OLD HOLLYWOOD BEDROOM THEME

Dear Jellybean,

I want to redecorate my room in reds whites and a little bit of golds and blacks. I'm trying to go for a sort of old school Hollywood kind of theme. Do you have any ideas for what I could do?

Dear Writer,

Old Hollywood is a fabulous bedroom theme - what a great idea! Golds and blacks are perfect - but may I suggest that to go along with them, you use pinks and whites (instead of reds and whites)? Pink and black are a very sophisticated, glamorous combination that evoke the glamour of Old Hollywood. I think a palette of pinks will work much better than red in your bedroom theme, especially if you combine it with gold and black, and balance it with lots of white.

If you're re-painting your bedroom walls, pink is the perfect choice. There are many pinks to choose among - from baby pink to sizzling hot pink - and any would do, although a sizzling hot-pink will be the most glamorous. If you're partial to red, choose a cerise hot-pink that's closer to red than white.

Or, if you were thinking of darker walls, and using the other colors as accents, you could paint the walls gold for a highly sophisticated atmosphere. If you're super-bold, and can live with stripes, you could even do the walls in gold and black stripes!

With attention-grabbing color on the walls, your room needs a strong and calm center. Keep your bedding mostly white (for linens and comforters). Glam it up with shiny satin-covered pillows in your accent colors (golds, pinks, and/or black). A faux fur throw on the bed - in sleek black, minkish dark-brown, goddess white, or vixen hot-pink - will add texture and richness.

If you want, you could also create a beautiful bed canopy with a gossamer fabric. Check out your local Pottery Barn, Ikea or other home store to see what they offer.

Create a Hollywood-style vanity table by draping a small table with white or pink chiffon, or some other gauzy fabric. Put out your makeup in fabulous containers - glass or silver ones would look very old-school glam. While you're at it, cut out some black or gold stars and line the top of your vanity mirror with them, to create that star's dressing-room look!

Black and white photography is another great accessory for the Old Hollywood mood you want to create. You can find black and white pics of your favorite celebs for framing at local poster shops, or online at allposters.com. Try hanging a grouping of frames on one wall, as an art "installation." If you buy large-size images, one wall with maybe six of them - two rows of three each or simply lined up across a long wall - makes a great, glamorous statement. Or, with smaller artwork, you could try a series of three over three hung over your vanity or bed. Frame them all alike in either white or black.

A shag carpet, in one of your accent colors, would feel and look great on the floor by your bed. You could also go exotic with a faux zebra or pony floor rug. How wild, darling!

Don't neglect your bedside table when you do your decorating. A lamp with a glass (or clear plastic) or silver base will help to set the scene. Other items that would look right include a framed picture of your BF or BFF (use an antique-y looking frame in silver or black), and a silver or mirrored tray to hold your mags, bedside beauty aids, etc.

Gold, black or pink curtains put the finishing touch on the room. Long floor-grazing curtains are luxurious and add the right style note. Layer them over venetian blinds to keep the room super-dark at night.