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Santa Barbara Real Estate Blog

Instagram’s Influence on Interior Design

June 30, 2025

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Bringing Instagram’s Influence on Interior Design into Your Santa Barbara or Montecito Home

Today’s consumers are more digitally savvy and social media–driven than ever, and nothing illustrates this more than the world of interior design. Online platforms like Instagram influence design choices, inspire homeowners, and shape trends, especially in style-conscious communities such as Montecito and Santa Barbara. Let’s explore how this evolution has unfolded and scroll through the Instagram pages of some style trendsetters.

The all white luxury living room of a Modern Montecito home with an ocean view.

Design Inspiration in the Instagram Era

The image above, which appears on my website for one of my new listings, could just as easily be featured on a top interior designer's Instagram account. The visually driven social media platform has solidified its place as the leading source of design inspiration. According to a recent study in Retail Touchpoints, an overwhelming 72% of users report making purchase decisions based on something they saw on Instagram. With endless scrollable eye candy and even the ability to shop what you see, Instagram has become a go-to source for decor ideas.

Interior design accounts on Instagram foster a more profound sense of connection between designers and homeowners. To such an extent that many in the industry believe Instagram has become the platform of choice for interior designers worldwide, transforming how they share their talents and inspiration.

A chef-inspired kitchen with a modern central island, featuring a built-in workstation and nearby bookshelves, along with premium appliances.

Social Media Is Redefining “Pretty” in Design

In Santa Barbara and Montecito, a look that trends on Instagram today could shape kitchen design tomorrow. Before the rise of popular social media channels, mainstream brands dominated our idea of what was considered “attractive” in home decor. With big ad budgets and exclusive media relationships, they controlled what we saw in stores and magazines. But social media changed everything. Now, independent designers and boutique brands are building massive followings, bringing fresh, edgy, and more personal styles into the spotlight.

Social media app icons displayed  in close-up on a smartphone screen.

7 Interior Designers I Follow on Instagram

To see this phenomenon in action, look no further than Instagram itself. Here’s a list of some popular interior designers I follow that are setting the pace with their social-media-savvy approach to design:

  1. Justina Blakeney – Justina is the artist, designer, and even the inventor of the term “Jungalow” (jungle + bungalow). She crafts interiors that beg to be Instagrammed. Blakeney is a master of vibrant, plant-filled bohemian aesthetics, and her Instagram page overflows with colorful tropical inspiration. If you love eclectic greenery and bold patterns – perfect for our indoor-outdoor Santa Barbara lifestyle – @justinablakeney’s feed is a must-see.
  2. Emily Henderson – Henderson is an L.A.-based blogger, interior designer, and TV personality known for her refined-yet-bohemian interiors. Scroll through her Instagram (@em_henderson) and you’ll find bright, photogenic spaces filled with pops of color and vintage charm. Emily’s approachable tips and California-casual style make her feed especially relatable to design enthusiasts here in California.
  3. Corey Damen Jenkins is an interior designer, tastemaker, and media personality who injects high glamour into contemporary spaces. His feed (@coreydamenjenkins) showcases luxurious, sophisticated interiors with bold colors and patterns. For those in Montecito who love a touch of opulence, Corey’s posts are sure to inspire ideas.
  4. Young Huh – Principal and founder of Young Huh Interiors, this Detroit native infuses her designs with a fresh, summery elegance. Young Huh’s Instagram (@younghuh) is filled with bright, cheerful spaces that reflect her signature aesthetic. She’s an AD100 designer and often shares snapshots of her projects, travels, and inspirations. Her feed feels approachable yet refined – a perfect fit for anyone wanting to add a light and lively touch to their Santa Barbara home.
  5. Ariel Ashe & Reinaldo Leandro – Founders of the AD100 firm Ashe + Leandro, Ariel and Reinaldo are often dubbed the golden couple of interior design. Known for a “modern luxury” aesthetic that still feels comfortable and lived-in, the two create spaces with distinct style and warmth. Their Instagram (@ashe_leandro) serves as a second portfolio for their work – a wonderfully curated gallery of high-end yet inviting interiors that anyone can appreciate. It’s a great account to follow for ideas on blending sleek design with California cozy vibes in your own Montecito home.
  6. Amber Lewis - pioneered the relaxed “California casual” look that many homeowners in Montecito and Santa Barbara duplicate. As the founder of Amber Interiors, she creates bright, airy, and laid-back spaces that perfectly embody the SoCal lifestyle. Her Instagram (@amberinteriors) serves as a design paradise for fans of neutral tones, natural textures, and an effortlessly eclectic vibe. It’s no surprise that her style resonates on the American Riviera – her aesthetic is our lifestyle.
  7. Ken Fulk – An industry veteran and one of the most prominent names in interior design, Ken Fulk is renowned for his maximalist flair. On Instagram (@kenfulk), Fulk invites fans to glimpse into his visually driven lifestyle that resembles an Instagram dreamland. Following Ken will add bold inspiration to your feed and demonstrate how daring design can create a “wow” moment, even if you keep it simple for your own home.
An AI-generated image of a woman's face and shoulders wearing blue glasses, surrounded by a collage of floating digital visuals.

We Want Our Lives (and Homes) to Be Insta-Worthy

Whether we acknowledge it or not, the design choices we make at home are increasingly shaped by what’s trending on Instagram. Our desire to craft a unique personal space is now tied to the curated looks we double-tap online. All of this has a real impact on how people style their spaces in Montecito and Santa Barbara, not just to express their personality, but also to create “Insta-worthy” moments on their own.


When it comes to real estate, anyone living here on the American Riviera should check out my Instagram page. I’d love to hear your thoughts and welcome your suggestions on other inspiring Instagram accounts I shouldn’t miss. (Send me a DM anytime!) And here’s another idea – all of the beautiful homes for sale on my website can provide real-life inspiration, especially if you’re looking to buy in the area. See something you love on my site or social media? Please call me at (805) 886-9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. I might know the perfect home for you. In the meantime, be sure to follow my other social media pages on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.


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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch