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 Style

• 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.

Elements of Glam Style

Looking to decorate your home in glam style? Follow the glam design principles below.

Room 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).

Furniture Colors: Bold & Rich

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 Glistens

The glam design style is all about glittery and glistening accents. Keep reading to learn how this style incorporates all things that shine.

Furniture

Neutrals may be the base of glam, but shimmery accents are the heart of this style. Sofas are typically made of velvet or chenille. Other pieces of furniture often feature metal frames, and marble or mirrored surfaces. Light fixtures, end tables, buffet tables, nightstands, and decorative accents are usually metal and can be either silver or gold. These metallic elements give the whole room a glinting brilliance that is magnified by the pops of color in the upholstered furniture and neutral wall colors.

Lighting

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 metal, porcelain, or colored glass bases add to the decor.

Patterns & Textures: The Bigger the Better

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. However, these patterns are mainly found on rugs as bedding tends to be neutral. While the pattern may be bold, glam rugs tend to be in neutral or soft colors, such as white, black, beige, gray, navy, and pink.

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. Wallpaper is a great way to add these art deco-inspired patterns throughout the room on a large scale. Art deco shapes and patterns tend to work with a high-contrast color palette, as demonstrated through the black-and-white details above.

Tip!

Speaking of old Hollywood and art deco influences, check out our guide on Hollywood Regency Style: Your Guide to This Glam Design.

Accents & Decor Pieces: Elegant & Refined

Glam interiors use decorative accents to add to the luxe look and feel of any room. Here are a few areas to focus on when adding glam decorative accents to your home.

Decorative Pieces

To complete the look of a glam room, you'll need a handful of decorative pieces. If your glam room is high contrast, work with decorative objects, such as sculptures, trays, vases, that are in contrast to the rest of the room's design. If you prefer the softer version of glam style, choose neutral or soft colorful pieces that aren't too saturated.

Mirrors

Glam style is all about amplifying the shine of its metallic accents – wall and floor mirrors so mirrors are often used as decor frequently in glam style homes.

Wall Art

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.

At-Home Bars

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.

Florals

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.

Get more glam interior design inspiration in A Comprehensive Guide to Dazzling Glam Room Ideas.

You Might Also Like