, Netflix, 2021
Into the Interior Design of Korean drama and how they influence today's audience - Sheet2
Hometown Cha-cha-Cha_©kdramadiary.com/kdrama-recap/hometown-cha-cha-cha-episode-13-recap/

Doom At Your Service

Yellow wall coverings give Dong’s house a warm, inviting aspect. Warm colors are used in the furniture and other decor, such as the pink sofa and the decorative pillows, which contribute to the cozy ambiance. Additionally, there are many objects strewn around the house, occupying any available area with reminders of daily life. This interior design can be used to get a nice and comfortable vibe. Dong’s house is painted in vibrant hues, whereas Myul Mang’s is mostly grey with a dash of white and black. When Myul Mang links the two residences, the distinction is truly brought out. The only colors in Myul Mang’s house are black, white, and grey. The cave-like setting of the stone walls portrays his icy and cynical character. Myul Mang’s house might serve as an excellent source of inspiration if you prefer darker hues and are striving for a more unpretentious, less sophisticated vibe.

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Dong’s House_©www.dramabeans.com/2021/05/doom-at-your-service-episode-1/
Into the Interior Design of Korean drama and how they influence today's audience - Sheet4
Dong’s House_©www.dramabeans.com/2021/05/doom-at-your-service-episode-1/, Korean drama
Into the Interior Design of Korean drama and how they influence today's audience - Sheet5
Mang’s House_©asianwiki.com/Doom_at_Your_Service
Into the Interior Design of Korean drama and how they influence today's audience - Sheet6
Mang’s House_©www.creatrip.com/en/blog/11095

Crash Landing on You

The exquisitely furnished contemporary interior design of the apartment of Queen’s Group chaebol and heiress, Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) is what caught the attention of design enthusiasts. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide a glimpse into the vivacious, but hospitable interiors. Living Coral, Pantone’s color of the year for 2019, the year the top-rated series debuted, is highlighted by the extended couch. Yoon Se-ri, Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok (Hyun Bin), and his companions would frequently spend time on this couch. The use of biophilic design, a trend that brings house owners closer to nature via the use of plants, wood, and other natural materials, makes Yoon Se-ri’s residence more intriguing. The apartment’s contemporary appeal is then smoothly combined with biophilic design to create an appearance that is fresh and modern.

Into the Interior Design of Korean drama and how they influence today's audience - Sheet7
Still from the series_©Firstzyxx

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim | Korean drama

Young Joon’s residence is simple yet dazzlingly magnificent. The minimalist interior design would probably work for someone who dislikes having plenty of accents in their house. A white foundation wall would enhance the room’s coziness the most. It is important to get rid of messes and clashing items that are all in one place. One has to be careful about spending money on high-quality fixtures. To complete this theme, one has to add a centerpiece for the house. The secret to this is to keep everything minimal, clear, and uncomplicated.

Into the Interior Design of Korean drama and how they influence today's audience - Sheet8
Young Joon’s House_©Vecislauas Papa from Pexels
Interiors of the Drama House featured in What's Wrong With Secretary Kim_©Courtesy of TvN
Interiors of the Drama House featured in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim_©Courtesy of TvN

Since most people spend their time indoors, some people have opted to make the most of their space by purchasing furnishings and accessories that resemble famous homes and apartments from well-known Korean drama series. Most of the homes in Korean drama series and movies have a mix of traditional and modern themed interior design, along with a few items that are influenced by nature. The interior designs follow the themes of biophilia, vintage, minimalism with neutral tones, soft colors, open plan concepts, and multifunctional furniture.

Soft colors_©Shutterstock
Soft colors_©Shutterstock
Multifunctional_©Shutterstock
Multifunctional_©Shutterstock
Biophilic Theme_©cellini.co.id/en/trendy-korean-interior-design-ideas
Biophilic Theme_©cellini.co.id/en/trendy-korean-interior-design-ideas

The inside of a Korean home is simple but versatile. Simplicity is emphasized in tiny spaces, designers and homeowners are forced to focus on the space at hand and utilize it rather than try to fit something else in. The way spaces are utilized in Korean houses is the main cause of this. Even when they don’t have a lot of lands, it frequently feels like they have made the best use of the available area. These interior designs suggest living room ideas with natural materials, modern bedroom designs with elevated plinths, and master bedroom with the Wayu design – which means laying down or sightseeing in Korean. This is an additional method of bringing the outside in, whether it takes the form of floor-to-ceiling windows or walls dotted with portholes. The incorporation of the Wayu concept into the master bedroom layout enables residents to gaze out into nature and take in the view even when they can’t leave their homes.

Living room set inspired by K-drama_©cellini.co.id/en/trendy-korean-interior-design-ideas
Living room set inspired by K-drama_©cellini.co.id/en/trendy-korean-interior-design-ideas
Wayu_©cellini.co.id/en/trendy-korean-interior-design-ideas

Citations: | Korean drama

Abanes, M., 2021. 15 K-Dramas You Should Watch If You’re Big On Design. [online] Metro.Style. Available at: <https://metro.style/living/home-tours/15-kdramas-for-the-design-lover/31286?gid=1630519d-e7f3-40f3-87f2-bf71637c0cd8&pid=13> [Accessed 14 September 2022].

Cellini.co.id. 2021. Trendy Korean Interior Design Ideas. [online] Available at: <https://cellini.co.id/en/trendy-korean-interior-design-ideas> [Accessed 14 September 2022].

Lamudi. 2021. Get a K-Drama Themed Home with These Four Interior Design Ideas | Lamudi. [online] Available at: <https://www.lamudi.com.ph/journal/kdrama-themed-home-design-ideas/> [Accessed 14 September 2022].

Lee, J., 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.creatrip.com/en/blog/11095> [Accessed 14 September 2022].

Reyes, M., 2021. 10 Best K-Drama Home Ideas: Penthouse, CLOY, Start Up, And More. [online] Tatler Asia. Available at: <https://www.tatlerasia.com/homes/architecture-design/ph-the-penthouse-war-in-life-crash-landing-on-you-its-okay-to-not-be-okay-goblin-start-up-and-more-10-k> [Accessed 13 September 2022].

SHE interior. 2022. A Quick Guide To Modern Korean House Design In Singapore – SHE interior. [online] Available at: <https://www.sheinterior.com.sg/modern-house-korea/> [Accessed 13 September 2022].

Author

Prashanti is an Architect from India, who is currently pursuing her master’s in Design Research in Germany and got lucky to study in the Bauhaus Building. She is a potterhead and plays guitar. She feels excited and blessed to be able to share her stories through RTF.