Not too much, never too little: Gold is one of the hardest colors to decorate with – but when used with precision, the results are stunning. Take Jennifer Aniston's garden lounge as my favorite example.
When the actress purchased her Bel-Air home, she enlisted Hollywood-favorite Stephen Shadley to design his 'project of a lifetime, which she named Ohana. The entire property is simultaneously refined and luxurious, drawing on East Asian influences for a five-star yoga resort aesthetic. Jennifer Aniston's Japanese-inspired garden, particularly her lounge, exemplifies this ideology. The secret to its sucsess? Stephen's strategic use of gold.
While decorating with gold can be risky, this lounge strikes the perfect balance. Stephen introduced the tone through texture, specifically the sofa and pillows, which look particularly beautiful under the night light.
Stephen didn't go overboard with the color. He used it as an accent to complement the dark wood around the lounge, and his risk has paid off.
Sewn from high-quality upholstery fabric, this pillow adds an instant hint of luxury to any home. It pairs beautifully with soft neutrals and looks just as beautiful in a garden lounge as it does in an indoor living space.
This unique solar lantern creates the ultimate talking point in any garden lounge, or on any patio or terrace. I love how its intricate cut-out design creates a subtle gold statement that will live on in the memory of anyone who visits your home.
This fade-resistant and durable throw pillow is specifically designed for outdoor use (but it looks just as good indoors, too). It's uniquely custom designed and made in the USA, crafted from durable and soft spun polyester that's sure to last.
I am not alone in my love for Jennifer's lounge. Michelle Weisman, the director of visual design for Chair King, shares my sentiments, emphasizing the importance of not overdoing it with gold.
'Decorating with gold outdoors is a great accent, but don’t make it the main focus. We love mixing gold accessories like lanterns, baskets, or throw pillows in gold tones mixed with more earthy tones and textures like resin wicker or teak,' she says. 'Gold can overpower a space if you have too much of it, so think small touches here and there.'
She recommeds introducing golden throw pillows to warm up your space, and pair beatifully alongside greenery and wicker accents. However, you can also introduce metallic hardware, such as brushed gold lighting that looks particualy stunning after dusk.
'Gold is the epitome of luxury and sophistication. Its warm, rich hue has been used throughout interior design for thousands of years, making it a metal finish that transcends interior trends,' adds Mike Whitfield, an interior expert at LUSSO.
'The versatility of brushed gold in particular allows it to add warmth to both minimalist spaces and more traditional interiors, ensuring its position as an enduring favourite in interior design.'
How would you introduce gold into your garden lounge or patio? Let me know here in the comments.
