Decorating
Decorating: 10 Ways to Add a Silver Lining to Your Interior
Let your home shine this summer with a host of silvery treasures
With all this talk of gold, bronze and copper taking up residence in our homes – such a big trend on Houzz right now – let’s not forget silver. Because cooler metallics, such as silver, chrome and pewter, can instantly refresh and beautify any room in the house with light-filled shine and shimmer. Be it a bedroom dressed with silver velvet cushions, or a wall glamorised with a flash of metallic paint, remember this: silver is for life, not just for Christmas…
Wow with a silver ceiling
This laid-back, eclectic kitchen rockets straight into the designer-label league thanks to the ornate tin tiles and coving adding a swathe of silver to the ceiling. And when the sun pours through during the summer months, be prepared for a fantastical light show.
If you can’t get your hands on tin tiles like these, you could always try a DIY silver painted ceiling for a similar summer glow.
Be inspired by these stylish ceilings
This laid-back, eclectic kitchen rockets straight into the designer-label league thanks to the ornate tin tiles and coving adding a swathe of silver to the ceiling. And when the sun pours through during the summer months, be prepared for a fantastical light show.
If you can’t get your hands on tin tiles like these, you could always try a DIY silver painted ceiling for a similar summer glow.
Be inspired by these stylish ceilings
Work it with white
Silver and white have long been a fresh and uplifting colour combo and will inject a summery feel into any space – including the kitchen.
Here, plain white cupboards are transformed by the shiny steel splashback and plinth, while the discreet metal and glass furniture and barely there white voile curtains add to the light and airy ambience (making this a particularly great colour duo for small spaces).
Silver and white have long been a fresh and uplifting colour combo and will inject a summery feel into any space – including the kitchen.
Here, plain white cupboards are transformed by the shiny steel splashback and plinth, while the discreet metal and glass furniture and barely there white voile curtains add to the light and airy ambience (making this a particularly great colour duo for small spaces).
Pair with a hot hue
Silver is the more glamorous big sister to grey and can shake up any space with a delightful gleam. This striking, silver-painted wall is the perfect highlight to the grey and pink palette, and sparks to life when the sun bounces off it.
Add in a pair of Moroccan-style perforated metal drum tables – or other silver accessories that conjure up hot climes – and a scattering of sumptuous silvery velvet cushions for a thoroughly eclectic and light-filled look that will see you through the summer months and beyond.
Silver is the more glamorous big sister to grey and can shake up any space with a delightful gleam. This striking, silver-painted wall is the perfect highlight to the grey and pink palette, and sparks to life when the sun bounces off it.
Add in a pair of Moroccan-style perforated metal drum tables – or other silver accessories that conjure up hot climes – and a scattering of sumptuous silvery velvet cushions for a thoroughly eclectic and light-filled look that will see you through the summer months and beyond.
Add a touch of luxury
Of course, silver, by its very nature, exudes an air of luxury and opulence, but in a lighter, more summery guise than warmer gold or bronze. The owners of this traditional, French-style bathroom could easily have chosen to team the grand proportions and magnificent windows with carved wood furniture, but instead opted for a silver-leaf bespoke vanity unit that flashes and fizzes in the sunlight.
Discover more ways to add a little glamour to your bathroom
Of course, silver, by its very nature, exudes an air of luxury and opulence, but in a lighter, more summery guise than warmer gold or bronze. The owners of this traditional, French-style bathroom could easily have chosen to team the grand proportions and magnificent windows with carved wood furniture, but instead opted for a silver-leaf bespoke vanity unit that flashes and fizzes in the sunlight.
Discover more ways to add a little glamour to your bathroom
Smarten up your silvers
You can’t go wrong with a silver boudoir for summer. Silver will never be too girlie (while pinks and purples might be a little too saccharine for some to swallow) and it can be anchored with a smart, charcoal backdrop for a more masculine or hotel-style take.
A sumptuous silver headboard in soft velvet will harness the look, then layer up the bed with silvery grey linens, a plush quilt and piles of sequinned, silk and satin cushions – all in a shimmering palette of silver, pewter and platinum, of course.
You can’t go wrong with a silver boudoir for summer. Silver will never be too girlie (while pinks and purples might be a little too saccharine for some to swallow) and it can be anchored with a smart, charcoal backdrop for a more masculine or hotel-style take.
A sumptuous silver headboard in soft velvet will harness the look, then layer up the bed with silvery grey linens, a plush quilt and piles of sequinned, silk and satin cushions – all in a shimmering palette of silver, pewter and platinum, of course.
Let it shine
Fans of ultra-modern styles shouldn’t dismiss silver as a decorating tool solely for the traditional home, because this cool metallic will add real dynamism to contemporary spaces, too.
The slick, graphic silhouette of this living room is transformed into something very special thanks to the silvered wallpaper and gleaming upholstery.
Fans of ultra-modern styles shouldn’t dismiss silver as a decorating tool solely for the traditional home, because this cool metallic will add real dynamism to contemporary spaces, too.
The slick, graphic silhouette of this living room is transformed into something very special thanks to the silvered wallpaper and gleaming upholstery.
Make it muted
If high-shine silver is just a little too flash for your tastes, there’s always the more muted, brushed finish to consider.
This pale sage kitchen really comes to life with matt silver bar stools, fishermen’s lanterns and brushed-steel appliances, creating a fresh, happy ambience to which guests will gravitate for a relaxed summer brunch.
If high-shine silver is just a little too flash for your tastes, there’s always the more muted, brushed finish to consider.
This pale sage kitchen really comes to life with matt silver bar stools, fishermen’s lanterns and brushed-steel appliances, creating a fresh, happy ambience to which guests will gravitate for a relaxed summer brunch.
Ramp up your rustic
Rugged raw wood, the dominant feature in this elegantly converted stable building, and high-shine chrome are not an obvious mix. But the unexpected contrast is a sleek touch that highlights the new versus old design of this clever conversion.
You could try giving a rustic kitchen a polished twist in a similar way with chrome kitchen appliances set against stripped, antique wood panelling.
Rugged raw wood, the dominant feature in this elegantly converted stable building, and high-shine chrome are not an obvious mix. But the unexpected contrast is a sleek touch that highlights the new versus old design of this clever conversion.
You could try giving a rustic kitchen a polished twist in a similar way with chrome kitchen appliances set against stripped, antique wood panelling.
Pretty up the powder room
Many a modern-day princess would lust after this fairy-tale powder room, made magical thanks to the generous use of silver and mirror.
The star piece is the bright silver countertop bowl, echoed by the silver-leaf mirror, elegant sconces and classic silver accessories. Because a girl can never get enough of the shiny stuff, right?
TELL US…
Do you love the sparkle and shimmer silver can bring to a home? Please share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
Many a modern-day princess would lust after this fairy-tale powder room, made magical thanks to the generous use of silver and mirror.
The star piece is the bright silver countertop bowl, echoed by the silver-leaf mirror, elegant sconces and classic silver accessories. Because a girl can never get enough of the shiny stuff, right?
TELL US…
Do you love the sparkle and shimmer silver can bring to a home? Please share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
If you’ve fallen out of love with your restrained, neutral décor, then let a little sprinkling of silver work its magic.
Long, billowing curtains in silvery crushed velvet or cool pewter silk will lift a traditional scheme, while mirrored glass furniture and a glamorous wall mirror will help catch the light and fill the room with summery charm.