The Ultimate Guide to Glam Decor
Get this coveted luxe look using these decorating tips.
Chic neutrals, brilliant metallics, and luscious fabrics – classic glam decor is an elegant interplay of the understated and overstated. With nods to the regency of old Hollywood, glam home decor is also decidedly of-the-moment and deceptively restrained. In this guide, you’ll find glam bedroom ideas, glam living room ideas, and everything else you need to know about this lavish decorating style.
The Basics of Glam Decor
Glam Decor Ideas
The Basics of Glam Decor
- Furniture with sculptural lines, upholstery, and metal accents and detailing.
- Color palettes with white, gray, cream, black, pastels, and jewel tones.
- Light-catching materials: metallics, mirrors, crystal, lacquer, and furs.
- Luxurious, high-pile fabrics and traditional, geometric patterns with lots of texture.
- Dramatic lighting in the form of crystal adorned chandeliers, table lamps, and sconces.
Glam Decor Ideas
Colors: Timeless Neutrals
Strip any glam room down to its foundation and you’ll find a basic canvas of gentle neutrals. Shades of white, gray, cream, and tan create an understated yet alluring backdrop (think walls, rugs, and curtains).
Accent colors on furniture and accessories can take glam in two directions: high-impact or soft and luxurious. The striking facet of glam style comes from pairing the lighter neutrals with intense, sharp darks like black, navy, and jewel tones. The cushier side of glam is created by monochromatic layers of light pastels in a wide variety of textures over the neutral base.
Materials: All That Glitters
Neutrals may be the base of glam, but shimmery accents are the heart of this style. Glam furniture pieces often feature metal frames, metallic surfaces, or metallic nailhead trim. Light fixtures, storage elements, and decorative accents are all highlighted by a metallic sheen that works just as well in both silver and gold. These metallic elements give the whole room a glinting brilliance that is magnified by neutral wall and floor palettes.
Glam style is all about amplifying the shine of its metallic accents – wall and floor mirrors as well as mirrored accent furniture are must-haves for their light refracting capabilities. Lucite and lacquer also make an appearance on coffee tables and small decor pieces for their reflective, sleek surfaces. Mirrored and reflective surfaces have the added bonus of making a room look larger and thus grander, which contributes even further to the high impact of glam decor.
The glitter of glam doesn't stop there. Strategically placed statement lighting casts these reflective surfaces in their brilliant glory, even at night. Elegant reflective metal or crystal chandeliers establish a regality in living rooms, dining rooms, and even the master bedroom. Sconces demand attention when framing the bed or fireplace, and table lamps with shiny bases infuse that little bit extra that makes all the difference.
Patterns and textures play huge roles in elevating the impact of a glam room's decor. The rule of thumb: patterns and textures should be big – the bigger the better.
Traces of old Hollywood and art deco are present throughout glam patterns and textures. In patterns, those traces come in the form of concentric or overlapping repeats of geometric shapes. Damask, scales, and quatrefoil patterns are a few that can be used in glam rooms as references to a past architectural era. Texturally, those geometric patterns can come into play as raised furniture details. Those bygone influences tend to be sharp and high contrast and work best with a high-contrast color palette.
If you're leaning towards a pastel color palette for your glam bedroom or living room, go with softer patterns and textures as well. These present best in upholstery and bedding. Plush duvet covers with floral puckering or scalloped petals, fur (or faux fur) blankets, and rounded, upholstered headboards and seating create the perfect luxe softness.
To complete the look of a glam room, you'll need a handful of decorative pieces. Follow the design tips outlined above – if your glam room is high contrast, work with decorative objects that have just as much impact as the rest of the room's design.
Think big for wall decor, too. Large mirrors with big pattern details like ridged overlays or sunburst rays are perfect touches to tie a room's glam elements together. For art prints and photographs, go with framed, blown-up images and close-ups of flora and fauna. If you're feeling ambitious, wallpaper is the perfect way to bring more patterns to your space.
On the floors, go with rugs with blown-up patterns or plush texture. Patterned rugs are well-suited to high-contrast colors, while textured rugs make a statement with texture alone and can be kept more neutral.
In the kitchen or dining room, think about a bar cart complete with a set of elegant glasses and metallic detailing. Not only is a bar cart perfect for when you're hosting guests, but it, too, is a decorative element that calls back to the glitz and glam of the 1950s and 1960s.
Soft florals can come into play in several places in glam rooms, especially as centerpieces – overfill simple vases with ripe, full peonies, roses, and other flowers of your choice. To bring in more art deco glamour, consider bedazzled or clean white statuettes and busts as centerpieces or side table decorations. And, no matter what, you can never go wrong with metallic or reflective pieces – just try not to go overboard or you’ll take away from the room's carefully curated look.
In search of more glam decor inspiration? Check out our Glam Ideas: Shop the Look page for glam bedroom ideas, glam living room ideas, and more examples of glam decor in action.
