How to Decorate a 1920s Speakeasy in Your Home

The difference between a decorated basement and an actual speakeasy comes down to a few decisions most people get wrong.

By Tammy Prebble · Founder, Tailor Made Rooms · Speakeasy Sign Designer

More and more people are turning their basements, spare rooms, and forgotten corners into home speakeasies — and I completely understand the appeal. There's something irresistible about having a secret, sultry, low-lit hideaway tucked inside an ordinary house.

I've spent years in this world. I've been inside several home basement speakeasies, and I've designed and researched more than 30 different luxury, high-end speakeasy signs made of canvas, aluminum, and acrylic — including acrylic that can be backlit. So when people ask me how to decorate for a 1920s speakeasy, I don't answer from theory. I answer from rooms I've actually stood in.

One of my favorites was a home in Howell, Michigan — vintage trunks, white feathers, a gorgeous gramophone-shaped speaker that doubled as a sound system. It had almost everything. The only thing missing was a vintage-looking speakeasy sign to tie it all together. The moment it went up, the room stopped being a decorated basement and finally became a speakeasy.

That story is really the whole lesson. Let me walk you through how to get there.

What actually makes a speakeasy feel like a speakeasy

Before you buy a single thing, understand the goal. A real speakeasy isn't a checklist of props. It's a feeling. The question I always come back to is simple: does the room make you feel like you've gone back in time?

When it works, everything in the room is pulling in the same direction. The items feel vintage and old, even when some of them are brand new. The lighting, the textures, the music, and the sign all conspire to transport people to the 1920s the second they walk in. When it doesn't work, it's because the room is just a basement with a few props thrown around.

Keep that feeling test in your mind for every single decision you make.

Start with the lighting

Lighting is the single most important thing, and it's where I'd tell anyone to begin.

Low, dim lighting instantly sets a mysterious tone. Bright overhead lights kill the mood every time. You want warmth, shadow, and intimacy — the kind of glow that makes people lean in and lower their voices without realizing it. Before you spend money on anything else, get the lighting right. It does more heavy lifting for the atmosphere than almost any individual object you could buy.

Layer in the right textures and furniture

The 1920s had a distinct sense of luxury and texture, and that's what you're recreating. Velvet was hugely popular in that era, so it's a perfect place to lean in. A vintage chaise lounge or a tufted chair adds an authentic, indulgent touch.

Textures that feel rich and era-appropriate

Velvet

Chairs, drapes, cushions — the defining texture of the era

Fur

Throws and accent pieces that add warmth and luxury

Feathers

Decorative accents that read instantly as 1920s

Leather

Bar stools, seating, and accent pieces with aged character

For the layout, small bar tables and chairs give you that intimate, clustered seating that speakeasies were known for, and a wooden bar area anchors the whole space. You don't need a massive setup. You need a few well-chosen pieces that feel old, feel warm, and invite people to gather.

Don't forget the sound

Atmosphere isn't only visual. Jazzy music is the soundtrack of the era, and playing it through an old phonograph is the kind of detail people remember. Even if you're not actually spinning records, a phonograph in the room earns its place purely for the look. It's a small thing that quietly reinforces the time-travel feeling you're going for.

The sign is the soul of the room

This is my specialty, and I'll be honest about my bias: the sign is what separates a themed basement from an actual speakeasy. It's the piece that names the place and makes it real.

Match the material to your style

Backlit Acrylic

Best for a luxury, high-end speakeasy with a modern twist. The backlighting gives a real sense of drama and glamour — the kind of glow that stops people in their tracks.

Canvas

Best for an old-world, traditional speakeasy. Canvas feels warm, aged, and authentic — it disappears into the room the way a true vintage piece would.

Aluminum

A durable middle ground with a clean, sharp finish. Works beautifully with dark backgrounds and gold or white lettering — classic speakeasy palette.

Avoid the cheap-looking sign. There's a big difference between a sign that elevates a room and one that drags it down. A cheap sign — the kind that looks like it was painted on cardboard — undercuts everything else you've worked to build. This is a spot where quality genuinely shows, and people notice it the moment they walk in.

Personalized speakeasy sign for 'The Williams Speakeasy Lounge' with a chandelier above in a bar setting. Name your speakeasy

This is one of my favorite parts. Giving your speakeasy a name makes it memorable and gives it a personality all its own. I've seen names like Pink Pig Speakeasy and Stevie Blue Eyes Speakeasy — and Pink Pig is my personal favorite. A name turns a room into a place.

Personalization is king. Every sign I design is personalized, because that's what makes a speakeasy feel like it belongs to the people who built it — the way that black-and-gold family-name sign did for the home in Howell.

Where not to waste your money

People love to overspend on the entrance. I'd steer you away from big fancy doors or motorized doors. You do not need a bank vault door to have an authentic speakeasy.

A regular door does the job just fine. What actually creates the magic is adding a charming password sign to it. That little touch brings people in with charm and makes the entrance feel like part of the experience — and it costs a fraction of what an elaborate door setup would.

Where to spend it instead

If you're going to invest, invest here:

A great sign

The piece that names the room and makes it real. This is your showpiece and the thing people photograph and remember.

Cozy seating

A gathering space where people can sink in and stay. Velvet chairs, tufted benches, small clustered tables — comfort drives the experience.

Good lighting

Warm, low, and layered. The right lighting does more for the mood than anything else in the room.

Those three things deliver the most atmosphere for your money. They're what people see, feel, and remember.

My best advice if you're starting from an empty basement

If you're standing in an empty basement this weekend wondering where to begin, here's exactly what I'd tell you.

Start simple

You don't have to finish the whole room in one shopping trip. Collect vintage pieces over time at garage sales and similar spots, and look for items that feel vintage even if they aren't antiques. Building the room gradually actually makes it better — every piece gets to be intentional.

Save the wow factor

Let one standout element — a striking sign or a beautiful light — become the showpiece of the room. That centerpiece is what people remember, and it's what ties the entire space together. It's the difference between a basement with nice things in it and a speakeasy that genuinely transports you.

Get the feeling right

Come back to that feeling test with every decision. Does this object pull the room toward 1920s? Does it make the space feel more like a place someone might have whispered a password to enter? If yes, it belongs. If not, set it aside.

"Get the feeling right, build it patiently, and give the room one unforgettable piece to call its own. That's the lesson from Howell — and it's the one I'd leave you with."
— Tammy Prebble, Tailor Made Rooms

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