The Speakeasy Spirit – a New Home Décor Trend?

The Speakeasy Spirit – a New Home Décor Trend?

From the dark, intimate ambience of a basement room to the velvety shades of mahogany, maroon, raisin and olive, there is nothing in this world that can immerse the soul faster than an underground retreat. While prohibition ended in the States back in the early 30s, the essence of the speakeasy lives on; that charming, mysterious allure that has worked its way countless times into film and TV, literature and music. The romantically dreary haunts of the 40s and 50s continued to evoke that same sense of retreat. If Sinatra’s ‘One More For the Road’ doesn’t transport listeners to a sub-level bar in Lower Manhattan, nothing will.

Plenty of inner-city haunts have sought to replicate the dim appeal of the speakeasy. London alone is home to plenty of speak-easy bars that steal patrons away from the bright and bustling street and secret them away in a place that is artfully stuffy, seductively drab, and far away from any sense of time or place.

From the parquet floors to the heavy drapery, the plush seating to the sparkling bar, the speakeasy is a winning aesthetic for any hip location, but what about the home?

An Enveloping Colour Palette

The colours of the speakeasy are ripe for the picking when it comes to outfitting the cosiest rooms in the house – the bedroom, the snug, or the dining room are all ideal for a splash of the deliciously gloomy.

A combination of warm brown, deep greens, and plummy reds – and a few streaks of lighter, livelier shades here and there – is a great starting point. For more contrast, be inspired by the vivid hues of the spirits – an absinth green or a grenadine pink, just enough to offset the dimness. True, modern interior design is so often centred around brightness and daylight, but artificial light certainly has its virtues.

Intentional Lighting

These spaces do, of course, tend to be on the dimmer side, but that’s not to say the space needs to feel murky – like a cinema with the houselights turned down. Instead, any lighting you do introduce should serve a particular purpose – to shine a light on an armchair, or emanate a slight glow in one corner.

These lighting pieces can overlap and layer with one another, but the key is intentionality, with each piece serving a unique purpose and, of course, being beautiful.

Candlelight is another useful element for introducing a little extra moodiness into the space, along with gently diffused overhead lighting if you want to avoid your guests falling asleep before the evening is through.

Eclecticism at the Forefront

To capture the true vibe of the speakeasy, refrain from being too discerning about the features you introduce. While matching pieces certainly have their place, there’s a lot to be said for a room decorated in elements that speak for themselves, and no other part of the room.

An eclectic mix of mis-matched pieces – some ornate, some simple – captures that rough-readiness of the speak-easy. From your fabrics to the furnishings and accessories, nothing needs to directly complement anything else. Contrast will keep the room from feeling too curated.

An Emphasis on Glass

If the idea is to wholly embrace the speak-easy vibe, then incorporating a few splashes of glass will emulate the bar itself. Glass accents – perhaps a few glass vases (again, eclectically chosen), glass lampshades, glass storage or, if the room is right for it, vintage bottles – will represent a few bright spots in the room.

If you’re heavily committed to the theme, then a piece of stained glass hung at the window will usher in a few cinematic streaks of coloured light.

Heavy fabrics

For that plush, away-from-the-world feeling, a few heavier, more sumptuous textiles can do a lot of the work. While velvet may be the most obvious choice, a high-quality weave offers more opportunities for layering prints.

Our Chennai Weave Wine, for instance, features our favoured blend of cotton, flax and viscose which, together, create a strong, durable fabric with a very pleasing drape. Contrast it with a few other patterns – emphasising that darker, murkier colour palette – on the room’s upholstered pieces, and at the windows.

It’s no surprise that the speak-easy remains a popular inspiration for public and private spaces around the world. At home, these interpretations don’t have to be literal – unless, of course, you have a well-stocked bar tucked away in a quiet corner of the house – and can, instead, manifest in the smaller details. As an inspiration, it’s perfect for offering a relaxing and immersive colour scheme, and a winning atmosphere for you and your guests.