MADE WITH A SHADE HOW YOU CAN ACCENT ROOMS IN YOUR HOUSE WITH A REALLY LIGHT TOUCH.

Guys with frilly lamp shades on their heads dancing on tables, dolls powdering their noses at elegant mirror-covered vanities: Such lush images of life in the '20s, '30s and '40s are conjured up by the latest home decorating trend.

Lavish accessories - from beaded lamp shades to velvet or silk throw pillows to elegant mirrors - are this fall's hot buys.

``Even in a depressed economy, accessories do well. They're the easiest way to change a look for the least amount of money,'' said Bombay Co. spokesman Mark Lefkin.

Lamp shades covered in feathers, dripping with beads or cloaked in red chinoiserie-print fabrics are selling like proverbial hotcakes at Bombay, a chain store known for affordable reproductions of classic designs.

``The look is decadent, but not in a bad way,'' he says, referring to the tassels and beads. ``And it's selling well because people are pushed to the limit. ... They're looking for a respite in their own homes ... and people who never were interested are now looking for unique ways to reflect their personalities.''

Fringe benefits 

Amanda Lucero, a visual assistant at the trendy Z Gallerie furniture store at Westfield Shoppingtown Promenade in Woodland Hills, also noted the trend. ``Lamp shades with beaded fringe are more than a lamp shade. They've become the accessory this year,'' she observed.

At Z Gallerie and nearby Macy's, Venetian-styled mirrors noted for the feminine designs etched into the glass, can be found in picture frames, sconces and clocks.

For a mirror-covered vanity like those seen in old ``Thin Man'' movies, you'll have to go the designer district on Los Angeles' Melrose Avenue.

At places such as the Charles Fradin lamp and mirror showroom, manager Vince Jelineo has a small chest inset with mirrors that's priced at $5,600. He explains it's custom-made, but adds that the revival of art deco and Hollywood glamour accessories is due, in part, to the renovation of Las Vegas. ``It provided a market for new and different and glamorous designs ... and the lamp shade, with its little couture touches that are feminine and appeal to women - who do most of the buying - is a good example.''

Even Martha Stewart, the home decor guru who got us to cover up chandelier lights with tiny accordion-pleated linen shades, has taken a fresh look at lamp shades.

In the September issue of Martha Stewart Living, she says just one customized shade on a strategically placed base can enliven an entire room. Among the shades she helped design for her own home are a sassy silk shade with an oriental design in the center and fringe on the bottom for a vintage floor lamp and a plain silk shade shaped like a safari helmet for a ginger-jar desk lamp.

Regardless of the lamp shade style, Stewart says it should give off a light that's bright enough to read by but soft enough to look beautiful.

Hana Zatloukal, who makes shades by hand at her L.A. shop, Dagmar, adds that shades should also complement the lamp base and the furniture style in the room, so it's important to bring a favorite lamp with you while shopping for a shade.

She also says colored fabric shades are popular now (as they were in the '20s), but shoppers should be aware that a red lamp shade may look orange when the light is on because light bulbs give a yellow cast to the fabric. And, she says, it will be difficult to read by, unless the shade has a white opaque liner.

Fad vs. trend

Zatloukal learned the art of lamp shade design from her Aunt Dagmar and knows the difference between a fad and a trend. She says the feather trims that were big during Victorian times will cool off soon because they collect too much dust.

Shades with beads on the bottom, however, should be swinging for the next five years, she predicts.

``Glass beads are everywhere right now, and they work well on lamp shades because the light illuminates them. And they also blend well with most interior designs, from Victorian to traditional,'' says Zatloukal.

Selecting a mirror can be more difficult, says Jelineo, since you can't bring with you the room where it'll be displayed.

``When shopping for a mirror, pay attention to scale. Don't go too small, which is what too many people do and they end up with a mirror the size of a photo frame that looked pretty in the store. You've got to balance the scales, so a tall room will need a tall mirror.''

Throw pillows require less strategy. But do try to get uneven numbers and a mixture of surface textures, these experts advise.

And remember that accents are accents. When in doubt, leave it out, as Coco Chanel would say.

LIGHTS FANTASTIC

Shopping for a new lamp or lamp shade? According to Los Angeles lamp experts Hana Zatloukal of Dagmar and Vince Jelineo of Charles Fradin showrooms, you should:

Take the lamp shopping with you for the best-fitting shade.

Get eye-level with the lamp and make sure the bottom edge of shade completely covers the bulb and socket.

Choose a shade shape that complements the base. Consider a square shade for a square base, a Chinese coolie-hat style for a low, wide lamp, round (drum) shapes for columns and ovals for old-fashioned urn styles that have handles.

Consider scale and balance of the lamp and match it to the shade.

Mix or match? Matching lamps on the mantle or night tables create a formal look; complementary lamps that have equal visual weight will reflect an informal, artistic ambience.

Check practicality. If the lamp is for reading or room illumination, make sure it's big enough and accommodates higher-watt bulbs. Also note that the base of the lamp should be at eye level when you're seated next to it.

- Barbara De Witt 

CAPTION(S):

12 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) Shades of Grace

Retro look in lamp shades, mirrors adds a touch of glamour

(2 -- 3 -- color) Lamp shades have become the season's biggest little impulse item, decorated with whimsy to brighten one's spirits as well as the home. These feathered and beaded mini-shades, designed to clip on a candlestick lamp, are $25 each at Bombay Co. in Woodland Hills.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(4 -- color) Venetian mirror-trimmed accessories, such as this clock by Royal Gallery Collections, $40 at Macy's, are inspired by Hollywood's golden era.

(5 -- color) Antique mantel mirrors and sconces covered with a mosaic of mirrors reflect the lush life of the '20s and '30s, available at Bombay Co.

(6 -- color) To complement the season's exotic new bedding, add velvet and silk pillows trimmed with glass beads and tassels, $32 to $39 each at Bombay Co.

(7 -- color) To get that French art nouveau look, add a curvy floor mirror, $299, and a fanciful lamp shade, $25, from Bombay Co.

(8 -- color) Beads that shimmer when illuminated add a touch of glitter, priced at $20 to $44 (shade, only), at Pottery Barn stores.

(9 -- 10 -- color) Even chandeliers are getting a fashion boost from beaded shades, sold in a set of five for $69 at Pottery Barn stores.

(11) Stylish lamps and mirrors are illuminating the accessory scene, courtesy of Bombay Co.

(12) Throw pillows such as these are an easy way to accent a room. Experts recommend using uneven numbers of pillows and a mixture of surface textures.

Box: LIGHTS FANTASTIC (see text)