Colour Insight

Designer Abigail Ahern talks colours that make you want to linger and the power of four

- By Sophie Baylis

My mantra for decorating a room is simple: everything gets painted the same colour – the floorboards, skirting, ceiling, windows and doors. It makes the space look more sophisticated as there’s nothing to distract the eye. You can then add pieces to create visual interest. In my living room I’ve used Crosby, a pinky-brown from my own paint range, then accentuated it with paler pieces of furniture. I’ve got a cream corduroy sofa, a big, shaggy, textural creamy-brown rug and lots of earth-coloured accessories.

The beauty of painting everything the same colour is that it works for any style and size of room. Painting the ceiling the same colour as the walls scares people the most, but it’s the most game-changing thing you can possibly do, particularly if you go for inky mid-tone colours. This is because you can’t tell where the walls stop and the ceiling begins, so the walls feel taller.