Decorate Like a Golden Girl
In honor of the late great Betty White, why not be inspired by her most iconic acting role and add dazzle to your home? While we may not all have the fortitude (or desire) to become full-fledged 80s Miami retirees, we can all take some advice from their enthusiastic tropical flair. Here are some things—big and small—that you can do to add a comforting patina of nostalgia to your home.
Put a palm leaf on it
Using a palm motif is an easy way to add a tropical vibe to your space. And whether you want an entire wall or room filled with peach and avocado greens, or just a little accent on a tray or cabinet door, stenciling is a great way to achieve tropical appeal. You can get both large and small versions of the palm tree motif, and they usually cost between $5 and $40 depending on the size. You can also use a stencil negative to create a tropical feel on the wall. Start with the color you want your leaves to be as a base. Then use a fake palm leaf (or a real one if you have access) as a backstencil. Hold the sheet against the wall, and then paint over the edges with the second color. You can do this in one small spot or on the entire wall for a fresco-like result.
Add some rattan
Another Golden Girls classic is rattan and bamboo furniture. If you’re not ready to shell out thousands of dollars for a vintage rattan living room set, then a rattan effect in accents can help. You can add some rattan to an existing item like a coffee table or lamp. Using hot glue, a few strands of rattan and dowels , you can make a lampshade by cutting the dowels to the height of the lampshade, gluing them, then covering the edges with rattan threads and gluing them into place. If DIY seems like a daunting task, try a tray or coasters made from bamboo or rattan. This will give your décor a natural fiber effect without much hassle.
Bring some flower power
There’s no shortage of colors in Golden Girls’ iconic style – you can spot them on just about any surface (and almost every golden girl). Thanks to Spoonflower, you can now access reproductions of some of Golden Girls’ iconic floral prints . If you don’t like to sew yourself or want to take a more subtle approach, you can try a floral tablecloth , floral curtains , or even smaller floral designs with fabric doilies or a patterned vase. Using pastels and soft tones with a natural motif will make you feel golden without being overly intense.
Meet me on the veranda
The veranda – the outdoor patio where the girls lounged in between (and during) petty quarrels – is perhaps the most favorite place in the entire series. While many of us don’t live in a tropical environment with open space that we can decorate with leafy tropical plants, we can all pay homage to the best parts of their enviable oasis. A nice tropical bar cart is a great nod to the lanai. You can also add some beach pillows to the open space. If you want something more, vintage metal furniture will give you an authentic look. To bring some porch magic inside, consider a potted bird of paradise or monstera deli ; both have large leaves and will give a tropical feel to any space. If you don’t want your home to look more like the set of this iconic sitcom, you can always celebrate the life of Betty White and honor the animal spirit. mistress Rose Niland – by donating to an animal shelter on January 17, when she would have turned 100 years old .