7 Inspiring Design Trends From Award Season's Most Glamorous Parties

While glamorous Hollywood events may typically draw to mind bold, bright colors, several high-profile events this season took a different approach and used a black-and-white palette. At the Emmy Awards in September, for example, HBO and WarnerMedia's after-party drew inspiration from the works of photographer Helmut Newton and artist Bjorn Wiinblad with a more subdued gray, black, taupe, and gold color scheme. HBO’s Cindy Tenner and Ashley Covarrubias worked with longtime designer and producer Billy Butchkavitz to create the dramatic “HBO Nightclub” feel.

Netflix's after-party for the Golden Globes in January also incorporated black and white decor into its Refresh Lab, a partnership with Glossier and Moët where guests could get makeup touch-ups. The tented event was produced by Netflix’s Catherine McTiernan and Kelli Hill along with Best Events. Intended to celebrate the golden age of Hollywood—both past and present—decor was a modern twist on an Art Deco theme.

Mercedes-Benz USA's annual Oscars viewing party in February, designed and produced by Sterling Social, had a dark, contemporary aesthetic using tonal layers of black accented with pops of ivory, gold, and brass. In a lounge area, furniture groupings included cream boucle upholstered chairs and graphic black-and-white herringbone inlaid and brass coffee tables.

With guest lists full of high-profile attendees, many award-season parties wanted to ensure their branding was front and center. At Instagram’s Grammys luncheon in January, the brand’s logo was set in the middle of an attention-grabbing, floral-covered staircase. The event was produced by Crown & Conquer.

Warner Music Group incorporated creative, photo op-worthy logo design into its Grammys event, which had a 1970s theme. The gathering was produced by Jason Morais, Warner Music’s senior vice president of global events, with Gina Wade Creative.

Cadillac's annual Oscars party, designed and produced by Event Eleven, had floating leaves printed with the car company's logo.

During Grammys week, Mastercard celebrated its first music single—”Merry Go Round,” performed by Swedish artist Nadine Randle—with a carnival-theme event produced by BMF. In addition to a claw machine with prizes, a merry-go-round, and a palm reader, the activation featured the Mastercard logo made from brightly hued stuffed bears.

As in past years, interesting ceiling decor remained a top trend this award season. The Television Academy's official Emmys after-party, designed and produced by Sequoia Productions, had a "Brilliance in Motion" theme: Swirling water was evoked through a dramatic ceiling installation that used more than 310,000 strands of silk thread and almost 77,000 individual crystals.

Sequoia Productions also focused on the ceiling for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science’s official Oscars after-party. A floating ceiling display was made from 2,000 tubes of light, all constructed from recycled materials in varying finishes and textures. Eighty individual strings of Edison incandescent light bulbs added to the lighting design.

Warner Bros. and InStyle magazine's annual post-Golden Globes party, produced by JOWY Productions, used dramatic draping and a palette of rich blues, golds, cream, and white to complement a central gold-tiered Deco-style chandelier.

At entertainment agency Roc Nation’s annual Grammys brunch, So Events designed a living garden ceiling hanging above a mirrored walkway. The gathering had a colorful palette featuring bold burgundies and subtle blushes inspired by Spain.

Several events drew attention upward by grouping together multiple glamorous chandeliers. Netflix’s Emmys event, designed by Best Events, had a “geo glam”-theme. A group of light fixtures in varying shapes and sizes formed a canopy over the dance floor.

The Emmys party for Disney’s networks—ABC, Disney Television Studios, FX Networks, Hulu, and National Geographic—was designed and produced by Sterling Engagements. Decor was inspired by the last day of summer and filled with lush greenery, citrus trees, and bright florals. Overhead greenery was accented by a series of crystal chandeliers from Amber Event Production.

Warner Bros.’ Oscars party, designed and produced by JOWY Productions, featured an eye-catching array of golden chandeliers and other hanging light fixtures.

Roc Nation’s annual Grammys brunch had three oversize floral chandeliers with flowers from Celio’s Design along with white draping.

When it comes to flowers, the most simple displays can sometimes have the biggest impact. At ABC Television’s pre-Oscars party, Russell Harris Event Group filled the room with lush red florals from In Blume that complemented a series of golden Academy Award statues.

Warner Bros.’ Golden Globes party featured all-white floral arrangements from Mark’s Garden.

Mark’s Garden also used a monochromatic color scheme for the Oscars Governors Ball, creating some 400 arrangements using more than 12,000 blooms—most in varying shades of purple.

While florals may have been kept simple, wall and floor coverings this season were anything but. At WarnerMedia and HBO’s Golden Globes party—produced by HBO’s Cindy Tenner and Ashley Covarrubias with Billy Butchkavitz—a circular design scheme used a color palette of blush and honeysuckle pink, dove and charcoal gray, and assorted shades of gold. The complex pattern continued throughout the event’s press line, the carpet, the floor coverings, and the custom projections.

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler’s third annual Grammys viewing party—designed by V Productions with production and lighting by 15/40 Productions—had eclectic wall decor including oversize vintage mirrors, framed photos, and collage wallpaper of Tyler.

Disney’s Emmys party continued its summer theme with fruit-inspired wallpaper, which created a fun backdrop for the event’s V.I.P. areas.

What’s a Tinseltown party without some sparkle? Events this season used gold tones and twinkling lights to add an element of glamour. At Recording Academy's official after-party, for example, producer Branden Chapman used Moorish architectural details to create an event inspired by North Africa. Gold vases and sparkling props added an on-theme touch to the floral arrangements.

Billboard celebrated its annual Power 100 list, which honors the music industry’s top executives, during Grammys week. Shiraz Creative handled event design and production, while Stoelt Productions handled fabrication, rigging, and permitting. Hanging lights, gold tones, and reflective surfaces added an appropriately celebratory touch.

At Disney’s Emmys event, guests could take photos in a tunnel of twinkle lights.