SUMMER SKIES
Blue and yellow are the shades of hazy, lazy days – bring these vibrant hues back home for a look that’s sunny all year round
Seductive schemes using yellow and blue – the hues of hot sunny days
ONE-HIT WONDER
For a more monochromatic effect, using one colour all over, the key is to mix up the tonal hues, softening the effect with pattern and layered textures. Simple, bold, effective. Here, yellow patterned wallpaper is used behind a yellow upholstered antique bench with yellow cushions. Throwing a pink cushion into the story ensures it doesn’t feel too matchymatchy or one-dimensional. Keeping the skirting white is a clever touch. Painted yellow, this would be too, too much.
TRANSFORM A STAIRCASE INTO A WORK OF ART
An abstract montage of deep all-over wall colour for immersive impact, this hallway certainly makes an entrance. Rich colour is celebrated here, as wall art. The deep teal blue and vibrant emerald green are a heavenly pairing (despite the saying). And the paler white shaded shapes in between the deeper tones allow the space to breathe, preventing the overall effect from feeling too overpowering.
MIX IT UP
An easy and playful way to introduce colour to a white room, without decorating or committing to painting walls a bold tone, is through the mix of furniture, fabrics and accessories. There is lots of fun to be had, mixing it up with a combination of hues. The blocks of colour used here work even more effectively, standing out against the clean white backdrop. All the colour, apart from a couple of pieces of art, is kept low-level, increasing the sense of light and airy space above. One hero tone, blue here, forms the base colour, grounding the scheme, allowing scope to play more freely with other tones in smaller ways in the cushions and artwork.
MELLOW YELLOW
A dynamic way to play with colour in the home is with a standout statement piece in a bold, bright tone. This floor lamp certainly isn’t shy and retiring. The yellow wire base, not a solid block of colour, enables the piece to have a lightness of touch and the tall narrow shade echoes the painted wall behind, helping tie the scheme together.
MONDRIAN MOMENT
Two-tone decorating, such as the warm yellow and cool black combination here, creates a striking contrast.
The black floor and woodwork extends onto the walls with the structural lines defining the blocks of yellow. The vibrant canary shade elevates the room, bringing a touch of sunshine to what otherwise could feel like a rather serious and sombre space. The way the room has been decorated allows the two tones to play off one another, lending an air of formality and grandeur, but also a touch of sass.
STANDOUT COLOUR POPS
Introducing a couple of bright accent colours into a more neutral interior is an effective way of instantly changing the feel of a room. Here, the sculptural red side table and perky yellow cushion lift the scheme and add a lively dimension. And the denim blues, used in the sofa and rug, act as a more interesting alternative to a neutral tone for larger pieces.