HOT SCANDI
The pared-back Nordic look is still hugely popular – warm it up for the chillier months with rich colours and cosy natural textures
CREATIVE THINKING
Opposite: Rich colours can be overpowering if used throughout a room, but by restricting them to one small area and painting the rest of the space in a warm off-white, you get the impact while retaining a light and open feel. A parquet floor, painted grey, adds subtle pattern. Create this look using Farrow & Ball’s Picture Gallery Red, £43.50/2.5L, and Flair 592 Marilyn Vinyl, £22.99/sq metre, Carpetright.
1 SPICY HUES
Add warmth to a grey and white bedroom scheme by mixing in pale, rose-pink linens on the bed with rich, paprika-hued wool blankets and graphic printed cushions. Rather than squeezing lamps onto bedside tables, install low-hung pendants, and add a gorgeous rose gold to reflect a warm glow (try Oliver Bonas for similar). A cool grey paint on the walls is the perfect backdrop for these shades – try Garden
Folly, £39.50/2.5L, Fired Earth.
2 STRIPPED BACK
Revealing the original brickwork in older period properties is a beautiful way to introduce some natural colour and texture into a paredback bedroom scheme. Don’t be tempted to knock back all four walls – exposing just the recesses on either side of a chimney breast or the wall behind the bed will have more of an impact. Contemporary white furniture can then be warmed up with charcoal-grey accessories, a touch of luxe gold on the light fittings, modern geometric patterns and a bit of subtle bling.
3 NATURAL SELECTION
Use the view from your window to inspire the look inside – here, fabrics in neutral shades have been combined with the texture of real wood and vibrant green plants.
Mix old with new: a bolster-style cushion made from an old linen grain sack works well on a boxy contemporary sofa – find these cushions from £38 at Parna. Good storage will help keep this look clutter-free, so invest in a roomy sideboard in a beautiful pale wood – try the Design Project No 004 oak sideboard, from £950, John Lewis.
4 FEATURE WALL
Modern homes can sometimes be a bit featureless so take your inspiration from a cosy Scandinavian cabin and add texture and interest to a boxy bedroom by cladding one wall in pale grey-painted wood panels. To create a unique, oversized headboard, try covering a box made from MDF in a gorgeous tile-inspired wallpaper. Louise Body’s Firl Tile design comes in soft grey and neutral shades, £75/10m. Make the box deep enough that you can use the top for a shelf to display pictures and collected treasures to give your room character.
‘Texture, layering and a bolt of colour can really warm up a Scandi-inspired scheme. If you’re starting out with a monochrome or high-contrast backdrop, look for furniture and key pieces in a mix of natural materials’ SAMANTHA GIDDINS,
MINK INTERIORS