It's all about the details.
- Pick a colour scheme and stick to those colours, and only those colours. In this example we chose a textured woven fabric in reds and blues on a beige background as a starting point. Use various tones and depths of your chosen colours — it adds interest and a softer feeling.
- Use those colours in all corners of the room. This lets the eye move around the room between each item, adding interest and spreading the theme. There are infinite ways to achieve it: curtains, blinds, furniture, fabrics.
- Layer in the details. Lampshades, small trays, or vintage books from a charity shop are an easy, inexpensive way to bring colour and patina into a room, so nothing looks brand new.
- Flowers or a candle. Think about the wood tones and metals, and try to keep them similar around the room — try not to mix too many metals and timbers.
- Add a tailored finish. A beautifully made valance with a peep of accent colour in the pleats can really elevate a room. A throw on the bed adds colour and is easily changed from one season to the next.
- Find a vintage chair in an antiques shop and re-cover it to suit — a wonderful way to breathe new life into an old piece, and flexible enough to move between rooms.
- Have custom Roman blinds made in the colour scheme with a slim border of the accent colour — a subtle detail you won't tire of. Choose good-quality natural fabrics with blackout lining to keep the light out and guard against fading.
- Then sit back and enjoy your space. If you choose colours you love and that make you feel good, you'll enjoy them for years. A well-designed space is uplifting and makes life work better.