Insider advice
A selection of our favourite designers, decorators and boutique owners share their tips on making a statement that’s bold, not boring
Interior design secrets from designers, decorators and more
Karen Warman, Resene
If you’re new to using colour, the easiest place to be brave is with things you can change easily, such as your paint finish.
Colour blocking is a popular way to combine a palette of favourite shades into one space. Rather than choosing one colour, choose three or more. Tape a pattern on your wall using low-tack masking tape, and paint each area with a different colour.
If you love bold colour, the sky’s the limit. Floors, ceilings, walls and furniture can all be brightened with paint. While feature walls are still popular, it is becoming increasingly common to use colour beyond one wall. You can choose to have it flow from wall to ceiling, partway between two walls, or have a large block of colour undefined by walls altogether.
Wallpaper is another popular way to add colour, texture and design. One feature wall decorated with wallpaper, contrasted by a complementary Resene paint colour on adjacent walls, can transform a space. You can also use wallpaper in place of artwork.
Stephen Bradbourne, Monmouth Glass
The right kind of lighting can make a real statement and have a huge impact on the feel of a space. People come to us because they want a statement piece that is functional and stunning to look at. A lot of people are opting for multiples – pendant lights in clusters or groups of three, five or seven. We also have clients on a budget who will hang a single pendant over the dining table, which can be equally as stunning. Lately, we’ve noticed people have been decorating rooms minimally and introducing colour through the use of feature lighting. Glass is an excellent vehicle to transmit colour with its myriad of reflective and translucent properties. When people do use colour they’re opting for subtle and muted tones – variations on greys, greens and browns are big at the moment.
Denise Waller, Martha’s Fabrics
Introducing fabric into your home is a fantastic way to freshen a room, add personality, celebrate the change of season or make a bold statement. Textiles help to make the environment warmer to the eye and also improve acoustics, making modern rooms feel more homely.
Nothing makes a statement like stunning curtains or a chair recovered in a bold fabric. Most people’s homes evolve over time and we are seeing more people creating eclectic interiors.
Hanging drops of fabric off metal clips as either statement pieces or room dividers is a growing trend and a fast way to add impact to a room.
Cushions, throws and poufs are always popular at Martha’s as they are an instant, cost-effective way of adding colour and texture.
Simon James, Simon James Design
Our residential colour palette tends to be fairly muted, but a hint of the right colour can make a bold statement in the home. The Osso chair from Mattiazzi (below left) has a unique range of finishes (created using stains rather than flat lacquers) that will challenge most spaces while adding warmth. We are also finding more clients are willing to make a statement with feature lighting. With the continued development of LED lighting, forms are becoming more and more complex as designers understand the possibilities further. These pendants are now being used in open spaces such as entryways or dining rooms.