What Home Decorators Can Learn From Game Shows
Home decor inspiration can come from the most unlikely places, like the sets of your favorite TV shows. This can sometimes work if it’s the set of a homely sitcom, but popular game shows are often better at teaching you what not to do. We have some of those lessons here to help beginners avoid those rookie decorating mistakes.
Go Easy on the Color
The most iconic game show sets all have one thing in common – gaudy, larger-than-life sets that are dripping with vivid colors. This started as a by-product of when these shows first aired, in the ’60s and ’70s, where bright psychedelic colors were all the rage. Colorful sets also help grab viewers’ attention and create an energetic atmosphere.
The obvious example of this is the longest-running game show on TV, The Price Is Right. To say it’s influential would be an understatement. Besides its set design, the show’s games have gone on to influence modern media in other ways. This is best seen with their disc-dropping classic Plinko, which is now a popular online game.
In the Plinko gambling game, each player puts themselves in the shoes of a contestant trying to win their own prize. Where set design is concerned, The Price Is Right set the standard for decades. Even when they moved studio in 2023, they kept their lively colors, mostly through giant LED video walls and other electronic color sources.
Now, while there’s no accounting for taste, you generally don’t want your front room to look like The Price Is Right. That’s why the 60-30-10 rule exists – a color theory staple that aims at striking the perfect balance. It states that you want a 60% dominant color (often neutral or subdued) with a 30% secondary color (your favorite color, or a rich texture), and then a 10% accent color (the most vibrant color). Classic game shows apply that 10% to the whole set, but you shouldn’t want that eye-grabbing intensity in your living room.
Stick With the Times (and Watch Your Space)
Related to our first point – game show sets are often time capsules that reflect the era they were made in. While classic game shows have iconic sets, many of them have been grandfathered in from previous generations. If you look at game shows that started in the 2010s, you’ll see a lot of sleek black surfaces and piercing LED lights. Some publications, like Den of Geek, have described them as looking like the inside of a sci-fi spaceship.
For set design, minimalism has been in for quite some time. That doesn’t mean you need to take the minimalist approach; that’s up to you and your personal tastes. The real lesson here is that you should stick with the times. Nothing is stopping you from choosing that ’90s style floral-upholstered couch, but it will stand out against a lot of modern products and decorations. Some decorators specialize in period living rooms, balancing contemporary and old-fashioned furniture well.
Whatever you decide, keep it consistent and revisit your decision every few years. Some decor trends stick around for a decade or more, while others don’t last the season. If you fall behind on them, you’ll risk your living room looking like an old game show that never caught up to the 21st Century. If you prefer period decor, you can take The Price Is Right’s small, piecemeal approach to modernization.
In a similar vein, you should also know your space tolerance. Sets are used because they’re wide open, allowing for easy filming, but that isn’t ideal for most homes. There are exceptions; everybody’s seen giant, sterile showroom homes in places like LA, but all of that space is often wasted. If your room starts looking like a game show floor, it might be time for a table or another accessory. If luxury is the goal, Business Insider has more tips. By properly managing color and space, you can avoid a home that will strain your eyes or your legs in the long run.
