Eva Mendes uses texture to make her house feel lived-in, not showroom

You know those homes that look stunning on Instagram but feel a little stiff when you walk in? Eva Mendes’ place is the opposite. Even with designer fixtures and high-end finishes, it clearly belongs to someone who lives there.

The trick isn’t spending more—it’s layering texture, mixing materials, and letting personality come through. Here’s how she does it, and how you can borrow the vibe for your own space.

Use natural texture to ground the space

Walking into Eva’s living room you’ll notice a soft greige sofa paired with woven throws, a potted plant, and wood-tone accents. The neutral base is comfortable, and it’s the texture—linen pillows, a slightly worn wood side table, maybe a rattan basket—that gives the space warmth. If you stick with fabrics and décor that invite touch, your room instantly feels usable instead of staged.

Combine old-world paneling with modern finishes

In her kitchen, Eva uses half-height wall paneling with a rich blue lower section and crisp white above. That sort of architectural detail adds a texture of its own—not in the tactile sense but in how the eye perceives depth and layering. If you’ve got flat walls and generic finishes, consider adding trim or paneling, then paint two coordinating tones. It gives your space more character without spending on custom woodwork.

Let accessories tell the story

Eva once said she embraces wabi-sabi—keeping things that have history, even if they’re imperfect. A piece of furniture that’s scratched, a throw that has wear, or a vintage ceramic you found at a market all add texture in the form of memory. These items don’t need to match—they need to feel real. When you mix modern furniture with something with age, the space stops looking “showroom” and starts looking homey.

Keep the palette calm so texture can shine

Her living room’s palette: greige, cream, wood, a touch of plant green. Simple. When you reduce the number of competing colors, your textures get attention. That boucle pillow, that linen curtain, that matte black accent lamp—they stand out because there’s not too much else fighting for your eye. If your space is already busy with color, use texture to add interest rather than more hues.

Use a mix of materials for richness

In her home you’ll find hard surfaces like concrete or wood, alongside soft items like rugs or blankets. She doesn’t stop at one texture—she layers. Maybe it’s a wool rug over wood floors, ceramic vases with matte finishes next to glossy books. The interplay is what makes a space feel rich. If your home has one material repeated everywhere—say, smooth white surfaces—think about introducing something tactile like an untreated wood stool or a woven pillow.

Make comfort part of the design

Even within a clean, refined space, Eva prioritizes comfort. Her lounge chair she once said she will never re-upholster because it has stories. That means if something looks “too precious” to sit on, you’re working against the feel she achieves. Choose seating that invites use. Drape a throw over the back of a sofa, lay a chunky knit somewhere, keep a basket of extra pillows in the corner. Texture was meant to be touched, not just looked at.

Let nature join the party

A green plant, woven baskets, wood grain—all these nod to the natural world. Eva’s design uses them intentionally. The texture of a leafy fern next to smooth furnishings instantly lifts the space. If you’re decorating, add one or two pieces of greenery or natural-fiber items—jute rug, rattan pendant, linen curtains. They don’t cost a lot, but they add something no flat surface can: life.

If you want your home to feel like you rather than like it came off the showroom floor, mimic this: build your space layer by layer, let texture lead the way, and don’t hide the lived-in stuff. If the surface invites someone to sit, relax, run their hand over it—you’re winning.