Do you want to be serious, humorous or both? Decorum can be classic and beautiful or kitschy and over the top. It’s your space, feel free to make it fun or a peaceful retreat!

When using your own theme or one from below, think of something that defines that theme to you. Some themes are easy (like Medieval) but others may be based on an image from a movie, an item you own or a mental image from a novel. A theme like Gothic Garden may be based on an image from a horror film, description from an Anne Rice novel or even Great Expectations. That’s the fun in themed decorating – it is specific to you!

Medieval/Renaissance
Ren Faire people, this is you. Iron candelabras, chainmail, pewter chalices and stonework such as gargoyles and griffins are perfect. Put candle sconces along the wall. Art prints of Leighton have that King Arthur theme and are easy to find. Other items include coat of arms, dragons, swords/daggers and faeries (Amy Brown has great gothic faerie prints). Use velvet cushions on high back wood chairs. Get a suit of armor. Too expensive? There are 12 inch to about 4 foot tall for under $100 at stores such as Garden Ridge and TJ Maxx. Craft works from a local Renaissance Faire are also great and lend authenticity.

Baroque/Victorian
Tiffany styled lamps can be found at Marshall’s and Lowe’s. Use brocade, velvet, lace and satin fabrics for curtains, tablecloths and draped over furniture. Velvet scarves can be used on plant stands or wrapped around the base of a table lamp. Velvet parlor couches can sometimes be scored at a thrift or antique store. Look for discount furniture stores that have velvet couches, brocade chaises, and low cost furniture sets (they are in marginal areas and are not “quality made” but usually look great for the money). Beadwork is really popular now: candle sconces, chandeliers, and lamps. Use gold sconces and wall mirrors for the Baroque look. The Victorian Mourning style is also great; get a vintage mourning dress on Ebay or Trashy Diva and hang it on the wall or a dress form.

Roaring 20’s/Art Deco
This is sometimes blurred with Victorian, but think Great Gatsby. Black and white diamond wallpaper or tile if you can. Use lots of gold, fringe and cocktail ware. Art deco and retro prints can be found on Ebay and at Cost Plus/World Market. An awesome idea is a bar or even a liquor bookshelf with a fringed or beaded fabric drape. Display cognac or sherry with decanters and glasses. A dressing table in the bedroom can display jewelry and perfume bottles.

1950’s Vintage
Think Bettie Page. I have a 50’s bathroom with red velvet flocked wallpaper (near impossible to find and difficult to put up). Use framed vintage Bettie photos or pin-up art prints by Olivia. My colors are red, black and white. Red brocade curtains and velvet furniture can be used. Make it slightly tawdry!

1960’s Loungy
Do a martini lounge or tiki patio. This stuff is easy to find at vintage stores, the web and Z Gallerie. Think Dean Martin or the Hawaiian episode of Brady Bunch. Watch 60’s shows on TV-Land for ideas.

New Orleans
Use lots of wrought iron and plants such as ferns or ivy (yes, can be fake). Find lamps that look like gaslamps. Lowe’s and Home Depot have both wall and floor lamps that look very New Orleans. Mardi Gras masks, dolls and beads are cheap, especially at the tourist shoppes in the Quarter. Get those little French Quarter street signs like Bourbon and Dumaine (an excuse to take a trip there). Don Davey’s French Quarter drawings are great. Create an Absinthe inspired room with Victorian style: Degas, vintage prints, and an absinthe bar with fancy glasses, absinthe spoon and liquor bottle. Check ebay for spoons and glass sets. Absente can be purchased at many liquor stores. The real stuff can sometimes be located online though is illegal to import.

Paris
Black and white prints of the Eiffel Tower and Paris cafes can be found all over. Street signs and French plaques are nice over doorways. French art posters are also easy to find such as Le Chat Noir and Toulouse Lautrec. French themed decorum has been popular lately and many stores like the Great Indoors and Marshall’s have had extensive displays. Eiffel Tower telephones can be found on Yahoo Shopping. Pink and black can also be a good color scheme; make it very (early) Chanel.

London Pub
Pub plaques are great for the kitchen or dining room. I have a Pirates Pub plaque in my kitchen. Some of these include a chalkboard to write the daily specials. Neon and mirror pub signs may be more expensive. Guinness, Newcastle and Bass swag is necessary. Get fancy steins and beer glasses to display.

Disneyland
The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean are popular among goths. In California, I used to attend “Bats Day in the FunPark” when the Goths invaded Disneyland! The Disneyland Gallery has huge vintage posters (and small prints) of the rides. Do a ghostly dining room where ghosts can be imagined dancing or a bawdy pirate room with a skull and crossbones. Disney memorabilia can be found on Ebay but usually pretty costly. For kitschy decorum, try costume and party shops Ð especially on the Internet. The Haunted Mansion can also be done classic with ornate candelabras and sconces, an organ, fancy wall mirrors and rich fabrics.

Cemetery/Halloween
Can be classic like The Haunted Mansion or “over the top”. A necessary is a fake tombstone. I got a Celtic foam tombstone from one of those Halloween stores. There are many year round Halloween stores but this style of decorum is best to find around the holiday. Wal-Mart has a great Halloween section. Get lots of bats, spiders, and skeletons to hang. Large wire spiderwebs are cheap. Use shades of grey and black for decorating. Purple string lights are great to use.

Garden
Use lots of silk flowers such as ivy vines, ficus trees and roses. Ivy vines can be nailed or tacked to doorways and corners as well as be used on curtain rods. Fountains and garden statues can be brought inside for an indoor garden. Another idea is a garden shelf; use the flowers, small statues and a fountain on a table or bookshelf. Get silk flowers from Wal-Mart, Big Lots, Garden Ridge. Maybe a haunted garden is more your style? Faux finish paint on the walls can give it a murky look. Think Secret Garden, Great Expectations or Interview With the Vampire. (If you have a green thumb and proper sunlight, any foliage in your home is a pleasure. –Editor)

Tim Burton

My family room is filled with Nightmare Before Christmas goodies and a Burton-esque patterned couch. There is so much Nightmare stuff such as beanies, posters, toys, and clocks that this is real easy. Look for black and white stripes or scrolling ivy print.

Horror Film

Can be classic Anne Rice or kitschy Ed Wood. Use movie posters, action figures and coffee table books on movie monsters or vampires.

Film Noir

Similar to horror film themed but use Film Noir posters and actor photos. Decorate entirely in black, grey, and white. Make sure to have ashtrays, liquor decanter and maybe a vintage gun displayed. Decorum is minimalistic.

Comic Book/Zine

Use your favorite zine or comic character in posters and memorabilia.

Music inspired

Example, Siouxsie, Cure, and Bauhaus. Use photos, concert posters and autographed gear.

Musical Genre Inspired

Industrial, Ethereal, and Punk. Do an industrial room with metal furniture, black leather chair or couch and modern artwork. An ethereal room may include wispy fabrics, prints of faeries, plants, flowers and the artwork of Maxwell Parrish. A punk room may include wall graffiti (if possible), plaid furniture, and local band posters and flyers.

Color is the Theme

Make color the predominant theme. My husband has a black music room where the walls and ceiling are painted. I have an office that is called the “green room”; the ceiling, walls, carpet and curtains are hunter green. For renters, wall coverings such as tapestries, curtains, fabric can be used with many pictures. Other common color themes are red, burgundy, and grey.

Catholic / Dia de los Muertos

An excellent cheap decoration is the Catholic candle. Buy 10 or 20 at the supermarket. Hanging incense holders are recommended. Browse through your local botanica for inspiration. Paper mache skeletons can be found in October or November or year round in Mexican art stores. Decorate with Posada skeleton prints.

Asian

Have a Zen garden with bamboo, chimes, a fountain and wall hangings of Chinese characters. Decorum can be minimal with black and white or green. Japanese theme can include Kabuchi figurines, swords and masks. Straw mats can be used as rugs.

Moroccan

Do an opium den! Use silks and satin fabric in rich colors. Spiegel and other online catalogs have had Moroccan themed bed linens and pillows. Drape fabrics from ceiling and use lots of pillows on the floor.

Other Tribal/Archaeological

I was an Anthropology major so I did this theme for years. Themes can be African, Australian Aborigine, Amazon, Native American, Mayan, or Egyptian. Masks, figurines, musical instruments and weapons are great artifacts to display on walls and curio cabinets. Good places to shop are Cost Plus, World Market, Pier One, small tribal or African art stores (Santa Monica has one).