Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Master the Metallic Mix of Gold and Silver
More than just hardware is gleamworthy in a home. Marrying metallics with walls, ceilings, furniture and accessories makes your rooms glow
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design is collected, not decorated, and that homes should always be as comfortable and functional as they are chic. In addition to writing for Houzz, I work as the Head Copywriter for Layla Grayce and Zinc Door.
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design... More »
Metallics are all the rage right now, which means gold and silver alike are topping the décor charts. If both strike your fancy and you’re worried you’ll have to choose one or the other, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Gone is yesterday’s belief that gold and silver do not belong in the same ensemble; in fact, mixing them is encouraged.
Metallics are dynamic by nature, and the blend of gold and silver in particular lends not only an intriguing contrast but also a sense of visual dimension and texture. With the right balance of the two, your home can feel both elegant and eclectic.
If you’re feeling stumped or intimidated by this venture, read on for several tips to begin making the look work for you. Happy mixing!
Metallics are dynamic by nature, and the blend of gold and silver in particular lends not only an intriguing contrast but also a sense of visual dimension and texture. With the right balance of the two, your home can feel both elegant and eclectic.
If you’re feeling stumped or intimidated by this venture, read on for several tips to begin making the look work for you. Happy mixing!
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Don’t feel like you need to go wild right off the bat. Instead, build your confidence by starting small. It may be as simple as introducing a chair with silver elements into a space with gold accessories.
Or pull gold accessories into a room with silver hardware. By beginning with smaller amounts of both gold and silver, you can get a sense for how the two metallics play off each other without worrying about too permanent a commitment.
by Amoroso Design
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Play with vignettes. Don’t feel like they need to be elaborate: Moving a silver chair beneath a gold-framed picture will give you a sense of how each element acts within the space.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Then add more gold and silver accessories to your vignette to see how different hues of each interact. Try a variety of objects until you get the balance right. Understanding how to strike equilibrium in smaller sections will give you more confidence to pull the colors throughout the room, if that’s what you’re aiming to ultimately do.
by CIH Design
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Instead of just accessories or frames, see how gold or silver furnishings work within a vignette. Being both gold and silver, this piece does double duty: it’s silver siding creates a balanced contrast against the gold lamppost and picture frame.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Once you’re feeling more sure of yourself, you can pull gold and silver further into the room. If you have gold near the top of the room, like in a light fixture, pull the color down by adding a rug with gold accents. Pepper the space in between, such as table surfaces, with silver accessories to achieve that sense of equilibrium.
by Nina Jizhar
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Step away and look at the big picture. Have you chosen curtains with a golden hue in your dining room? Center your table in front of the windows and hang a silver ceiling fixture; when you walk into the space, you’ll see how one complements the other.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This is another example of looking at the big picture. If you have several gold pieces on your walls, consider balancing the look with a silver coffee table or even silver accessories atop your current coffee table.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Be bold with your contrasts. Complete a silver vanity counter in the bathroom with a gold sink and faucet.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Consider how you treat your walls. One option is to choose wallpaper with metallic features, then fill the room with gold and silver accessories to play off the wallpaper.
| Or consider translating one of the hues into a more calming shade with paint. Think buttery gold or grayish silver. These will blend with both gold and silver accents without stealing the show. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| If you have a large space, consider creating a separation of areas by concentrating more gold in one space and more silver in another. In this bedroom, the sitting room features more shades of silver while the bed itself is heavier in golds, creating distinction in each space. However, the entire room as a whole feels cohesive because the curtains and paint pull in both colors. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Consider going big with one color and settling for accents with the other. This pair of Japanese silver screens invigorates this space with an eclectic punch; gold accessories on the coffee table offer just the right subtle variation. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Or if gold is more your color, make a splash with a ceiling painted in the color. A bed frame in silver complements the bold paint choice so it doesn’t become overwhelming. Who couldn’t help but feel glamorous underneath this dramatic ceiling? More: Using Metallics to Brighten Up Any Space Adding Shine to Your Home With Metal and Metallics Sparkly and Warm: Decorating With Gold |
Comments
nitzaluna Can I have a silver/chrome crystal chandelier in my dining room and gold frame mirror and paintings?
6 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Feb. 22, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
