The Story Begins

When my friend Dylan came out in his late twenties, he decided it was time for a grand, fabulous reinvention — and the first place he wanted to start wasn’t his wardrobe, his dating apps, or even his attitude. No, he set his sights on his painfully beige apartment, a place so bland it made hospital waiting rooms feel energetic. “I want my place to look like my life finally does,” he said — bright, bold, unapologetic. And suddenly, without warning, I found myself starring in a real-life Queer Eye for a Straight Guy episode, minus the camera crew but definitely with the drama.

Below are the seven style tips we used to turn his apartment from “beige rental brochure” into “flameboyant fabulous sanctuary.”

1. Colour Is Your New Sexual Orientation

If your home looks like oatmeal, it’s time to add some flavour. Beige, grey, white — cute for minimalists, but honey, you’re not going through a Scandinavian midlife crisis. You’re stepping into your flameboyant era. And colour is your first declaration of independence.

We started with accent walls because commitment is easier when you can paint over it. Dylan chose a deep peacock blue for the living room — bold but sophisticated, dramatic but not chaotic. Colour psychology tells us that rich colours increase emotional energy and creativity. It also tells your visitors, Yes, this person has personality and possibly good gossip.

Tip: Choose one wall to be your show-stopper and paint it in a colour that makes your heart skip a beat. Jewel tones, emeralds, sapphires, ruby reds — basically anything that makes your apartment feel like a drag queen stepped in and blessed it.

Once that colour dried on the wall, Dylan literally said, “I feel like my apartment is flirting with me.” Perfect. That’s the vibe.

2. Statement Furniture: Go Big, Go Bold, Go Slightly Dangerous

Nobody ever had a flameboyant apartment built around a beige IKEA couch. We replaced Dylan’s sad, saggy, grey sofa with a deep green velvet sectional that looked like it had been stolen from an expensive cocktail lounge run by queer people with impeccable taste.

Statement furniture doesn’t have to be expensive — it just has to be willing to commit to the bit. Think curvy shapes, unexpected textures, bold colours, shiny finishes. Something that says, “If you sit on me, you will rethink your life choices.”

Think:

• A scarlet velvet chair

• A neon-accented coffee table

• A gold hammered side table

• An over-the-top headboard you’d proudly faint on

Your furniture should feel like main characters, not background extras. When Dylan saw his new couch, he said, “This is giving showgirl energy.” Exactly.

3. Art That Says “Yes, I Am That Bitch”

Bare walls are for people who haven’t discovered themselves yet. Dylan had exactly one piece of art: an abstract canvas from Kmart that looked like sadness dipped in pastel. We retired it with honours.

Art is where flameboyance blooms. It doesn’t have to be expensive — prints, posters, thrifted finds, framed photos, neon signs. The only rule: it must spark joy and conversation.

We created a gallery wall mixing fashion sketches, vintage drag posters, Pride prints, and an over-the-top Baroque-style portrait of a cat wearing pearls. It became the centrepiece of the room — bold, cheeky, unapologetically camp.

Research even shows art-filled spaces boost emotional wellbeing. But listen, science aside — it just makes your apartment feel alive, like it has personality and questionable hobbies.

4. Lighting: The Glow-Up Everyone Needs

Good lighting can transform an entire space more than any piece of furniture. Dylan’s apartment was lit solely by one overhead fixture — which I can only describe as “government office energy.”

Honey, no.

We introduced layered lighting:

• Warm lamps for softness

• Coloured LED strips behind furniture for drama

• A statement chandelier for flair

• Candles for sensuality, mystery, and maybe fire risk

Lighting should flatter you, seduce your guests, and make your space feel like the sexy lovechild of a cocktail bar and an art gallery.

We put a dimmable lamp in every corner and soft LED strips behind the couch. Dylan walked in and said, “Why do I look hot?” Because baby, you finally have lighting that loves you back.

5. Textures That Make You Want to Touch Everything

A flameboyant space isn’t just visual — it’s tactile. Dylan’s old apartment felt like a cardboard box. Now? It feels like a queer sensory playground.

Layering textures is where the magic happens:

• Velvet pillows

• Faux fur throws

• Gold metal trays

• Rattan baskets

• Plush rugs

• Silk cushions

• Woven wall hangings

Your space should feel rich, lush, touchable — even delicious. Gone are the days of one texture dominating a room. Think of your home as a charcuterie board of tactile sensations.

Dylan described his new living room as “a drag queen hugging a vintage lounge.” Perfect. That’s the brief.

6. Plants: Because Nothing Says “I’m Thriving” Like Photosynthesis

Houseplants are the hair extensions of interior design. Add a few, and suddenly you look put together, stable, possibly emotionally regulated.

We filled Dylan’s apartment with greenery — monsteras, pothos, ferns, and a single dramatic fiddle-leaf fig that we named Layla. Plants soften a space, energize it, and make your home feel lived in rather than “freshly constructed.”

Studies show plants reduce stress and improve air quality — but most importantly, they make you look like someone who drinks iced coffees and has interesting conversations about astrology.

Also, we chose plants that are hard to kill. Flameboyance does not require suffering.

7. Accessories: The Final Touches That Turn a Home Into a Mood

This is the glitter moment. The accessories. The décor. The details that take your home from “cute” to “holy shit this is fun.”

We added:

• A disco ball in the corner (non-negotiable)

• Gold-rimmed drinkware

• Scented candles with names like “Forbidden Orchard” and “After Midnight”

• Queer literature stacked on coffee tables

• Cushions in scandalous colours

• A cheeky doormat that said “GAYS AHEAD, STRAIGHTS PROCEED WITH CAUTION”

Accessories are your personality in object form. Flameboyant design is all about the wink, the flirtation, the “yes, I meant to do that.”

When Dylan walked into his fully styled space, he gasped — then said, “I feel like I should charge admission.” Iconic.

The Transformation

By the time we finished, Dylan’s home had transformed from a personality vacuum into a vibrant reflection of who he’d finally become. It wasn’t just a makeover — it felt like a celebration. Watching him walk into his new space, chest lifted, grin wide, I realised something: the transformation wasn’t just about the apartment. It was about stepping into the light — quite literally. For a moment, I swear the whole thing felt like the finale of Queer Eye for a Straight Guy, complete with emotional music and a slow pan to his fabulous new velvet couch.

Love Gracie xoxo