5 ways to add timeless glamour with gold

Bring sophisticated glamour into your home by incorporating touches of opulent gold into a neutral decorating scheme.

1. Lift neutrals with rose gold

If the idea of decorating with gold seems garish to you, this demure rose-gold scheme should be more up your street. Rose gold exudes glamour without being sickly sweet and looks effortlessly elegant paired with a calming palette of neutrals. Set off a rose-gold feature wallpaper with caramel walls and fabrics in nude, mocha and blush tones. A plush carpet, a glossy metallic console and lace, silk and velvet textiles will bring a sumptuous feel to your room without overwhelming the space.

2. Pair gold with pale pink

Transform a lifeless scheme into a comfy, inviting space with a warm, neutral carpet, pale pink seating and and a soft rug. Choose a putty or off-white shade for walls (this will look softer than brilliant white), then mix in a few lustrous gold accessories, such as a mirror, vases and candlesticks to add a little glamour. Keep this look modern with simple, streamlined side tables and touches of silvery grey. For added opulence, look out for furniture with a shimmering mother of pearl inlay, like this beautiful console.

3. Mix up lustrous fabrics

Bring some glamour to a neutral bedroom scheme by covering plain white linens with cushions and throws in a mix of shimmering fabrics. A gold and antiqued-effect glass bedside table will add a touch of French style. Cut-glass pendants have a vintage-style look and will help all the iridescent surfaces to shimmer.

4. Add highlights to a monochrome scheme

For a glamorous, high-impact look, build a monochrome scheme in a dining room with white walls and black furniture. Soften the feel with plush velvet covers on dining chairs and photographic prints of delicate flowers. This contemporary look can hold some hits of bright gold, such as a large pendant over the table and a row of accessories on the mantelpiece.

5. Create a subtle gold backdrop

This look is all about calm sophistication. Anchor the scheme with a shimmering, barely there wallpaper that adds a subtle pale-gold glow to your space. Team smart, button-back upholstery in mink tones with a dark-wood sideboard for a polished look. Add in just a few more gold touches with lamp bases and decorative bowls – or go a step further and spray-paint the legs of your coffee table. Up the glamour stakes with an elaborate glass chandelier.

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