Matchy-matchy back in fashion
The same colour on walls, floor and furniture... Is this a fresh decorating idea or a commitmentphobe’s nightmare? Katie Newton reports.
If you’ve flicked through a home decor magazine lately or caught coverage of the Milan Design Fair, you’ve probably come across a room decorated almost solely in one colour. After years of eclectic interiors and white-on-wood dominating, matchy-matchy is having a moment.
Davina Harper, colour specialist at Dulux, whose 2019 colour forecast contains a few different tonal palettes, said this approach can be soothing. ‘‘It is a great way to create a balanced, harmonious space – perfect if you are wanting to create a room that is relaxing and calming.’’
But it’s not as simple as splashing around a bucket of paint and choosing a couch in exactly the same hue. Restraint, balance and contrast are all needed to make sure a space feels cocooning rather than claustrophobic.
‘‘Tone on tone is so popular at the moment, however the last thing we want is for the space to feel bland, dull or lifeless,’’ said Nikki Morris, colour consultant at Resene. ‘‘It’s important to layer in texture, sheen and a couple of colour variations of the tone.’’
Mixing low sheen and gloss paint, soft nubbly textures with smooth ones, and chalky finishes with high shine are ways to make it work.
Harper also suggested using derivations of the same colour. ‘‘For example, you could use a combination of soft green-grey Dulux Lyttelton Double and Lyttelton Quarter. The trick is to ensure you have enough of a contrast to tell the difference in paint colour, but not too much, otherwise you lose the tonal effect.’’
Which colours work?
Muted colours are softer and easier to live with than brights, primary colours or anything too stark.
Harper picked soft lilac and blush pink as favourite options, as seen in the Wholeself palette in Dulux’s forecast.
Morris suggested neutral hues with a touch of chalk to them, such as