10 WAYS TO DECORATE WITH NEUTRALS

Alison Westlake’s home may be painted in neutral shades but it oozes warmth and personality (page 72). Dominique Corle explores how to use a light and subtle pale e to create a home that’s anything but bland

Create a calming home this season and learn to embrace so" hues and sympathetic furnishings

THE ART OF DISPLAY

White walls are often described as being the perfect foil for artwork. The same is true when it comes to highlighting treasured collections, which can shine against a simple background – and create a more contemporary tone. For added impact, keep your collections to a limited palette. Metallics such as antique silver teapots work well combined with white china; so too does glassware and greenery.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Off-whites are timeless, versatile and elegant and show no sign of falling out of favour. With so many different shades of off-white available, the trick is to find the right one for your space and the mood you want to create (see box on p86 for tips.) A soft chalky white such as School House White, the latest addition to Farrow and Ball’s neutrals group, will suit any space and is easier to carry off in a smaller room than some of the stronger whites available.

A RETURN TO NATURE

Green is a big trend right now in interiors, both in the darker shades and the neutrals palette, with Little Greene recently launching a collection of 31 verdant shades. Reminding us of the natural world, it’s a great choice if you want to bring an air of tranquillity into your home and are yearning for a touch of colour in your neutrals. Group shades of greygreen together or use as an accent with other neutrals. Pops of pink (that other big colour of the moment) work beautifully too.

THINK PINK

There was a time when pink walls were the preserve of little girls’ bedrooms, but these days they’re everywhere. Like green, pink has shouldered its way on to the neutrals palette and all the leading paint companies have launched new shades of the colour. Today’s pinks share little in common with the rose shades of old and are a lot less feminine in feel. Instead, they are muted and muscular, bearing a close resemblance to the various shades of plaster as it dries. Style with greens, greys or violets.

PLAY AROUND WITH PATTERN

A neutral scheme needn’t be devoid of pattern. Here, contrasting designs that both feature the same tone of blue soften what could have been a sterile room. If in doubt, go for small-scale motifs in pastel shades.

TRY URBAN PASTELS

For a softer, more feminine take on an urban look, pair pale grey walls with furniture and furnishings in muted pastel pink and blue. The effect will be a harmonious and soothing space that can be livened up with tiny touches.

FADED GRANDEUR

For rustic elegance, layer different shades of white and off-white painted furniture and accessories against a white wall. Pale wood also fits well in this scheme, with distressed pieces adding to the romance.

MAKE YOUR MARK

Creating an ombré wall can be a great way to add interest to a neutral scheme. Once you have chosen the two shades, paint the whole wall in the lighter colour. When dry, apply the darker shade to the bottom of the wall. Then mix a tray of paint using half the light and half the dark colour and paint this on to the mid section of the wall where the two colours meet. To ensure there is no obvious division between the dark and mid section, use a clean roller to blur the two sections together. Likewise, use a clean roller to soften the mid and light sections. Choice of colour is key – a light neutral with a stronger complementary colour is more artist’s studio than rainbow unicorn.

PAINT A BOX

Our favourite paint effect of the moment is painting boxed off sections on a wall in a contrasting colour, which adds a contemporary feel to a neutral scheme. This works particularly well behind a bed or when replicating a large canvas on a wall. Remember to use masking tape and a spirit level to keep your lines straight.

CLASS CEILING

Who said paint colour was reserved for walls? Recent years have seen decorators abandon traditional white on ceilings in favour of stronger colours and, in some cases, even wallpaper (only for the brave). A ceiling in a shade such as mushroom provides a fantastic contrast to white walls or woodwork, giving a period room a strong feel. Conversely, painting a ceiling the same colour as the walls can make a room feel grander. In this room, pictured, the neutral ceiling effectively highlights the dark blue alcoves that display artwork in antique gilt and wooden frames.

Farrow & Ball’s Silvergate wallpaper, £115 per roll, lines the back of this 1850s French cupboard. The overall effect is clean and modern.

Panelled walls are painted in School House White from the new Farrow & Ball 2018 colour card, using Estate Eggshell, £60 for 2.5l.

All colours are from the 2018 National Trust green colour card from Little Greene. Door in North Brink Grey Intelligent Eggshell, £62 for 2.5l. Dado and architrave in Putti Intelligent Eggshell, £62 for 2.5l. Upper wall in Ulla Absolute Matt Emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5l.

Replicate the tones of raw plaster by using China Clay Deep Absolute Matt Emulsion, £43.50 for 2.5l, Little Greene.

Wall painted in Silver White emulsion from Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, £45 for 2.5l.

Wall in French Linen Wall Paint, £39.95 for 2.5l, chair painted in Antoinette Chalk Paint, £19.95 per litre, cushion and chair seat in Linen Union, £39.95 per m, all Annie Sloan.

Bright white walls are softened with Wild Rose in Orchid curtains, £44 per m, Designers Guild.

Upper wall and ceiling in Blank Canvas Matt Emulsion from Crown Paints, from £10 for 2.5l. Bottom of the wall in Lemon Squash kitchen matt emulsion from Crown Paints, £20.50 for 2.5l.

Wall is painted in Marble I. Block colour on the left is Yesterday’s Flower, and on the right is Caddie. All paint is pure flat emulsion from Paint & Paper Library, £48.50 for 2.5l.

Ceiling in Angora Blanket, alcoves in Cobalt Night and right wall in Spiced Honey, all Dulux Matt Emulsion, £27.56 for 2.5l.