Go for the Gold: Gilt Touches in Living Rooms

Gold says "fancy." But it doesn't have to be expensive: just grab a can of paint and go for the gold.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these affiliate links.

July 06, 2016

By: Felicia Feaster

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: design by Clay Snider: photo by Ben Rollins

Photo By: David Christensen

Photo By: Erin McCall Photography

Photo By: Julie Dodson

Photo By: Kelly Hinchman

Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Photo By: Courtesy of Society Social

Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: www.bethanynauert.com

Photo By: John Bessler

Photo By: Kelly Sutton Design

Photo By: Nick O'Neill for Laurel & Wolf; Designer: Samantha Peters

Photo By: Werner Straube

Photo By: Joshua Curry

Photo By: Laura Negri

Photo By: David Christensen

Frame It

A trio of gilt frames adds elegance to this gallery wall. Don't have gilt frames on hand? Find cheap wooden frames at garage sales and spray them all the same color.

Gold Above

Think outside the box, as designer Amy Morris did with these gorgeous stamped ceiling whose rich gold detail is elegantly contrasted with soft pink walls and featured in the Southeastern Designer Showhouse and Gardens.

Simple Focal Point

Simple gold accents add a touch of luxury to a side table.

Hints of Gold

You don't have to go overboard with gold: sparse touches work well too.

From: Julie Dodson

Sunburst

Vintage gold mirrors are a great way to add two layers of glimmer, from the gilt and the mirror. Or opt for a simple change, and just add gold pulls to a living room chest.

From: Kelly Hinchman

Metal Menagerie

Gold pairs well with limes, lavenders, peacock blue and hot pink. These simple decorative accessories look great next to the green touches in this living room.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Keep it Contemporary

Gold adds shine and interest and can be used in both traditional and contemporary rooms.

From: Payte Miller Interiors

Bar None

Love bamboo? We do too, especially when it's refreshed and painted a funky gold, as with this vintage bar cart.

Disco Tech

There's no denying, gold adds glam and a fun, contemporary feel to a space when you pile it on.

Regal Regency

We love the gold wallpaper, handles and flourishes of gold in candle holders and other accessories on this chic console.

From: Lindye Galloway

Stay Golden

Blue accents add soft color to this rich-looking gold table. Repurpose an existing console, side table or chest in gold to lend your living room a glamorous touch.

From: Heather Garrett Interior Design

On the Wall

Mirrors and frames are great ways to bring gold into a room. We also love door frames and ceilings painted gold for a jewel box look.

From: Kelly Sutton

A Little Goes a Long Way

Be on the lookout at antique stores, thrift stories, discount home decor shops and your own home for simple but lovely gold accessories or ones you can easily refresh with gold spray paint.

Brass Detail

Brass lends a more muted gold touch to a living room and small accessories look great when grouped together, or used in a still-life tableau.

Touch of Class

Gold and crystal or gold and glass can bring real luxury to a room and don't have to break the bank. Be on the hunt for unique items that can bring this element of glamor to a room. Remember, that a little goes a long way, so keep your glass and gold accents to a minimum.

From: Kim Scodro Interiors

Gold + Yellow Thrill a Fellow

Flashy sunburst mirrors form a fun constellation above this couch and accessories in sunny colors. Group similar gold elements together to up the fun factor.

The Gold Standard

Gold-framed art and a complementary gold mirror add elegance and order to this living room.

From: Liz Carroll

Graphic Punch

Designer Brian Watford's console gets a kick of modernity with these graphic, metallic geometric forms.

Glow Down Under

Talk about fancy (and inexpensive): designer Barbara Westbrook showcased two stunning ottomans with glowing gold undersides. You can get the same magical effect by painting the underside of a bench, coffee table or side table in glimmering gold.

Graphic Gold Light Fixture

One striking gold element: in this case a dramatic light fixture is sometimes all you need. This hip gold light blends beautifully with punchy color. If you don't have a lot of cash to spend, put it into one, singular element to get the most bang for your buck.

One Shot Wonder

Design firm Huff-Harrington mixes old and new gold details to stunning effect, showing the advantages of using gold sparingly in a room, but keeping the mix in mind.

Get Rich With Gold

Gold Lamps and a mod gold mirror show the advantages of using the right gold touches to add dimension to a room.