Turn to the dark side

IF YOU’RE not afraid of dark colour schemes and feel bold enough to brave the shadows and make your mark with luxurious fabrics, this is the season to style it up. With a little glitz and glamour and a smattering of jewelled tones, dark room sets have the power to transform the mood of a space as well as our own moods – especially when there’s a sumptuous velvet sofa, dramatic carpet and gold accents in the mix.

And when an iconic fashion label that goes back to the swinging Sixties – Biba – launches a fantastic fabric collection to dress our sofas, armchairs or footstools, we have all the more reason to get excited about this dark, rich trend.

“Our Biba fabric collection embodies the beguiling blend of beautiful design and plush materials. There’s been a growing trend for jewelled-toned velvets to cater for bolder, Instagrammable interiors, these fabrics are perfect for bringing a layer of luxe into your everyday space,” says Claire Wilks, designer at Sofa.com

Check out these dark stars... 1

Biba Fingal 2.5 seat sofa in navy filigree, £1,460; Biba Fingal Armchair in Navy Palm, £830; ottoman medium rectangular footstool in navy filigree, £490 (other items from a selection or part of room set), Sofa.com “TO complete your look of luxury at home, style sumptuous velvet upholstery with accent accessories of brass and marble – whether it be a beautiful brass floor lamp or a marble coffee table. These mixed material pieces, paired with plush textured velvets, will elevate your space into one of a glamorous boutique hotel,” suggests Claire.

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Medium pink & gold quilted candle, £9.99 each, Wild One Interiors

THESE glamorous pink and gold candles will glow beautifully against a dark wall, especially if you place them on a marble slab or mirror candle plate to show them off. 3

Midnight velvet lamp shade, from £69; Concrete and Brass Hexagon Table Lamp, £115 (other items from a selection), Graham & Green

WHEN it comes to light and shade, think about using velvet as a backdrop for metallic accessories.

With its rich texture, topped with a gold inner to channel a warming glow and chic concrete lamp base, this is instantly inviting.

Costellini velvet ottoman – perfect navy, £250; Lempicka screen – antique gold, £1,295 (other items from a selection or part of room set), Oka

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Biba Iggy two-seat sofa in light natural leopard, £1,940; Biba Iggy armchair in dark natural leopard, £1,200 (other items from a selection or part of room set), Sofa.com

IT GOES without saying that bold flourishes are a natural bedfellow with black – a rich, versatile shade (probably why we have so much of it in our wardrobes!).

Daniel points out: “Some may be fearful of this shadowy shade but there are lots of advantages to using black in the home – it has a real cocooning effect and it’s nigh on impossible to clash with.”

However, if black feels a step too far, Daniel says charcoal grey is a great alternative: “Metallic highlights or a contrast of cream shine brightest against a black backdrop.

“Alternatively, mix in some more surprising shades that express originality, ingenuity and creativity.”

Christian Lacroix birds sinfonia cushion in crepuscule, £110, The Rug Seller

WE’VE got a huge crush on this swish designer cushion. More like a work of art, this flight of fancy would look super stylish as a Zoom-friendly shelf backdrop.

Above: Graham & Brown Timepiece amethyst wallpaper,

£60 per roll; Epoch Resistance Ultra Matt Emulsion,

£70 for 4L (other items part of set), Graham & Brown

GRAHAM & Brown’s Timepiece is a celebration of the top wallpaper brand’s rich 75-year history. Their Wallpaper of the Year for 2021, it juxtaposes contemporary geometric forms with archive florals.

“Perfect for a decadent feature wall, the dark jewel-toned purple and teal balance between warmth and elegance, ideal for luxurious autumnal evenings at home,” says Paula Taylor, colour and trend specialist at Graham & Brown.