4 min readWith a career spanning over 70 years, including writing over 3,000 songs, Dolly Parton has always brought light and love to the entire world. She was never afraid to be herself, sparkling in swaths of rhinestones, and even though she described herself as “tacky” in the best way, her style is one that many have emulated.
When Dolly recently passed, it felt as if some of that sparkle left the world with her. While many of us will always miss her, Dolly would be delighted to know that her signature aesthetic lives on in homes and beyond. It’s a look that interior designer Colleen Simonds describes as “style with a wink.”
“I think of Dolly style as uber-feminine and a little over the top. Dolly was in on the joke, and was also no joke when it comes to her superstar career and legacy,” Simonds says.
To honor Queen Dolly and to bring her vibes into your spaces, read on for inspiration.
Stay True to Yourself
Dolly was unapologetically herself, an approach that we should all adopt when decorating our homes.
“I think that confidence allowed her to be as bold and over-the-top as she was with her image,” says interior designer Courtney Tartt Elias of Creative Tonic, who designed this fantastically pink dressing space. “Embracing that message in your own home means you're free to be yourself in your design choices, rather than trying to fit a mold or a trend.”
Tartt Elias says that you can inject loads of personality into your spaces by embracing colors that make you happy, weaving in a kaleidoscope of patterns, paying homage to the hobbies that make your heart sing, “or even going all in on a theme—doing it with confidence is the key.”
Don’t Shy Away from Bold Motifs
“Dolly cornered the market on moxie,” reflects interior designer Courtney Smith. “Instead of conforming to fit into society’s constantly-evolving style containers, Dolly poured out in every way. Her look defines her legacy as much as the thousands of songs she contributed to our national collection or the few hundred million books she donated to our youth.”
Being bold like Dolly can include going all in with a favorite wallpaper pattern, like the floral, butterfly-dotted print that Smith chose for this space, or it might be hanging a chandelier that brings you joy.
Go Dreamy
Dolly’s personal mantra was “Dream more, learn more, care more, be more,” and the “dream” part can influence your interiors. After all, she did dream big.
“Dolly is unapologetically feminine, joyful, and a little bit magical,” says Carrie Moore of Carrie Moore Interior Design. Dreaminess can fit into any space, but it feels particularly perfect in bedrooms, like this one designed by Moore, which incorporates soft blush tones, dreamy watercolor-like textures, tactile layers, and playful lighting.
Include Elements of Surprise
Dolly was never afraid of a little shock and awe when it came to her appearance, and you can bring that same vibe into your spaces. For instance, you can hang a neon sign in a traditional space, which is what Emily Spanos of Emily June Designs did in this room. She also recommends mixing high and low, flashy and subdued. “The beauty is in the juxtaposition,” she says.
Center on Favorite Activities
From her music room to a small church located on her property, Dolly loved setting aside spaces for specific activities. For example, if you love channeling Dolly through your primping and extensive shoe collection, make an entire space all about it, which is what Tartt Elias did in this room.
Be “Too Much”
“Dolly Parton is one of the queens of maximalism, and one of her big lessons was that ‘too much’ isn't a flaw, but rather a life philosophy,” Spanos says. “To my mind, Dolly's aesthetic is proof that maximalism, done with heart, will always be ‘in,’ whether the look is currently trending or not.”
Spanos says that Dolly’s brand of maximalism can be achieved through showcasing multiple patterns, textures, eras, and colors, all of which live in the bedroom she decorated.
Embrace Playfulness
Dolly maintained her playful, youthful spirit for all her years, a lightheartedness that can translate to interiors. Danielle Domingues, owner of Collins & Co. Interiors, says that embracing Dolly Parton in design is about reconnecting with the playful, whimsical dreamer we were as children, “the part of us that never believed there was such a thing as too much sparkle, too bold a pattern, or too big a dream.”
Playfulness is exhibited in this little girl’s room that Domingues designed, and has elements that can carry over into grown-up spaces, too. Think: billowy textures, plenty of pink, and sweet bows.
Develop a Signature Style
Butterflies were part of Dolly’s signature style, which is something you can develop, too. “Rather than seek permission or approval, Dolly generously presented her signature style—fancy, tarty, authentic, full-throttle exuberance. Rooms inspired by Dolly confidently celebrate their inhabitants, with bonus points for pink, glam, rainbows, butterflies, books, and pups,” Smith says of the room she designed.
Go big or go home when it comes to weaving in every possible thing that makes you happy, all within a singular space. Dolly embodied the idea of “do whatever makes you happy,” and your spaces are the perfect way to carry on that legacy.
