INSIDER INSIGHT
INTERIORS EXPERTS SHARE DECORATIVE TIPS TO ENLIVEN YOUR SCHEMES
ADD INTEREST WITH WINDOW DRESSINGS Curtains and blinds are the perfect place to begin adding colour and pattern contrast to your space. ‘Texture can be created in a scheme by, for example, pairing more delicately patterned floral curtain fabrics with small checks or block colours for the other soft furnishings, such as an ottoman or scatter cushions,’ says Emma Sims-hilditch. ‘Why not use two types of patterned fabric for your curtains? A larger-scale print when seen from the outside and a smaller-scale design on the inside adds interest and provides a taster for what can be seen within.’
GET CREATIVE WITH WALLPAPER ‘Don’t waste a scrap – there are many uses for a half roll that’s currently lying redundant,’ advises Patrick O’donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball.
‘Use it as a clever motif in a glass-fronted cupboard or create a focal point behind your bed with a decorative faux headboard. Four widths of paper should be all you need for most beds, so get out your pencil and scissors and throw caution to the wind. Inside cupboards and interior doors are other great places to start your adventure with wallpaper and will add impact to rooms that require more detail.’
BE CLEVER WITH FABRICS Just as with wallpaper, nearly every extra piece of fabric can be repurposed to create a beautiful feature in your room and help keep your space as sustainable as possible. ‘We often use leftover strips of fabric to make a wonderful frill edge on a cushion or a piece of furniture,’ says Nicole Salvesen, co-founder of
ANNA SPIRO, interior designer
Salvesen Graham. Similarly, narrow-width fabrics can be used creatively to add pattern to interiors. ‘Sometimes limitations inspire inventive ideas,’ says Dylan O’shea, founder of A Rum Fellow. ‘Our narrow brocades can be used as exuberant details, such as a curtain lead-in or feature panels in upholstery.’
MAKE A STATEMENT WITH A HEADBOARD ‘A headboard is not just about comfort; with a little thought it can transform a bedroom scheme by providing the perfect blank canvas to try out interesting colour and pattern combinations,’ says interior designer Natalia Miyar. ‘I love upholstering headboards in bright, decorative fabrics that draw the eye to the focal point of the room, elevating the bed itself to a style statement. I often add piping around the edge for an extra pop of colour and smart tailoring. I like to accent an upholstered headboard with metal studs to introduce another layer of texture as well as contrast to the warm, rich textiles. This is also a great way to insert pattern in a block-coloured headboard as if the fabric has a metallic sheen or motif; the metal studs will enhance the finish and enrich the colours.’
“COLOUR AND PATTERN GIVE AN AIR OF INDIVIDUALITY AND HELP CREATE ROOMS THAT
ARE FULL OF ENERGY”