Pearls exude unabashed glamour and style, whether adorning a neck, studding a lampshade, or accenting a toss pillow.
“Natural finishes are very popular right now and pearls are a part of that,” says Tiffany Grayce Harris, a California-based interior designer and co-owner of high-end décor store Layla Grayce. “They also have natural variations so they don’t feel contrived.”
Harris adds that “gray is a big color right now, as is natural linen. Both complement the lustrous colors of pearls … the varieties of colors add depth and interest without appearing too busy.”
In the fine jewelry market, pearls have long been a mainstay. According to the Jewelry Industry Research Institute, some $1.2 billion in pearls were sold last year.
Sophisticated dyeing techniques have increased the color variations, particularly in darker shades of pink and gray.
“Be aware that most white pearls are bleached to create uniform surface color and to enhance any overtone colors,” explains Mary Anne Montray, an executive with Georgia-based Beads of Cambay, an online retailer and wholesaler. Mother-of-pearl is also frequently bleached or dyed.
Whatever the colorations or quality, pearls lure the eye while adding unabashed èlan to any interior — from Shabby Chic to Hollywood Regency to Coastal Cottage.
Here are a few ideas for incorporating pearls into your home:
Overhead illumination
Bored with your traditional crystal-drop chandelier? Head to a hobby store and invest in some strings of faux pearls to hang over or weave into the arms and branches.
“Pearl drops in chandeliers are softer and more romantic than crystal or glass,” Harris says.
Feeling crafty? Fashion your own overhead lighting fixture out of pearls! All you need is fine-gauge wire, jewelry pliers, and the beads, and you can create a unique canopy for any sort of pendant.
Mosaics
High-end lighting designers like Jamie Young and Regina-Andrew Designs use pearls or mother-of-pearl in all manner of table lamps.
“I love to pair a mother-of-pearl lamp with a linen or burlap shade,” Harris says. “The contrast of the luster of the pearls to the nubby fabric is very interesting.”
Oly Studio uses shimmering mother-of-pearl mosaic tiles to frame mirrors, as well as inlays on accent tables. Anthropologie’s shimmering mosaic-tiled knobs, meanwhile, bring drama to any drawer.
Other accents
Pearl beads adorning pillows have an exotic air, like something from a tropical paradise. Sew or glue them to most any store-bought textiles. Fashion tiebacks or tassels for your window treatments to coordinate the look.
The bathroom offers exceptional opportunities for pearl accents. Consider embellishing:
Tissue boxes
Toothpaste holders
Cotton ball dispensers
Electrical outlet covers
Trays
On the table, use mother-of-pearl placemats (pretty and affordable versions are available at Bed Bath & Beyond). Collect or create pearl napkin rings or charms for your stemware or wrap a pearl-beaded wire around a white or ivory pillar candle for instant pop.
Finally, christen yourself a modern-day Coco Chanel and drape strings of pearls over your mantles or artfully pile them in a glass vase or bowl. Voila: Haute style in an instant!
Decorating with pearls
Pearls exude unabashed glamour and style, whether adorning a neck, studding a lampshade, or accenting a toss pillow.
“Natural finishes are very popular right now and pearls are a part of that,” says Tiffany Grayce Harris, a California-based interior designer and co-owner of high-end décor store Layla Grayce. “They also have natural variations so they don’t feel contrived.”
Harris adds that “gray is a big color right now, as is natural linen. Both complement the lustrous colors of pearls … the varieties of colors add depth and interest without appearing too busy.”
In the fine jewelry market, pearls have long been a mainstay. According to the Jewelry Industry Research Institute, some $1.2 billion in pearls were sold last year.
Sophisticated dyeing techniques have increased the color variations, particularly in darker shades of pink and gray.
“Be aware that most white pearls are bleached to create uniform surface color and to enhance any overtone colors,” explains Mary Anne Montray, an executive with Georgia-based Beads of Cambay, an online retailer and wholesaler. Mother-of-pearl is also frequently bleached or dyed.
Whatever the colorations or quality, pearls lure the eye while adding unabashed èlan to any interior — from Shabby Chic to Hollywood Regency to Coastal Cottage.
Here are a few ideas for incorporating pearls into your home:
Overhead illumination
Bored with your traditional crystal-drop chandelier? Head to a hobby store and invest in some strings of faux pearls to hang over or weave into the arms and branches.
“Pearl drops in chandeliers are softer and more romantic than crystal or glass,” Harris says.
Feeling crafty? Fashion your own overhead lighting fixture out of pearls! All you need is fine-gauge wire, jewelry pliers, and the beads, and you can create a unique canopy for any sort of pendant.
Mosaics
High-end lighting designers like Jamie Young and Regina-Andrew Designs use pearls or mother-of-pearl in all manner of table lamps.
“I love to pair a mother-of-pearl lamp with a linen or burlap shade,” Harris says. “The contrast of the luster of the pearls to the nubby fabric is very interesting.”
Oly Studio uses shimmering mother-of-pearl mosaic tiles to frame mirrors, as well as inlays on accent tables. Anthropologie’s shimmering mosaic-tiled knobs, meanwhile, bring drama to any drawer.
Other accents
Pearl beads adorning pillows have an exotic air, like something from a tropical paradise. Sew or glue them to most any store-bought textiles. Fashion tiebacks or tassels for your window treatments to coordinate the look.
The bathroom offers exceptional opportunities for pearl accents. Consider embellishing:
On the table, use mother-of-pearl placemats (pretty and affordable versions are available at Bed Bath & Beyond). Collect or create pearl napkin rings or charms for your stemware or wrap a pearl-beaded wire around a white or ivory pillar candle for instant pop.
Finally, christen yourself a modern-day Coco Chanel and drape strings of pearls over your mantles or artfully pile them in a glass vase or bowl. Voila: Haute style in an instant!