INDOOR SUNSHINE
Want to capture the warm feel of summer inside your home? SAMANTHA MASSEY says you need to forget the muted tones, and embrace the brights
AFTER years of grey dominating the interiors scene, the past few seasons has seen colour slowly find its way back into the home. At first, sumptuous deep greens with a side serving of gold became the go-to in master bedrooms, before navy blue became the colour of choice for the contemporary kitchen.
But this summer, it’s all about the brights. The reds, pinks and citrus shades that will bring a tropical touch to even the most suburban of homes.
So grab your sunglasses and prepare to be dazzled with the brightest interior ideas.
ACCESSORISE
THE thought of embracing large swathes of bright colours, especially if you’ve lived with neutrals for some time, can be intimidating.
Don’t feel you have to dive in headfirst with a whole room makeover. Instead, consider which of your interior accessories looks a little tired and search for colourful replacements.
A great way to change the look and feel of your entire room, without spending huge amounts of money or committing to a massive DIY job, is to replace the lightshades.
Lightshades – often the most central item in a room and therefore a natural focal point – are most definitely having a moment right now. The market is packed with designs in all shapes, sizes and colours.
If you feel brave, opt for one in a solid block of colour. If you want to take a more tentative step choose one that incorporates a bright colour alongside a neutral. It will still have an impact and will give you more confidence to embrace colour as you get used to your new addition.
MIX AND MATCH
ONE of the biggest misconceptions about colour is that you have to stick with one hue. Wrong.
Of course, if you have a favourite colour and you wish to totally embrace it – go for it. This is your home and anything goes.
But if you really want to go all out, clashing colours are very impactful and can add real character.
If you’re a little nervous, start with something budget friendly. Consider creating – or updating – a gallery wall for example. Shop around for prints with different dominant colours to create a festival of colour on one wall.
In your living room, you could start with new cushions in clashing hues, or, if you want a real statement piece, invest in a luxuriously thick rug to not only add colour but texture too.
However, if subtle really isn’t your thing, go all out. As colour begins to become more commonplace in interiors, there are some fantastic designers and craftspeople creating big ticket items in all the colours of the rainbow.
A no-holds barred sofa in a bright shade is the ultimate addition if budget allows. You can add layers of colour with a clashing throw and multiple cushions, or paint the wall behind in a contrasting shade.
The same can be said of bedframes too. More makers are incorporating colour into their designs and you could play around with bedding to create a sumptuous den of colour.
WALL OF COLOUR
IF YOU really want to inject colour into the home, the wall is the place to do it. The beauty of a paint job is it’s easy to change if you don’t like it, so don’t feel intimidated if you want to experiment. Invest in plenty of tester pots to see how light at different times of day interacts with your colours of choice and then go for it.
Wallpaper involves a little more commitment. For a start, it is usually pricier than paint and takes a little more skill to put up, but the results can be amazing.
And right now the wallpaper scene is packed with emerging talents whose creativity knows no bounds and are not afraid to embrace colour.
■ Need some inspiration? Check out Mindthegap and The Curious Department.
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■ Samantha Massey is the editor of interiorslookbook.co.uk