If you love the elegant aesthetic of Hollywood’s “Golden Age,” we’ve got good news for you: It’s possible to create the same look and feel in your own home. Here’s what you need to know about this sophisticated style known as “Hollywood Glam,” along with several era-inspired decorating ideas.
What do you think of when you think of legendary stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Crawford? Words like “glamorous,” “chic” and “classy” may come to mind. Also known as “Hollywood Regency,” Hollywood Glam draws on these iconic influences to create inviting interiors which convey the same impression.
Explains Mandi Johnson for design blog A Beautiful Mess, “The style became popular in the 1930s during the golden age of Hollywood. William Haines designed homes for movie stars that made them larger than life with sleek low-lying furnishings and sumptuously dressed walls and windows, while Dorothy Draper’s larger-than-life personality filled great halls and hotels with bright colors and big, bold patterns. Hollywood Regency gradually entered homes across America with the popularity of key elements, like tufted sofas and modern Greek and Egyptian influenced fretwork, patterns and furniture silhouettes.”
The Luxe Life
When it comes to Hollywood Glam, luxury always leads the way.
Proposes Laurel & Wolf Interior Design, “Glamorous textures are one of the most sought-after elements of Hollywood Regency style. Lacquer walls instantly glitz up a space…even in the kitchen! When picking fabrics, channel the movie stars of the 1940’s and their haute couture gowns. Think silks, satins, velvet, suede, chenille, and even fur. These gorgeous textiles have distinct finishes and will immediately add depth to your space in a way that even the most beautiful cotton and linens just can’t.”
High-contrast is also a hallmark of the Hollywood Glam decorating style. So while bright colors, dramatic patterns, high-shine chrome and Lucite, ornate crystal, saturated lacquers, and glittering golds very much have a place here, so do more subdued wood finishes.
A Beautiful Balance
Speaking of gold, we like to think of it as one of the four g’s of the Hollywood Glam decorating style alongside glitz, glamour and grace. While the first three may be obvious, why the fourth? Because part of pulling off this look is using restraint.
When selecting pieces and materials for your Hollywood Glam space, keep in mind that it’s possible to have too much of a good thing — especially when such rich materials are involved. The takeaway? Balance is everything in Hollywood Glam home decor. For example, while flashy accessories may catch the eye, they’re often anchored by sleek mid-century modern pieces.
One last thing to keep in mind when creating a Hollywood Glam environment of your own? Don’t forget to factor in where people fit into the mix. As Interior decorator and furniture designer Barclay Butera told HGTV, “The whole style is about enjoying people, enjoying time [together]. It’s about glamour and getting a glimpse of those bygone days where TV was less important and it was about cocktail hour and company.”
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