Decorative purposes

It’s where we enjoy the comforts of home, so our living rooms should embrace the bold and the beautiful

- THEA BABINGTON-STITT

BUILD UP A LAYERED PALETTE

When you typically consider using paint to create impact in a room, the first thought tends to be drenching the walls in a bright hue. While this is a tried and tested way of creating a statement, there are more delicate ways to achieve just as much of an impact. In this scheme from interior designer Anna Spiro, a high-gloss white paint on the walls bounces around light, making the surfaces nearly appear liquid with shine. Architectural details have been picked out in a beautiful deep yellow, adding not only colour, but an excellent grounding element. Furniture and accessories in similar but not quite matching tones create a warming spectrum of sunshine across the space.

BRING IN DECORATIVE TOUCHES ON STORAGE

‘I love a wraparound bookcase – it makes a room feel so cosy, and in a painted finish it isn’t as heavy or traditional as a natural wood finish can feel,’ says interior designer Elizabeth Hay, who designed this scheme. This wonderfully bright blue colourway is also broken up by the textured wallcovering behind the sofa, allowing the space and artwork to breathe. To create a cohesive scheme, link the paint to the upholstery, perhaps by adding cushions, throws and trimmings in similar shades. It’s worth selecting a second or third ‘lead’ colour – done with red and green here – so that you can link in more elements of the space without it seeming too ‘done’ and overly coordinated.