(G)old School

I like metallics. They're the home decor version of glitter, except better because you can't get them stuck all over your hands. Chrome is my all-time favorite (so classic!) but gold is back in a big way. I've been seeing it pop up in DIY and decor projects for a few months now--I even used it as an accent when I painted that tray--so I wanted to touch on my favorite ways to work it into your space.

As with anything that's kind of flashy, gold works best as the side dish.

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There's enough in both of those examples to catch your eye, but not so much that you're half expecting the Dowager Countess to be at dinner. (Though I would not complain if that were actually my life. She is a treasure.)

Here are my favorite gold finds:

mirror  //  pillow  //  similar table  //  coasters  //  tea set  //  rug  //  box  //  cabinet knob  //  lamp

If you've never used it much and you're a little freaked out, try starting small with something that doesn't have to be out all the time, like coasters or a tea set. If you're like me and want something more timeless for the long haul, check out a mirror. (Imagine how cool that starburst version would be hanging over the back of a sofa. Me-ow.) Incorporating a pillow or lamp is a good way to test-drive more of it in your room without a huge commitment. And, if you're the kind who likes to go big or go home, you could always add a gold accent table or a rug. I'm probably in the mid-octave range with the pillows and decorative boxes.

Gold is coming back for faucets, too (sometimes they're labeled as brass), but I'm taking that part of the trend with a grain of salt. Remember three years ago when oil-rubbed bronze was THE COLOR for faucets? Yeah. Don't worry about plumbing trends.

So who else is getting on the gold train? How do you like to decorate with metallics? Are you a fan of some other metal? Chrome, perhaps?