From kitsch to design, how idols and saints became part of the living room

What once looked like teenage-room kitsch has become a deliberate design language in many homes. The article says posters of Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber, along with images of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov and the Baba Sali, are now being used to create spaces filled with memory, faith, nostalgia, and personal identity, as long as the effect is kept in check.

The piece contrasts old-fashioned fan shrines, such as life-size Prince or Elvis Presley figures, walls covered in emo band posters, and even Justin Bieber bedsheets, with more restrained, adult approaches. In the modern home, the figure is no longer treated as an object of worship but as a cultural compass that adds depth and character. The transition from taping posters with cellophane tape in a childhood bedroom to integrating icons into a grown-up home reflects the move from blind adoration to conscious collecting.

According to the article, the key is moderation. A room filled with life-size cardboard prints of an idol is not design. Better choices include wide photographs, deep framing, artistic angles, and strategic placement that works with furniture and lighting. Quotes and signatures can also add another layer, whether they come from a Grammy-winning song or from Song of Songs.

The article also describes a growing Israeli trend it calls a form of “design reinforcement,” meaning a renewed desire for roots, faith, and identity across sectors and definitions. Black-and-white portraits of rabbis and righteous figures, printed on quality paper and framed minimally, can work alongside concrete, wood, and iron. Judaica made of brass or silver can also be placed on a minimalist console. The result, the writer argues, is a home that blends secular and sacred, pop and spirituality, and can even mix Justin Bieber in the bedroom with the Baba Sali in the living room.