Marilyn Monroe's Beloved Accent Light: The Dupes You Can Still Find Today

When it comes to home decor, some, like legendary screen star Marilyn Monroe, like it sculptural. Among the pieces she chose to fill the Spanish-style bungalow she purchased for a reported $90,000 in Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood in February 1962: A geometric Moravian Star light fixture. The "Some Like It Hot" actress was in the process of furnishing the two-bedroom spread, built in 1929, when she unexpectedly died that August. But before she passed at the age of 36, she picked out the star-shaped fixture to hang on the back porch next to her kitchen.

"On a special trip to Mexico she had carefully searched in roadside stands and shops and even factories to find just the right things to put in it," writer Richard Merryman detailed in a 1962 article for "Life Magazine" after visiting with Monroe at the L-shaped Spanish colonial revival, the only home the famous fashion icon ever owned. "She described with loving excitement each couch and table and dresser, where it would go and what was special about it." The light — one of several she had throughout the 23,200-square-foot property — featured triangular opaque white glass panels within a metal frame.

While certainly eye-catching due to its unique shape, it wasn't the overly extravagant fixture one might expect from one of the world's most glamorous people. Which means the style Merryman described as impetuous and charming can be easily achieved. A vintage version could likely be uncovered at an antique shop or purchased through online retailers like 1stDibs. But plenty of online retailers offer impressive dupes.

For those hoping to see stars in their own homes, consider Wayfair's 14-inch Moravian Star Pendant Light, hand-crafted with seeded glass and copper alloy. Home Depot also sells CLAXY's 13-inch version in gold. And for those who prefer something daintier, there is AXILAND's 9-inch Flush Mount Ceiling Light.

Monroe paired her fixtures with a Spanish-style kitchen and other Mexican purchases. In his "Life Magazine" piece, Merryman described some of her finds as "a tin candelabra, folding stools ingeniously carved from single pieces of wood, a leather-covered coffee table."  There are tons of other decor choices that would shine just as bright. The piece tends to appropriately pull focus even when layered with a variety of bold shades and patterns. But it also works when paired with more neutral hues and minimalist decor. And whether you reach for the stars with a larger-scaled hanging version or opt for a flush-mount fixture, it's sure to make a statement.