A Little Sparkle, a Little Shine
Bring Glow to Your Home with Silvers, Golds and the Shimmer of Pearl
I've got an issue in my living room, and for weeks now I haven't been able to put my finger on it. I moved into a new place several months ago, and while it's definitely feeling like home, the main room just doesn't feel "done" yet. Recently, a favorite blogger hit the nail on the head: She wrote that her fail-safe decorating combination is using a combination of "old, new, fluffy, shiny." A quick scan of my living room revealed plenty of old and new (a mix of antique and contemporary furniture), something fluffy, but a serious absence in the shine department. I decided to get some inspiration for adding a little shimmer from the homes on Houzz. Here's what I found:
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
So many lovely gold tones! From the sunburst mirror (an ingenious way to cover an old light fixture?) and metallic patterned wallpaper on the ceiling to the luxe screens and gilded vase on the mantle, this room is pure 24-karat pleasure. And yet it's nothing garish, just a subtle glow.
| Chromed-out drum pendants and stainless steel trim around the island take this kitchen from simple to spectacular. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A palette of linens and grays feels luxurious thanks to a glamorous mirror-framed round mirror and what's now, thanks to this photo, my new obsession: mercury glass demijohns. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This whole house is a case study in using shine to great effect. Sequined throw pillows and gold-flecked wallpaper pair well with the velvet and faux fur textures on the bed.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I love plain white subway tiles, but this shimmering opalescent backsplash gives the familiar style so much more interest. It's like a pearl necklace for your kitchen!
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Without the gold-toned drapes and pedestal table's shiny base, this room would be lacking in luster. Instead, it feels warm and inviting. |
by Jane Ellison
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
And speaking of inviting, how about welcoming guests with a glamorous gold front door! It's a little extra oomph that's not overly extravagant.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Shades of silver, from brushed platinum to chrome, sparkle even more when mirrored in the nightstand.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I'll never get sick of this entryway. Gold frames float around the wall and a substantial pendant light glows like a beacon — even when it's not turned on.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A few bronze pieces act almost like jewelry in this room, drawing the eyes from the legs of the side table to the shade of the lamp across the way. (And speaking of lamps, the giant one here is still knocking my socks off, shine or no.)
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Two shiny gold chairs give off almost as much light as the candles, sconces and other light sources in this room.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The flicker of the fire plays off of the gold leafing on this dining room's ceiling, both enveloping the space with a warm luminosity. So tell us, how do you add shine to your rooms? More ways to get the glow: Adding Shine to Your Home with Metal and Metallics 8 Great Ways with Silver Leaf Heavy Metal in Home Decor |
Ideabook updated on Nov. 4, 2011.
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:
Most decorating tips I tend to gloss over because I've heard them before. This one really gives me something to think about. *Goes off to take another look at my living room*
Not sure of that enormous lamp - a little distracting