Our interior design partners J&D Design share their tips for decorating your home using gold- just in time for the festive season!
Inspired by the golden treasures of the current exhibition of Tutankhamun, and with the festive season almost upon us, we offer tips and ideas on how to bring some glitz and glamour into your home by taking a look at the classic metallic, Gold.
For the ancient Egyptians gold represented the sun and eternal life. The walls of the chamber in which the Pharaoh Tutankhamun was laid to rest were covered in gold; his coffin is a three-piece sarcophagus, the innermost layer consisting of 110 kilograms of solid gold.
Since the days of the ancients, gold has been coveted and integrated into everyday design, from jewellery and furnishings to textiles and clothing. In colour symbolism gold is associated with wealth, grandeur and prosperity, as well as sparkle, glitz, and glamour.
Metallic finishes, especially gold, are now a firm fixture in interior design schemes, with the continued development of the market for Mid-Century classic furniture becoming a key reason for its resurgence. Gold is back.
How to use gold
The important thing to remember when using gold is don’t be afraid of it. Be bold. Gold is not only for gilded candlesticks or heavy-weight picture frames. It can be a marvellous addition to a room in a woven throw, for example, or in a patterned wall covering. A golden mosaic or even just warm, golden lighting can help create a relaxing, cosy atmosphere in the room. With the help of gold it’s easy to give a room a certain sophistication or bohemianism. Just make sure you balance it out.
…with colour
Complementary shades include white, black or deep blue. These are win-win colour combinations which are safely attributed to the classics. Gold with red can also work as a good combination, which adds more expression and extravagance. A golden tint looks good accompanied by dark, rich and deep tones such as velvet blue, chocolate, dark green, wine and terracotta. Gold is good with wood and this pairing can look very harmonious.
…with different fabrics
Unlike chrome and silver, the reflective surface of gold can bounce light back into a room, and add a touch of sparkle and opulence. But, unlike its shiny cousins, gold has one important decorative quality – it can add depth of warmth like no other colour. Just a touch of this glimmering metal can make a space feel instantly more glamorous. Too much, however, and a scheme could end up feeling like a set from a Bond movie. There is an art to striking the right balance. Fabrics such as velvet, mohair, leather or suede are all good for complementing gold and softening an overall scheme.
…in smaller areas
It’s tempting to simply introduce gold decorative touches through accessories by adding items such as gilt picture frames, lamps, cushions or trimmings as well as tassels. Understanding how to create a considered composition in smaller areas will give you more confidence in using gold throughout your home.
…in bigger spaces
For a bolder statement, make gold a bigger part of your scheme by introducing large-scale furnishings or glamorous light fittings. This will make an instant design statement and impact the room. In fact, lighting is key when it comes to making the most of gold and its extraordinary powers to enhance a space.
Gold is a glamorous statement so when you’re considering textiles to team it with, look along similar luxury lines. The aim is to enhance the other items in your room, not to eclipse or be eclipsed by it. Gold is the absolute colour of happiness and warmth and when used with the correct light source its unique mellow glow and the mood it creates is hard to beat.
So don’t wait for tinsel, look out for gold and find something gorgeous and elegant which can bring some instant glamour into your home.
J&D Design specialise in the application of colour and design, and provide clients with personalised design services, including interior design, commissioning artworks, lighting schemes and garden landscaping. In addition to their range of personalised design services, J&D Design offers a remote E-Design service and gift vouchers, with exclusive discounts for Marsh & Parsons’ clients.
If you’d like to read more from J&D design, they’ve written plenty more for the Marsh & Parsons blog, from eco-friendly design tips to using colour psychology to decorate your child’s bedroom.
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