Soft sheer shades offer the elegant look of the rich on TV's Gossip Girl

To get the look of Manhattan's elite, TV viewers can get a quick course in trend-setting interior design by watching the show Gossip Girl, according to ApartmentTherapy.com.


The show's set decorator Christina Tonkin has given the plush rooms of character Serena van der Woodsen's apartment a rich New York style that reflects the sassy young woman who lives there.


But Serena's metallic-accented bedroom, and its focal point headboard with the gold, circles print fabric, isn't what it seems, Tonkin told the magazine. By lining foam over a sheet of plywood and upholstering it with a high-quality, silky fabric, Tonkin was able to exude luxury at a reasonable cost.


To get more of the Gossip Girl look at home, Tonkin advises consumers to raid the bargain bins of designer stores for pillows, vases and tchotchkes to express one's own personality. Reflective objects, such as lamps, glass orbs and silver fabric pillows give a room a look of elegance.


For window treatments, soft sheer shades also have an elegant look, but are durable and versatile enough for any home style. While they allow filtered light to enter a room, they also maintain visibility of outside views.