Why Your Living Room Should Include a Hint of Gold
Glamorous, warm and on trend, gold is the ideal accent shade for a living space, whether traditional or contemporary
Lucy Searle
23 November 2017
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist, web and copywriter. I was Editor of the hugely successful www.channel4.com/4homes, taking it from a small site to a leading brand. I was also founding Editor of Channel 4’s 4Homes magazine, was Associate Editor at Ideal Home and have written for MSN, Huffington Post, Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors, Beautiful Kitchens, House Beautiful, Good Homes, and many women’s titles. I founded www.tailoredcontent.co.uk with a fellow journalist and together we blog, write web content and run social media accounts for (mostly) interiors companies. As a general rule, I write about everything from buying and selling property, self build, DIY, design and consumer issues to gardening but have tackled travel and family...
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist,... More
Redesigning, redecorating or just adding a touch of glamour to your living room? Gold – in accessories, wallpaper, flooring and even lighting – is the must-have metallic. Here’s how and where to use it to create a finish that’s subtly stylish.
It makes walls gleam
Why use gold or any metallic on a wall? It reflects and catches the light, which makes it perfect for a light-starved space. It can even make a small room feel larger. You needn’t commit to putting it on an entire wall – finding a painting flecked with gold or simply framing a length of gold wallpaper or wrapping paper can create a massive impact.
Why use gold or any metallic on a wall? It reflects and catches the light, which makes it perfect for a light-starved space. It can even make a small room feel larger. You needn’t commit to putting it on an entire wall – finding a painting flecked with gold or simply framing a length of gold wallpaper or wrapping paper can create a massive impact.
It’s perfect for boho rooms
Gold really lends itself to an eclectic vintage look. How to keep it on the right side of tasteful in an otherwise busy scheme? The answer is to use just a few pieces, such as a small, ornate frame or a lamp stand, perhaps a statuette or a candlestick or two. These details will lift the scheme instantly, without overpowering it.
Gold really lends itself to an eclectic vintage look. How to keep it on the right side of tasteful in an otherwise busy scheme? The answer is to use just a few pieces, such as a small, ornate frame or a lamp stand, perhaps a statuette or a candlestick or two. These details will lift the scheme instantly, without overpowering it.
It can be subtle and modern
Gold chandeliers needn’t be ornate – although these work brilliantly in traditional or vintage-style spaces. Contemporary or mid-century modern chandeliers like this one are perfect for a more minimalist scheme – and the touch of gold on the fitting adds just a hint of glamour, highlighted by the gold cushions and vase below.
Gold chandeliers needn’t be ornate – although these work brilliantly in traditional or vintage-style spaces. Contemporary or mid-century modern chandeliers like this one are perfect for a more minimalist scheme – and the touch of gold on the fitting adds just a hint of glamour, highlighted by the gold cushions and vase below.
It works in small doses
Unless you’re going for full-on opulence, gold usually works best in small, subtle doses. So, if you’ve hung pictures with gold in them, add just a couple more dashes of gold to give the scheme unity – but stop there. Gold is a good choice for the interior of a lamp, like this one, too. It’s a nice surprise unlit, but at night will help make this otherwise white room glow.
Check out these 4 ways to master metallics at home
Unless you’re going for full-on opulence, gold usually works best in small, subtle doses. So, if you’ve hung pictures with gold in them, add just a couple more dashes of gold to give the scheme unity – but stop there. Gold is a good choice for the interior of a lamp, like this one, too. It’s a nice surprise unlit, but at night will help make this otherwise white room glow.
Check out these 4 ways to master metallics at home
It’s not as showy as you think
However, there are some situations in which a larger dose can look fabulous, for example the sofas here. For an on-trend look, search for an aged, antiqued or warm yellow gold that’s dull or matt in finish. Anything too bright, shiny or brassy will be hard to comfortably match with jewel tones, seen here. What about mixing and matching gold with other metallics, such as silver, copper, bronze or brass? Avoid it – but if you do, make one metal the dominant one and the others mere accents.
However, there are some situations in which a larger dose can look fabulous, for example the sofas here. For an on-trend look, search for an aged, antiqued or warm yellow gold that’s dull or matt in finish. Anything too bright, shiny or brassy will be hard to comfortably match with jewel tones, seen here. What about mixing and matching gold with other metallics, such as silver, copper, bronze or brass? Avoid it – but if you do, make one metal the dominant one and the others mere accents.
It contrasts with dark colours
Gold-coloured fabrics or accessories are also the perfect partner for warming up on-trend, deep and dramatic colour schemes, which are predominantly black, dark blue, chocolate brown and deep aubergine. If you want your gold-tinged scheme to look its best, keep the colour scheming around it simple, with the dark background shade complemented by just one other accent – green and turquoise both work beautifully.
Gold-coloured fabrics or accessories are also the perfect partner for warming up on-trend, deep and dramatic colour schemes, which are predominantly black, dark blue, chocolate brown and deep aubergine. If you want your gold-tinged scheme to look its best, keep the colour scheming around it simple, with the dark background shade complemented by just one other accent – green and turquoise both work beautifully.
It enlivens a plain room
Contemporary black-and-white schemes are so easy to live with and update, but they can lack warmth and depth. So why not solve that issue by making a piece of furniture in a striking gold tone a focal point? Yes, it’s another exception to the ‘small doses’ rule, but covering a sofa or armchair with a gold upholstery fabric will instantly lift a pared-back scheme – pick velvet or chenille, which will glint and glow, adding to the feeling of luxury.
Take a look at these drawing room colour combos
Contemporary black-and-white schemes are so easy to live with and update, but they can lack warmth and depth. So why not solve that issue by making a piece of furniture in a striking gold tone a focal point? Yes, it’s another exception to the ‘small doses’ rule, but covering a sofa or armchair with a gold upholstery fabric will instantly lift a pared-back scheme – pick velvet or chenille, which will glint and glow, adding to the feeling of luxury.
Take a look at these drawing room colour combos
It works like artificial light
Just as you might put concealed lighting into a shelving unit to show off your favourite finds, using gold paint will have a similar effect – during the day. Aim for a yellow-gold for a contemporary scheme or a gold-leaf style wallpaper for a more traditional appeal. Just ensure the gold-leaf doesn’t look brown against your wall, which it might if there’s little natural daylight.
Just as you might put concealed lighting into a shelving unit to show off your favourite finds, using gold paint will have a similar effect – during the day. Aim for a yellow-gold for a contemporary scheme or a gold-leaf style wallpaper for a more traditional appeal. Just ensure the gold-leaf doesn’t look brown against your wall, which it might if there’s little natural daylight.
It makes a great focal point
Hanging a gold-framed mirror is a classic way to add opulence to a room – but you need to allow it to be the focus of the scheme rather than have it fight for attention, or its effect will be lost. That means adding a scattering of gold here and there in the room, and keeping everything else understated.
Here’s how you can make a style statement with mirrors
Hanging a gold-framed mirror is a classic way to add opulence to a room – but you need to allow it to be the focus of the scheme rather than have it fight for attention, or its effect will be lost. That means adding a scattering of gold here and there in the room, and keeping everything else understated.
Here’s how you can make a style statement with mirrors
It can be an easy instant fix
If you went for an all-grey living room but have a creeping feeling that the resulting scheme is a little cold and impersonal for a living space, simply adding a splash of gold can be a wonderful rescue remedy. The quickest fix? To add gold to one large surface – which means the walls or, even easier, the floor, as this gold-tinged rug shows.
Read more:
How to Bring Gold Into Your Home
Tell us:
How have you used gold – or other metallics – in your home? Share photos and tips in the Comments below.
If you went for an all-grey living room but have a creeping feeling that the resulting scheme is a little cold and impersonal for a living space, simply adding a splash of gold can be a wonderful rescue remedy. The quickest fix? To add gold to one large surface – which means the walls or, even easier, the floor, as this gold-tinged rug shows.
Read more:
How to Bring Gold Into Your Home
Tell us:
How have you used gold – or other metallics – in your home? Share photos and tips in the Comments below.
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My fav metals are copper unfinished and brass (antique).
I haven't been a fan of the all-grey or "griege" look that is so prevalent, preferring warm tones -- especially in a Pacific Northwest (U.S.) location that offers more than its share of grey! Your use of gold has inspired me as I begin an update of my living, dining, and family rooms.
I have long subscribed to the "if you like something, find a place for it!" approach to design. It is what makes your home uniquely yours rather than a replica from a magazine or someone else's home.
Thank you for the inspiration!