WHAT EXPERTS THE SAY...

Designers and colour professionals share their views

■ BEING ON THE WARMER SIDE OF THE BLUE SPECTRUM, THESE INKY SHADES CAN BE COCOONING – COLOUR EXPERT ANNIE SLOAN AGREES: ‘Blue is one of my favourite colours because of its calming, recessive qualities. My bedroom is decorated in Aubusson Blue chalk paint and it sends me into a dreamy sleep every night.’

■ IT CAN BE USED IN SMALL ROOMS TOO AS OUR NORTHERN LIGHT ENHANCES ITS PIGMENTS, AS DAVID MOTTERSHEAD OF LITTLE GREENE EXPLAINS: ‘Our eyes have difficulty tuning into the depth of navy hues and for this reason, the colour gives a sense of endless space and opportunities.’

■ ‘IN A BLUE AND WHITE KITCHEN I’D ADD WOOD TO INJECT SOME TEXTURE,’ SAYS CATHY DEAN. ‘Soft stone colours work beautifully to ground the space as well.’

■ ANNIE SLOAN HAS SOME WORDS OF ADVICE ON WHICH ACCENT COLOURS WORK WITH A BLUE-AND-WHITE SCHEME: ‘The complementary of blue is yellow, and as you move round the colour wheel you find orange, hence why copper works so well, too – just remember a small amount of orange goes a long way. For something quieter, colours like pale pink and grey-greens look amazing.’

■ ‘WITH A LIVING ROOM SPACE I’D WARM IT UP SLIGHTLY,’ SAYS CATHY DEAN. ‘I love to use neutral paints like Cedar Key or Cumulus Cloud by Benjamin Moore. Also accents from tobacco up to red and, for a bit of glam, gold accents can be divine.’

■ ‘BLUE AND WHITE CAN FEEL CHIC AND SOPHISTICATED,’ says Nicky Phillips, Decorating Editor. ‘By adding a velvet blue sofa to a white room, the rich and luxurious colour gives the space an instant glamour lift.’

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