Feel the need to give your home a fresh look as the
new year arrives? Our home design team share their ‘how to decorate’
secrets and expert advice to help you plan your dream scheme
Photo: Charlie Colmer
1. Contrast your colours
An effective scheme needs opposing tones: traditional blue with white, dove grey or putty with white, and mustard accented with grey or off-white are all tried-and-tested combinations. Whites and off-whites are a good foil for many colours and essential for defining spaces and ‘resting’ the eye, while a dash of yellow
or red will lift a blue background.
- When teaming contrasting colours, pick tones from the same shade,
such as a white with a hint of black
in it for a black and white scheme
or white with a touch of green for a green and white palette.
-
Use graduating tones of the same
hue, or choose your main colour
and then an accent shade from the opposite side of the artist’s colour wheel to give you contrasting pairings, such as mixing yellows with blues
or purples with greens.
-
Reverse the traditional scheme of painting woodwork in a pale shade. Using a darker tone with lighter walls will emphasise the structure and architecture of a room.
Photo: Emma Lee
2. Rethink lighting
Most of us tend to overlight rooms and this has a harsh effect. Rewiring and changing fittings is an upheaval and an expense
but it’s an investment that will bring atmosphere and mood to your home. Light from a shaded bulb is always more flattering, which means that chandeliers are best used in transitional spaces such as a hallway. Recessed halogen spotlights, however, will give a warm, appealing light when positioned carefully.
-
Overhead ceiling lights are rarely flattering but fitting dimmer switches will give you greater flexibility. The best solution is to use a mix of styles
to provide a balance of ambient light and task lighting.
-
In a low-ceilinged space, recessed spotlights are an unobtrusive option and provide good ambient as well
as task lighting. Complement them with freestanding designs.
-
Look out for lights that can be adjusted easily, such as a flexible reading lamp
or those that can be altered in height.
Photo: Brent Darby
Woven pieces and natural wood bring interest to a simple white scheme
3. Introduce texture
Less obvious than using colour or pattern, but equally effective, this will add another layer of interest to a room. Play on the sense of contrast, placing coarse, chunky or rough materials, such as a sisal rug, against sleek wooden or metal furniture so that each one highlights the other. Combining the rough with the smooth generally works best with natural schemes where an absence of colour heightens the textural qualities.
- Use coarsely woven natural linens to update upholstery or curtains. Vintage sheets, grain sacks and tea towels can all be collected or bought from specialist suppliers – try Beyond France and eBay.
- The latest subtly textured wallcoverings, in materials such as grasscloth and suede, will add a modern, rustic touch.
- Wool has great natural warmth and character and is perfect for everything from floor coverings to textiles.
Photo: Rachel Whiting
4. Edit a room
Limiting the number of possessions on show will make for a calm, ordered and stylish interior. Rather than being stuck with a mismatched collection of items that jar, it pays to stand back, analyse what you have and rethink the whole arrangement. Well-planned storage will allow you to conceal clutter but try to be disciplined and rehome unwanted items by donating them to charity shops or by having a garage sale.
- Books do make a room but restrict them to a considered collection housed in one place, or on a single wall of a room.
-
See your home as a dynamic area that should be carefully curated and can be changed as you please.
-
A hallway or loo can be an unexpected place to display an arrangement of paintings, prints or decorative objects.
Photo: Nassima Rothaker
5. Scale
your ideas
The proportions of a room generally dictate the size of the furnishings, patterns and prints you use. A tiny cottage bedroom, for instance, suits small-scale prints or more delicate furniture. Alternatively, for a striking touch, try a large-scale print on fabrics or introduce
a bold statement piece. This will draw attention away from the size of the room and actually creates the illusion of space.
- Instead of two curtains that hang to the windowsill on a cottage window, make a single floor-length curtain that can be pulled back to one side or form a large banner of fabric when drawn.
-
An armoire makes a stylish focal point in a small bedroom – those with glazed or wire-fronted doors, rather than solid ones, are best. A bold architectural fireplace will have a similar effect.
-
Use panelling to break up big expanses of bare wall or paint up to dado height with a colour and white above.
Photo: Claire Richardson
6. Combine old and new
Most of us have old, inherited pieces we can’t part with or find that, as our tastes evolve over the years, we end up with a few random bits of furniture that don’t fit with a current room scheme. The solution is to rework, refashion or change position. A dark cupboard, for example, can be repainted with a fresh coat of pale paint and located in a guest bedroom, rather than in the main living area. Likewise, consider re-upholstering
a chair or sofa if the fabric is no longer to your taste, or restore an item to its former glory by taking off layers of paint or varnish to reveal the beauty of the wood beneath. As a quicker measure, an old desk or table can be easily covered with an oilcloth or fabric to help it blend with other elements in a room, while changing the handles on a chest of drawers is a simple upcycling trick.
-
Unify old and new through a common theme such as colour, shape or style.
-
Use similarly sized pieces to create
a more cohesive look.
-
Display groups of similar items together, such as a gallery of vintage pictures on one wall or interesting collections arranged on shelving,
to create a museum-style effect.
Photo: Claire Richardson
7. Play with pattern
This will bring energy to a room and create interest. The easiest way to introduce it is to be relatively sparing and try it as an accent to add excitement while still maintaining a sense of calm. Add touches by limiting it to fabrics for cushions, a curtain or a single piece of upholstered furniture, or decorate just one wall with patterned wallpaper. The same design repeated in all the furnishings in a room can look predictable, so try mixing different designs in a harmonious tone. Looking
at swatches together makes this easier,
as does slowly evolving the decoration, introducing layers of pattern gradually and assessing their effects rather than being tempted to do everything in one go.
- Focus motifs on one area of a room.
If you have patterned tiles or rugs on the floor, for instance, keep the rest
of the room relatively plain or balance a decorative kitchen splashback with simple, functional pieces.
-
Coordinate different patterns by using a linking colour – this will
allow you to mix large motifs and small-scale designs.
-
Extend pattern to furniture and accessories, such as an inlaid bureau or a collection of favourite plates displayed on a wall.
-
Create a moodboard or swatch of fabrics to help you plan the most effective combinations.
-
Pattern doesn’t have to be bold
and bright. Try tone-on-tone pale designs and low-contrast ones for
a more subtle look.
For a whole range of practical storage solutions to keep your home organised, visit the Country Living General Store to start shopping.
Words by Ben Kendrick and Alaina Binks
Tags:
Feel the need to give your home a fresh look as the
new year arrives? Our home design team share their ‘how to decorate’
secrets and expert advice to help you plan your dream scheme
Photo: Charlie Colmer
1. Contrast your colours
An effective scheme needs opposing tones: traditional blue with white, dove grey or putty with white, and mustard accented with grey or off-white are all tried-and-tested combinations. Whites and off-whites are a good foil for many colours and essential for defining spaces and ‘resting’ the eye, while a dash of yellow
or red will lift a blue background.
- When teaming contrasting colours, pick tones from the same shade,
such as a white with a hint of black
in it for a black and white scheme
or white with a touch of green for a green and white palette.
-
Use graduating tones of the same
hue, or choose your main colour
and then an accent shade from the opposite side of the artist’s colour wheel to give you contrasting pairings, such as mixing yellows with blues
or purples with greens.
-
Reverse the traditional scheme of painting woodwork in a pale shade. Using a darker tone with lighter walls will emphasise the structure and architecture of a room.
Photo: Emma Lee
2. Rethink lighting
Most of us tend to overlight rooms and this has a harsh effect. Rewiring and changing fittings is an upheaval and an expense
but it’s an investment that will bring atmosphere and mood to your home. Light from a shaded bulb is always more flattering, which means that chandeliers are best used in transitional spaces such as a hallway. Recessed halogen spotlights, however, will give a warm, appealing light when positioned carefully.
-
Overhead ceiling lights are rarely flattering but fitting dimmer switches will give you greater flexibility. The best solution is to use a mix of styles
to provide a balance of ambient light and task lighting.
-
In a low-ceilinged space, recessed spotlights are an unobtrusive option and provide good ambient as well
as task lighting. Complement them with freestanding designs.
-
Look out for lights that can be adjusted easily, such as a flexible reading lamp
or those that can be altered in height.
Photo: Brent Darby
Woven pieces and natural wood bring interest to a simple white scheme
3. Introduce texture
Less obvious than using colour or pattern, but equally effective, this will add another layer of interest to a room. Play on the sense of contrast, placing coarse, chunky or rough materials, such as a sisal rug, against sleek wooden or metal furniture so that each one highlights the other. Combining the rough with the smooth generally works best with natural schemes where an absence of colour heightens the textural qualities.
- Use coarsely woven natural linens to update upholstery or curtains. Vintage sheets, grain sacks and tea towels can all be collected or bought from specialist suppliers – try Beyond France and eBay.
- The latest subtly textured wallcoverings, in materials such as grasscloth and suede, will add a modern, rustic touch.
- Wool has great natural warmth and character and is perfect for everything from floor coverings to textiles.
Photo: Rachel Whiting
4. Edit a room
Limiting the number of possessions on show will make for a calm, ordered and stylish interior. Rather than being stuck with a mismatched collection of items that jar, it pays to stand back, analyse what you have and rethink the whole arrangement. Well-planned storage will allow you to conceal clutter but try to be disciplined and rehome unwanted items by donating them to charity shops or by having a garage sale.
- Books do make a room but restrict them to a considered collection housed in one place, or on a single wall of a room.
-
See your home as a dynamic area that should be carefully curated and can be changed as you please.
-
A hallway or loo can be an unexpected place to display an arrangement of paintings, prints or decorative objects.
Photo: Nassima Rothaker
5. Scale
your ideas
The proportions of a room generally dictate the size of the furnishings, patterns and prints you use. A tiny cottage bedroom, for instance, suits small-scale prints or more delicate furniture. Alternatively, for a striking touch, try a large-scale print on fabrics or introduce
a bold statement piece. This will draw attention away from the size of the room and actually creates the illusion of space.
- Instead of two curtains that hang to the windowsill on a cottage window, make a single floor-length curtain that can be pulled back to one side or form a large banner of fabric when drawn.
-
An armoire makes a stylish focal point in a small bedroom – those with glazed or wire-fronted doors, rather than solid ones, are best. A bold architectural fireplace will have a similar effect.
-
Use panelling to break up big expanses of bare wall or paint up to dado height with a colour and white above.
Photo: Claire Richardson
6. Combine old and new
Most of us have old, inherited pieces we can’t part with or find that, as our tastes evolve over the years, we end up with a few random bits of furniture that don’t fit with a current room scheme. The solution is to rework, refashion or change position. A dark cupboard, for example, can be repainted with a fresh coat of pale paint and located in a guest bedroom, rather than in the main living area. Likewise, consider re-upholstering
a chair or sofa if the fabric is no longer to your taste, or restore an item to its former glory by taking off layers of paint or varnish to reveal the beauty of the wood beneath. As a quicker measure, an old desk or table can be easily covered with an oilcloth or fabric to help it blend with other elements in a room, while changing the handles on a chest of drawers is a simple upcycling trick.
-
Unify old and new through a common theme such as colour, shape or style.
-
Use similarly sized pieces to create
a more cohesive look.
-
Display groups of similar items together, such as a gallery of vintage pictures on one wall or interesting collections arranged on shelving,
to create a museum-style effect.
Photo: Claire Richardson
7. Play with pattern
This will bring energy to a room and create interest. The easiest way to introduce it is to be relatively sparing and try it as an accent to add excitement while still maintaining a sense of calm. Add touches by limiting it to fabrics for cushions, a curtain or a single piece of upholstered furniture, or decorate just one wall with patterned wallpaper. The same design repeated in all the furnishings in a room can look predictable, so try mixing different designs in a harmonious tone. Looking
at swatches together makes this easier,
as does slowly evolving the decoration, introducing layers of pattern gradually and assessing their effects rather than being tempted to do everything in one go.
- Focus motifs on one area of a room.
If you have patterned tiles or rugs on the floor, for instance, keep the rest
of the room relatively plain or balance a decorative kitchen splashback with simple, functional pieces.
-
Coordinate different patterns by using a linking colour – this will
allow you to mix large motifs and small-scale designs.
-
Extend pattern to furniture and accessories, such as an inlaid bureau or a collection of favourite plates displayed on a wall.
-
Create a moodboard or swatch of fabrics to help you plan the most effective combinations.
-
Pattern doesn’t have to be bold
and bright. Try tone-on-tone pale designs and low-contrast ones for
a more subtle look.
For a whole range of practical storage solutions to keep your home organised, visit the Country Living General Store to start shopping.
Words by Ben Kendrick and Alaina Binks
Tags:
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