TIMELESS WITH A TWIST

Update your classic scheme with soft colours to create light, bright living spaces that won’t date

SERENE SCENE

Fresh botanical-inspired prints add colour and interest in a neutral living space. You don’t need much: just trimming the bottom section of linen curtains and adding a few feature cushions will be enough. Choose a soft neutral paint for the wall; Mizzle, £43.50/2.5L from Farrow & Ball is a soothing grey green. Cover whitewashed boards with a wool rug to sink your toes into. Handcrafted furniture in pale oak adds a contemporary edge.

THE NEW WHITE

Opposite: White makes the most of the light in any room, but choose the shade carefully. For example, Little Greene’s Shirting, £42/2.5L, has a slight warmth to it while still feeling fresh. A white painted table and chairs are easy to update with different coloured cushions and table linen; blue is a classic choice with white and creates a crisp feel. Choose a graphic print for the blind, such as Blue Small Arc printed cotton, £40/m from Nitin Goyal, and continue the design on to the table with a coordinating runner.

1 WARM MONOCHROME

Give tongue-and-groove panelling a contemporary look by introducing matt black and cool grey. A decorative splashback of patterned tiles – try the Patisserie collection, from £2.99/tile, Fired Earth – will add interest, as will open shelving with a display of coordinating crockery and cookbooks. A wood floor will soften the black, grey and white palette. Try white oiled oak, from £60/sq metre, The Natural Wood Floor Company. If you have the room, an island with a row of stools creates a sociable space.

2 TOTALLY TACTILE

Texture is another important aspect of your scheme. Different and contrasting materials, such as soft wool, floaty linen, sumptuous velvet and cool stone, give a room depth and make it feel welcoming. Here, a statement sofa in a painted fabric has been layered with snuggly sheepskins, from £35 each at John Lewis, knitted throws and a mix of cushions in cool blues. Contrast this with a contemporary metal and marble coffee table – try the Nestor, £595 from Habitat – and add a natural accent with woven footstool seating. The CH25

Chair by Carl Hansen, £2,455 at Skandium, is a design classic.

3 FADED BEAUTY

Like something from a grand Italian villa, this oversized, garden-inspired wall design will add instant wow factor to even the smallest and most utilitarian room. Try Madame Butterfly, £99/10m from 1838 Wallcoverings, and use it on all four walls with grey painted woodwork and a concrete-effect floor – Tadao Concrete, £42.95/sq metre from Harvey Maria, looks the part, but is a practical vinyl tile. Then pick out the soft green shades from the wallpaper to use for accessories such as lighting and vases.

4 PRETTY MIX

Dusky pink and earthy brown are one of this season’s hottest colour combinations, and can breathe new life into a drab hallway. Try a pretty Arts and Crafts-style floral wallpaper, such as Richmond Green, £86/10m, and a coordinating Blush paint on the walls, £42/2.5L, both from

Little Greene. Make a feature of the staircase by painting woodwork in deep brown Furrow, £42/2.5L, also Little Greene, and an off white. Echo this natural theme up the stairs with a striped runner – Roger Oates has a great selection.

‘Rooms come alive when they’re filled with people, so think about the acoustics, carpets, cushions and curtains, as these will all help to create a convivial atmosphere. Add plenty of comfy seating and tables to pop drinks on’ SOPHIE CONRAN,

DESIGNER