Yellow & Black

Epoca Restaurant. Image credit: Vogue

Image credit: @cloud_nine_interiors

First up is yellow and black.  A daring duo but if done well it’s a clean, refreshing mix that’s sophisticated and elegant.  Mainly black and white with splashes of yellow for zing, and gold accessories to contrast the black and add sparkle.

Pink and Green 

Image credit and wallpaper: Woodchip & Magnolia

Amelia’s Bathroom Renovation (Audenza co-founder)

You can’t possibly go wrong with pink and green.  It’s a timeless colour combo that is restful and harmonious, and always feels like you are bringing the outside in.  One of my favourites for that very reason.  Soft and subtle, or full on colour saturation, it’s always going to work.

Red, Black & Green

Image credit: Hotel Particulier Montmartre

Gianna Neon Art | Tiered Console Table | Red Velvet Armchair | All home accessories available from Audenza

 I always think of a red, black and green colour combination as being grown up, and it reminds me of studies or snugs.  Warm, cosy end enveloping, but also dignified and distinguished.

Pink, Yellow & Grey

Image credit: Yvonne Wilhelmsen

Pink and grey together can be quite sombre and with a vintage vibe, but with a touch of the romantic.  But add that dazzle of yellow and you have a striking and modern colour combo that can’t be ignored.

Teal, Mustard Yellow & Fuschia

Gold Sunburst Pendant Light | Flamingo Table Lamp |  Orange Zebra Plate | Queen of Diamonds Print

A striking ‘look at me’ colour combo that can’t be ignored.  This is Amelia’s sitting room in her previous house and still a favourite.  It’s essential pink and green with a dash of mustard yellow.  Can’t go wrong!

Black, Pink & White

Image credit and wallpaper: Cole & Son

Image credit: @lustliving

Black and white, with the addition of pink is a restful harmonious scheme that never fails.  If pink is your favourite colour but you don’t want it to look too feminine, then the black and white sharpens it up for a more considered design.

Green & Mustard Yellow

Links Console Table | Gatsby Velvet Armchair | Deco Style Canvas Art | All home accessories available from Audenza

Green and mustard yellow has the same inside outside feel as pink and green, but a sharper less feminine combination.  Always harmonious whether you go light or dark.

Pink & Teal

71 Oyster Bar.  Image credit: Reuben Ortiz

Pink and teal is essentially a swankier version of pink and green – more chic shall we say.  Less soft and more snappy.  Perfect for this swish bar.

Pink, green and yellow has always been one of my favourite interior colour palette combinations.  I’ve tried to deviate over the years and broaden my horizons but in my latest home revamp I’ve reverted to type and feel so much more in tune with my home.  Do you have a favourite interior colour combination you find you are drawn to time and again, despite all the choices out there? Plenty to choose from there – what do you think?

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Such joyful colours.  Plumage, in orange and fuchsia, is by Woodchip and Magnolia, a husband and wife team who set up their own studio in 2016 with the aim of banishing said woodchip and magnolia!  Plumage is available in six colourways.  It never ceases to amaze me the different vibe you get by changing a colourway, from soft and subtle, to full on statement walls.

Crane Fonda, in coral, by Divine Savages is on Amelia’s current wish list for her new party room.  The Crane comes in 7 colourways, but the best bit is fabric in velvet or cotton, cushions, lampshades, and even a shower curtain.  How fabulous is that?  As they say in their blurb, ‘great British design with our signature divine and savage twist’.

How gorgeous is this emerald green?  I have a soft spot for greens, and this really is a delicious wallpaper.  Not very descriptive, perhaps, but that’s how I feel about it.  Cranes in Flight wallpaper is from Harlequin in six colourways and would look fabulous on a ceiling.

When is a zebra not a zebra?  When its candy pink and green.  This abstract zebra print wallpaper is from Lust Home, an independent British online home décor brand that produces reasonably priced paint and wallpaper in dazzling colours and patterns.  Perfect for the Miami deco look to bring sunshine into your home.

Ubud Tropic wallpaper by Graham & Brown is a lush tropical scene inspired by the Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali.  In vibrant blues and greens these mischievous monkeys bring a smile to your face.  Graham & Brown also produce paints that tone perfectly with their colourful wallpapers, making it simple for you to get the right match.

You need a big wall to appreciate the stunning Daintree Palm Blush wallpaper by Graham & Brown.  The background to the paper has a fabric look effect with a pearlescent finish, which gives it a lovely textural effect.  And with a perfectly partnered paint selection, they take the headache out of creating the perfect scheme, plus 4 colourways to choose from.

My ultimate favourite and a huge contender in my ongoing renovation of my home is, Bengale in paprika, by Manuel Canovas. It’s a beautifully rendered toile design depicting an Indian scene in the time of the Raj.  A tropical jungle filled with elephants, tigers, and Moghul palaces, it really is a delight to let your eyes rove over the design, picking out the story.  Colefax and Fowler have a stunning range of toiles with different stories depicted, and in the most luscious colourways.

Bella wallpaper in green, by I Love Wallpaper is a stunning art deco design for maximum impact.  The simplicity of the fan design would make an amazing backdrop for serious pattern clashes in your soft furnishings.  I Love Wallpaper is a family run business with an exciting range of wallpaper at seriously bargain prices.  Bella is only £16 a roll.

Dazzling or what?  Hide and Seek wallpaper in red and pink, by Lust Home, is a brave and bold move for the fearless.  Seriously fun and vibrant.  Did you know a group of zebras is most commonly called a dazzle of zebras, named for the motion dazzle effect created by running zebras?  I rather like that, and certainly appropriate for this wallpaper.

Pampas wallpaper, in off white and azalea, by House of Hackney is a fabulous depiction of banana leaves, ferns and grasses in a saturated colour that envelopes you in a tropical paradise.  And six delicious colourways to choose from.  House of Hackney are committed to helping conserve natural ecosystems and threatened habitats by their partnership with World Land Trust conservation charity.

A range of colourful wallpapers, worthy of Sophie Robinson.  We are all aware of Sophie’s love of colour and pattern and her latest show on Channel 5, Dream Home Makeovers, is a celebration of all things vibrant and dynamic in interiors.  Very much the ethos of Audenza, and we hope you love our roundup of 10 colourful wallpapers. Maybe it will inspire you to start your journey to colour and pattern!

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Playful Miami Pastels

Macaron Candle Holder | Roller Skate Planter | WOW Balloon Ornament | Leopard Framed Canvas Art | Black and White Striped Cushion |  Macaron Table | Wave After Wave Wallpaper

Playful Miami Pastels is a fabulous way to bring joy and lightness of spirit to your interior room scheme.  The pastel ice cream colours so redolent of Miami interiors are brought to life with Art Deco influences in the soft furnishings with their black and white geometric designs, and the stunning Art Deco inspired wallpaper would also work well.  The monochrome patterns also help to sharpen up the scheme if you are not a fan of the full-on pastel.  Bring in some exotic influences with animal prints and tropical plants.  With the addition of a quirky pastel bedside table, and fun accessories such as the sequined cushion and pink roller skate planter, you can create a playful space with a contemporary vibe that brings a smile to your face.

Wanderlust

Gold Bird Art | Pharaoh Table | Greek Key Mirror | Moroccan Style Mirror | Exotic Palm Leaf Floor Lamp | Berber Style Rug | Golden Sphynx Cat | Inlaid Blue Capiz Stools

The Wanderlust is a jewel like room scheme that brings together influences from different cultures and fuses them together into an enticing harem like décor.  From Moorish, to Egyptian, to far eastern, whatever takes your fancy, you can create your version of wanderlust.  The deep green and teal walls give a sense of the warmth of exotic climes, while the gold palm tree floor lamp throws romantic shadows on the wall at night. Lashings of gold are essential to this scheme to give it its due richness and glamour.  With golden mirrors, wall panels and exotic creatures you really set the scene.  Plus, who can resist a golden Pharoah by their side in this ode to eastern culture?

Natural Elements

Round Rattan Cabinet | Artificial Fan Palm Stem | Leopard Print Goat Fur Cushion | Red Velvet and Rattan Armchair | Curvy Glass Bum Vase | Banana Leaf Wallpaper

The Natural Elements interior room scheme has a calmness and serenity to it which is perfect for those of you who want to be surrounded by the colours of nature.  Subtle linear banana leaf wallpaper in a soft terracotta and white palette picks up on the neutral colours of a rattan cupboard and easy chair.  The jewel tones of the velvet cushions on the easy chair echo the terracotta of the wallpaper and inject some vibrancy to what could be a flat colour scheme.  Mix up the textures of the velvet rattan with a leopard print goat fur cushion and a petrol hand tufted rug help to create warmth and contrast.  All of this is surrounded by soft greens and lush house plants for a restful laid-back scheme.

3 fabulous interior room schemes here, put together by our very own Amelia – who likes nothing better than playing with mood boards and colour schemes.  I love the Playful Miami Pastel look for my spare bedroom but in my long wait for the decorator I might change my mind again!  So many tempting colours and choices that its hard not be a magpie and want it all.  Do you struggle to pin down what look you like?  Do these mood boards help to clarify your thoughts and galvanize you to action?  Let us know what you think.

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Tell us a little bit about yourself, who you live with and what city you live in?

Hi, I am Amara; a small business owner, content creator and nocturnal DIY-er. I live in a rental property with my husband and three children in Berkshire, UK. I love life in technicolour but living in a rental property means I often have to tinker with unusual design ideas and DIY hacks fuelled by midnight creative juices to add colour around the house. I am at my happiest when I am surrounded by like-minded people, paint tester pots and nature.

How would you sum up your style?

A colour enthusiast on the edge of maximalism with an eclectic appetite. I love a happy balance of cohesion and complication in my style.

What sort of condition did you rent the house in?

The house was in fairly decent condition apart from heavily used carpet and bulky black pleather furniture. Although the sofas were not our style, but we still ended up living with them for a number of years. We’re very lucky to have a healthy relationship with our landlord. We have been living in this property for almost 8 years now so you can imagine it is a long time indeed. However, I cannot paint the walls so, I am forever cooking up ideas to put my own stamp on this house making sure that every hack is damage free.

What are your top tips for making a rental property your own?

– Don’t underestimate the power of a bold gallery wall.
– You can invest in self-adhesive removable vinyl wallpaper & decals to create a feature wall.
– Washi tape rolls can be used as quick budget friendly transformations.
– Faux floor stick-on tiles can help update a boring floor without costing a fortune. I’ve also used them in my home to create a splashback on pre-existing bathroom tiles.
– I’ve also painted over self-adhesive clear vinyl as well as used it as a protective base to put wallpaper in my rental. All saved in my highlights on Instagram.

You totally nail gallery walls – what are your top tips for creating these?

That is so kind of you! I love a gallery wall specially in the room where you entertain guests because they can often become a talking point. A great gallery wall, in my eyes, always needs a whimsical element! Choose prints and artwork which invite the eye to explore the details. It is meant to make a statement, so don’t hesitate to make it loud. A little renters tip, if you aren’t allowed to drill nails in the walls, choose lightweight frames with plastic front instead of glass so you can hang them easily with adhesive hooks.

Decorating is very much a learning curve – can you tell us about a decorating mistake that you’ve made over the years which others could learn from?

Take time to explore your core style before committing to decorate a space. I often felt drawn to the industrial style and mistook it to be ‘so me’. After a few impulse buys and expensive mistakes, I realised where I had gone wrong.

What’s your top styling tip?

Introduce eye-catching light fixtures to add some serious charm and personality in a room. They help set the mood and carry the cohesive look all around the space. You can also use them to add contrast in your decor without thinking too much. I really live by this tip.

It has been an absolute delight to speak with Amara and we really appreciate her sharing her knowledge with us. From perfecting a statement gallery wall, overcoming the obstacles of living in a rental home and innovative DIY tips – we have been left feeling positively inspired! If you want to see more of her technicolour home or creative ideas, take a look at her Instagram @thepajaamahub or website, The Pajama Hub.

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Image credits: The Pajama Hub

Tell us a little bit about yourself, who you live with and what city/country you live in?

Hey! I’m Sisi, I’m 26 and I live just outside of Brighton city in England, UK. I’m currently working with children with special needs in a primary school whilst finishing a degree in translating and starting my own business as a freelance stylist. I speak four languages, very sociable and love to connect with other people.

How would you sum up your style?

I am originally from Madagascar which is a tropical island and my culture is my inspiration. I use different bold patterns, bright colours, textiles and some houseplants to bring a vibrant eclectic, maximalist with a Bohemian chic touch vibe. My style also reflects my personality and I use it as a way to express myself. I suffer with some chronic illnesses and spend a lot of time in hospital so I love to come home to all the bright colours. They help lift my spirit up.

What sort of condition did you buy the house in?

I actually live in a rental building, I moved in in October 2020. It was in perfect condition but not my style so I have been on a journey of decorating ever since. Anything that’s rental friendly, name it I’ve done it and possibly more!

You’re not afraid to use some beautiful, bold colours. How do you go about choosing colours for a new room scheme?

I am definitely not afraid of bold colours, if anything I only do colours!! I always start with what kind of look is it that I’m trying to achieve first. Do I want more of a harmonious look or a crash bang colour type.  At the moment I have a list of a few favourite colours that I’ve embraced all around the house. However I’ve ended up using colours I didn’t necessarily love but fell in love with because they compliment my favourites so well! So yeah start with a colour that you love.

You have such a unique style – where do you get your inspiration from?

I get my inspiration mainly from my homeland where colours, patterns and plants are just to part of the culture but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love a good old Pinterest board. I also follow some amazing home accounts on Instagram that I find inspiring and simply adore.

What’s your top styling tip?

I don’t know if it’s because I’m a maximalist but I always say this to my friends and family, you have got to go mad with the soft furnishings!! It makes all the difference. Get some beautiful curtains, pair or clash it with a fun rug and some different textiles of throws and cushions etc … Scale some artwork to your walls and get some mirrors to bounce the light around the room.

What’s your favourite room in your home and why do you think it works so well?

My favourite room in my home would be my living room. I absolutely love this space, I’ve changed it up quite a few times by now but I’m finally satisfied with how it is. That’s because I decided to throw all of my favourite colours in there. I don’t have one detail that I don’t love, down to the smallest details such as candles and vases. I also love the gallery wall I created, it sets the tone in the room and it’s so vibrant that it almost tells a story. If you knew me in person, you’d be able to tell that it’s my space.

Decorating is very much a learning curve – can you tell us about a decorating mistake that you’ve made over the years which others could learn from?

I made the mistake to go for something because it was on trend and cool and not because I loved it and wanted it in my space. Luckily, it was nothing a lick of paint couldn’t fix. I liked it but didn’t love it … I remember just feeling like something wasn’t quite right until eventually I decided to do me!! I feel like in anything in life we should always be confident to follow our instincts and not feel pressured by what’s out there. It is important to find people that inspire you but you have stay true to yourself. Maybe your touch is the magic touch, you never know!

We want to thank Sisi for sharing her personal reasons for wanting to create a space of positivity and joy. I’m sure you will agree that we think she has achieved this with her colourful, bohemian rental home! Not only this, but Sisi provides a wonderful example of how you can still create a space that suits your needs and showcases your style, even when renting. Follow Sisi on Instagram, @homewithsisi for more colourful, interiors inspiration.

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How would you sum up your style?

I find this so tricky; people often describe my style as ‘colour blocking’ but something about that doesn’t feel right to me, I’d say it’s more a retro futuristic colour crazy casa! … So I guess colour blocking is the more succinct answer! 😂

What sort of condition did you buy the house in?

The house was in great condition when I moved in, aside from a lumpy lino in the kitchen, the majority of the work was cosmetic – for now! I have grand structural plans but that’s far off in the future!

Decorating is very much a learning curve – can you tell us about a decorating mistake that you’ve made over the years which others could learn from?

I’m only a year in, so I’m still in the early phases of the learning curve, but the best advice I can give is to trust your gut; when you listen to/follow others too much or hesitate half way through, it can dilute your idea and you can end up wishing you’d gone full tilt, so always go full tilt!

You manage to use lots of different colours within one room, whilst still making it look considered and edited. What’s your top tip for pulling this off?

My biggest tip for this is to always consider the balance in the room; if you use a bold colour on one side, make sure to add elements of it across the room so it feels cohesive, taking the time to stand back and consider the colour combinations too (lots of standing back, artistically pondering 👨🏻‍🎨).

You’re a paint effect extraordinaire! What are your secrets for executing these without making a mess?!

Oh I ALWAYS make a mess, it’s just the side you don’t see! Don’t be afraid to get down and dirty, I guarantee Picasso didn’t paint Guernica without ruining the floor in the process 😂. I tend to just set aside a day of cleaning up – a bottle of white spirit is my dearest friend – and a day of touching up gaps and slips on shapes will see you right!

What’s your top styling tip?

My secret weapon is definitely plants; the use of plants in a space brings life, softens the edges and unifies the space. I now have over 50 in the house and I honestly owe a lot of the styling success to my leafy children!

What’s your favourite room in your home and why do you think it works so well?

Definitely the bathroom; it was the first room where I picked multiple colours (5 beautiful shades from Pickleson paint) and I opened all the tins and just let the paints decide where they were going to go – I know that sounds very hippy but it was the most wonderful way to decorate, and I’m so in love with the result- even if it did take me months 😂.

A fabulous, crazy home that really makes you think about how to create your own unique piece of paradise.  I love it, being a big fan of colourful interiors, what do you think?  Does it tempt you to try colour blocking?  Paint is the cheapest way to decorate so you can’t lose really.  Just a bit of time and effort for a fun, creative home. If you want to see more, follow Rich on Instagram @househomo, for plenty more colourful interiors inspiration.

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Image credits: @househomo

We’ve brought together 8 tips from our blog features on inspiring homes and hopefully, it will inspire you on how to use colour in your home to create a beautiful and cohesive scheme to be proud of.

1. Start Small & Build Your Confidence

Image credit: @lucyhamiltonathome

Our first tip for how to use colour in your home seems so obvious really, doesn’t it?  So much easier and cheaper to repaint a small room if you find you really can’t live with a colour. As with anything, practice is the key – the more you experiment the quicker you find out what suits you and feels right.  And sometimes you might love a particular colour or wallpaper, but not necessarily in a room in constant use.  When I first moved into my house I painted my small downstairs loo in Arsenic, by Farrow & Ball because I love the colour, and I still love it, but I couldn’t have it in a room I spent any time in as I find it too intense, but I love the shot of colour on an infrequent basis.

As Lucy from @lucyhamiltonathome says; “My biggest tip is just go for it. If you don’t like it, change it. I think people are so scared to be brave in their homes which is why grey becomes the popular choice. I’m not sure people even like everything grey it’s just the safer option. My advise is choose a small room like a laundry room or spare bedroom and just go for it, build your confidence. Then you become brave and end up living in a home filled with colour!” And they don’t get much more colourful than Lucy’s!

2. Experiment With Cheap & Easy Ways To Add Colour

Image credit: @lucyhamiltonathome

If you are nervous about adding colour to a scheme, start with really simple additions that are cheap to buy and quick and easy to do, like washi tape around door frames and on the edge of shelving.  That way you get to test out colour combos without being committed to painting.  Lucy from @lucyhamiltonathome is a big fan of stickers and other quick, cheap ways to add colour;  “One of my favourite things is colourful tile stickers. Can add them to your bathroom or kitchens. Colourful pompoms sewn on cushions. Spray painted picture frames, colourful and fun prints, tassels on shades are all great ways to add colour in your home.”

3. Consider The Colour Wheel

Image credit: @annalysejacobs

I have to say I haven’t studied colour theory, as I work on a purely instinctive level as to what I like, but there is so much detailed information out there if you want to pursue the subject in more detail.  I think using the colour wheel is a good way to consider colour schemes you may not have thought of before though, and you can feel confident the colours go if you’ve chosen them according to different colour theories.  Anna Jacobs, a British artist and designer known for her colourful and inspiring homewares range, has some good tips on how she uses colour in her designs;

“There are about 7 classic colour structures you can use, which will always work and then you can dial these up or down, depending on how calm or energetic you want a room to be and on how warm or cool you want it to be.

In general, I find that the two easiest to use are a ‘harmonious’ structure, which uses 3 to 5 colours next to each other on the colour wheel, and a ‘split complementary’ structure, which uses two colours almost next to each other on the colour wheel, plus one directly opposite them. I use both of these a lot!

Then remember to use CONTRAST in your scheme! Dark and light, dull and bright, large area v. small area.” 

4. If Going Dark, Think Lighting, Lighting, Lighting!

Image credit: Audenza

When Amelia had finished her fabulous sitting room she realised that the dark walls required spots of accent lighting everywhere to create a glow, and eradicate those dark corners.  Unfortunately it’s not so easy when the painting is finished!  Easy enough to add lamps, providing you have sockets in the right place, but the biggest issue was the shelving in the alcoves.  They need downlighters to emphasise them and showcase the objects.  So, think seriously about your lighting choices before decorating the room, particularly important if you are going dark.

Angie, from @somethingbluehome has this advice; “The key to making dark interiors work is LIGHTING. You need to overdose on the lighting and aim to have at least 8 different light sources, this is what is going to transform the space and create the soft and seductive mood. I think pendant lights coming from above can be quite unflattering and harsh so I recommend having these on a dimmer switch so that you can adjust it. Put all lights on dimmers where possible. Oh and lots of lamps too!”

5. Don’t Skip The Tester Pots!

Image credit: @thegirlwiththegreensofa

We’ve all done it when we are in a hurry – thinking we had found the perfect colour and didn’t need a tester pot! But alas, it’s a recipe for disaster.  Tester pots are essential, and despite the cost, they will save you money, and time, in the long run.  Use a roll of wallpaper lining paper and cut it into big pieces which you can then paint with the tester pot and masking tape to the walls in various places.  Put one up near the window and one in the darkest part of the room and live with it for a few days to see how the light changes during the day and affects the paint colour.

Nicola Broughton from, The Girl with the Green Sofa has experienced this herself; “I once painted my old kitchen a terracotta colour, or at least that was what it said on the tin. It was quite a lurid orange colour and I really should have used a tester pot first. Colour changes so much room from room, you really should try it before you go to all the effort of painting to discover you don’t like it. I lived with that kitchen for 3 years until we started the building work!”

6. Don’t Paint Testers Directly On The Wall!

Image credit: @somethingbluehome

Another classic mistake we are all guilty of is painting the tester pots straight onto the wall.  So much easier at the time, but goodness me it can take some painting over to cover the dalmatian spot effect.   As Angie, from @somethingbluehome, can testify to; “Many moons ago – when I was testing samples, I used to paint them directly onto the walls. I remember there once when there must have been at least 30 different spots that I then desperately tried to cover up with layers and layers of paint!”

7. Find What Works For You

Image credit: @oxfordone

How to find what works for you?  Pinterest and Instagram are great ways to see other people’s homes and imagine yourself in that setting.  It could be you prefer bold colourful wallpaper and pick out the colours from that for the furniture and accessories, or maybe you are a pure maximalist and want it all? Or perhaps you prefer neutral walls with furniture and accessories that bring the colour in?  Lissi at @oxfordone recommends if you want to use lots of different colours in one room, whilst still looking considered and edited, it’s easier starting with a neutral base of white walls;

“I think this is definitely easier to achieve with white walls and so in our open plan space where even the sofas and dining chairs are neutral, the rainbow of accessories does all the talking. I try to pick out the same accent colours at different points around the room so that wherever you look it feels deliberate and not chaotic. In the rooms where we have a dominant wallpaper, I have kept the colour palettes simpler but still bright and fun with plenty of pattern and texture.”

8. Listen To Your Own Reactions To Colour

Image credit: @annalysejacobs

We all have an emotional response to colour, so whatever the colour theories say you have to trust your instincts and go for it.  The only way to really find out what works for you is to experiment and be brave.  As Anna Jacobs says; “I use a mix of colour psychology and colour theory, but you have to listen very closely to your own personal reaction to colour too, which might contradict and take precedent over these.”  But also, don’t worry about what anybody else thinks!  Our home should be about us and our choices.

Pink and green feature predominately in my home and sometimes my daughters will say “No mum, no more pink, please” but, you know, it’s my home and I like pink!  And I’m in good company here, as Anna Jacobs uses a lot of pink in her home too; “As a single parent running my own business, I live with fairly constant stress, so I have surrounded myself with a lot of blues and greens, because they are calming and nourishing colours, but I add pink highlights to warm them up and create a welcoming feel.”

How to use colour in your home is an emotive and endless subject, but the essentials are starting small and doing what you love.  As you become more experienced you get a feel for what is right for you and become more confident on how to use colour in your home, your way.  It is an exciting and ongoing project that will evolve over time to bring joy to your home.  I can highly recommend Love Colour, by Anna Starmer as the go to book for interior colour inspiration.  Read my previous blog post for a review of this amazing book, It’s the perfect reference book, whether you love neutrals or bolds, it’s got it all.

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Seeing as Leicester is now the persecuted minority by being plunged back into lockdown Amelia has given up all hope of the decorator coming and is looking at ways to decorate her spare bedroom quickly and cheaply herself.  I remember well the craze for stencilling and rag rolling in the 90’s, and enjoyed coming up with ideas for different ways to decorate my walls.  These unusual painted wall ideas are a continuation of that creative drive to beautify our homes.

Tonal Feature Wall

Photography by Cody Guilfoyle | Home of comedy author and writer Laura Lane

This has to be my favourite – I just love the contrast of the linear shelving with the circular paint effect, and the fabulous gradation of colour.  Helps its pink, of course!  This paint effect could be used in place of artwork as it creates such an impact.

Painted Ombre Stairs

Image credit and home of: @arseniclace

I love wooden stairs far more than carpeted and this is such a good way of making a feature with colour.  Providing your stairs are in good nick.

Painted Faux Headboard

Image credit and home of: @lara.bezzina

A fabulous way to make a feature of your bed in your own individual style, and when you fancy a change just repaint.  You could paint a headboard to match your bedlinen so the bed takes centre stage in the room in a dramatic way.

Half Painted Wall

Image credit and home of: @naptimestyle

A great way to add colour and interest without adding pattern, and it also gives a contemporary feel to a room.  Kate from Mad About The House talks about the effect it has on the proportions of a room, and good info on the technique of painting using masking tape.

Colour Pop Door Frame

Image credit and home of: @2lgstudio

Simple, seductive and fabulous.  Just one small pop of colour adds so much vibrancy to a very simple scheme.  It’s the perfect way to add colour without overwhelming a room, and because it’s only a small area you can be really brave and experiment with your colour choice.  The bonus is you can repaint easily and cheaply when you fancy a change.

DIY Scalloped Wall

Image credit and home of: Bre Purposed

Simple, pretty and very feminine.  If you are intrigued how to do this scallop finish have a look on Bre’s blog to see how she achieved it. She used an embroidery hoop can you believe?

Geometric Colour Block

Image credit: Fired Earth

An ingenious way to create pattern and colour without overwhelming a room.  There are so many options here for you to play about with such as diagonal lines with circles and contrasting colours with tonal colours.  Half the fun is the playing about with shape and colour to create your own design, and easily painted over if you don’t like it or when you want a change.

Ombre Painted Wall

Image credit and home of: @kasie_barton

I’m not sure how you do this but if you have the skills it looks amazing.  There are lots of DIY instructions online for painting ombre walls, but it’s best to use two colours that blend well together.  The Spruce gives some helpful advice re colour choice.

Contrasting Colour Block Shelving

Image credit and home of: @oxfordone

How to make simple shelving look dynamic and vibrant.  It’s also a great way to create visual impact on a wall you want to make a feature of, like a chimney breast if you haven’t got a fireplace.  A cheap way to make a very striking focal point.

Contrasting Angles and Curves

Image credit and home of: @charminglifebyjess

If you tried to describe this bathroom with half a wall painted yellow and a quarter of a circle in yellow on another wall it would sound exceedingly odd, but it works.

All these unusual painted wall ideas have one thing in common – individuality.  That’s the beauty of paint effects, you make it your own, and have so much fun in the process coming up with ways to add character to your space.  And a great way to use up all those half tins of paint we’ve all got knocking about.  This trend is a hit with me and I’m planning what to do in my sewing room to give it a revamp.  Will have to wait for lockdown to end though as my days of painting walls are definitely over.

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Moving swiftly on we have the 3 fabulous living room colour schemes for you to drool over. If you’re not a fan of pink look away now. Being a massive fan of pink I’m in my element. I did try to move away from pink for a few years (and over to the dark side), but I’m not happy and so I am also moving swiftly on, back to my default setting of pink. Let’s start with the fullest of full on pink to get you in the mood.

Penelope’s Pink Party (she’s the hostess with the mostess!)

Lips Neon Light | Gold Rock On Hand | Rhubarb & Ginger Print | Pink Cocktail Glasses | Gold Luxe Drinks Trolley | Faux Coral Stem | Faux Spider Mum Stem | Deco Pink Bottle | Pink Martini Glasses | Penelope Pink Poodle | Love Coral Cushion | Green Velvet Cushion | Palm Jungle Tropical Rug

Amelia’s take on glamorous dining. Penelope’s pink party is a charismatic and bewitching interior colour scheme for fun loving style. A joyful room with a vibrant and sensuous vibe. And, dare I say it, perfect for these lockdown times, you could have a party in here all by yourself! Pink on pink for a full on sassy extravaganza.

Jewel In My Crown

Gold Sunburst Pendant | Leopard Table Lamp | Faux Gold Palm Tree | Golden Drinks Trolley | Cherry Pink Velvet Chair | Petrol Geometric Rug | Serpentine Leopard Print Cushion

Jewel in my Crown is a luxurious, grown up room. Teal for a rich opulent base with a strong pink for contrast. Restrained pattern keeps the mood elegant and the vibe is sophisticated rather than clashing. Whoever said pink was just for girls?

Pastel Paradise

Leopard Pastel Art | Faux Coral | Scalloped Velvet Chair | Ginkgo Leaf Side Table | Pink Martini Glasses | Faux Tropical Flower | Pink Textured Rug

Definitely the jewel in my crown. How can you resist this palette of delicious ice cream colours? Back in the day when I had odd slots of time to make patchwork quilts I was always drawn to this colour combo. A definite Miami vibe going on here that is restful but at the same time fun, flirty and very glamorous. Who could resist? Not me.

Anyone for pink? From a full on pink extravaganza, to delightful pastel pinks, to a touch of rich pink, there is always room for pink. Add lashings of green in the form of plants and cushions, plus Audenza’s signature gold, and you have a happy, vibrant home that delights and cheers. Every home should have some pink, what do you think? And possibly a Penelope!

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How would you sum up your style?

I would say my style is like living inside a piece of art that is saturated with fresh colour to make your heart leap with joy. That’s my aim, anyway!

What sort of condition did you rent the house in?

When we moved in, the property was completely neutral, with a mix of white and greige walls. The landlord had left two coffee tables and the kitchen table, plus cupboards full of crockery and old food (some of which was 10 years out of date!). He said we could keep, chuck or do what we liked with all of it. So far, I’ve just painted the two coffee tables, covered the orange pine kitchen table with a cloth and stored much of the crockery.

What are your top tips for making a rental property your own?

–  Cover the floors with rugs, these immediately make it your own home, are removable and protect rental carpets and wooden floors

–  Paint walls that are cheap and easy to paint back (with landlord permission!)

–  Start small, by just painting door frames, or even the edge of a door!

–  Paint just part of a wall, or paint a giant shape on a wall

–  Replace door handles on kitchen units, using the same size handles as the rental ones.

–  Use self-adhesive removable wallpaper on walls, uncarpeted stair risers and even furniture

–  Use self adhesive removable splashbacks on tiles in the kitchen and bathroom.

–  Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise!

Your hand painted mural on the stairway is incredible. How did you come up with the idea for this? How long did it take you? 

Well, I knew broadly what I wanted and I knew I wanted to use these colours, because they reflect the colours of the surrounding rooms and the staircase sits right in the middle of the flat, connecting all the spaces.  However, I then spent weeks and weeks staring at the staircase, looking through pinterest, insta and online art galleries, sketching ideas, staring at it again, etc etc, but still couldn’t nail the perfect design.

Eventually, I came across this fabulous Swedish artist called Linnea Andersson and as soon as I saw her work, I knew that’s what I had been trying to create – and it was already in the same blue I was using! I messaged her on insta to ask permission for using her art as inspiration and to my delight, she said she’d be honoured!

I painted the green and pink shapes in the background by instinct, then drew the main meandering branch in pencil first to make sure it covered the wall properly. After that I just painted everything free-hand on instinct as I went, occasionally drawing the leaves in pencil first if I needed to work out a tricky shape.

I started on the Friday evening and finished on the Sunday evening!

Do you design your home with colour psychology in mind? 

Absolutely! I use a mix of colour psychology and colour theory, but you have to listen very closely to your own personal reaction to colour too, which might contradict and take precedent over these.

As a single parent running my own business, I live with fairly constant stress, so I have surrounded myself with a lot of blues and greens, because they are calming and nourishing colours, but I add pink highlights to warm them up and create a welcoming feel. I’ve also just changed the very warm and quite dark greige in our living room to a gorgeous duck egg blue, because as a West facing room, it just felt too heavy and cloying in the very warm afternoon light. The blue literally makes me feel as though I can breathe again!

Have you made any decorating mistakes over the years which others could learn from?

Of course!

My 13yr old boy is very physical in his reactions and is unusually strong, so without a dad around to help tame him, I thought I would paint our entrance hallway pale pink, as pink is proven to physically reduce muscle strength and calm violent men. Unfortunately, when my boy first walked in he was furious, shouted that he refused to live in a house with a pink hall, stamped loudly all the way up the stairs and slammed his door shut! Lol. I promptly painted the walls back white, but left the door surrounds pink – which he accepted, thank goodness.

You manage to use lots of different colours within one room, whilst still making it look considered and edited. What’s your top tip for pulling this off?

Aaah, well that really is colour theory! There are about 7 classic colour structures you can use, which will always work and then you can dial these up or down, depending on how calm or energetic you want a room to be and on how warm or cool you want it to be.

In general, I find that the two easiest to use are a ‘harmonious’ structure, which uses 3 to 5 colours next to each other on the colour wheel, and a ‘split complementary’ structure, which uses two colours almost next to each other on the colour wheel, plus one directly opposite them. I use both of these a lot!

Then remember to use CONTRAST in your scheme! Dark and light, dull and bright, large area v. small area.

If you want to see more, check out her instagram. Anna also has a website where she sells her own designed products and is about to launch an online course on how to choose colour for your home that will help to improve your well being.  So, if you are a fan of saturated colour, and want to know more about how to use it and the science behind colour theory, Anna is your go to girl.  What do you think to Anna’s home?  I love it but I’m not sure if I could live with that much colour in every room.  I think I prefer more muted colours – not sure what that says about me!  I have just bought a set of the Chinese Tree Blush bedlinen for Amelia from Anna’s website as we both really love the pink and yellow colour combination.

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Image credits: Anna Jacobs