Colour for any palette

Not for the faint-hearted, perhaps, but who can deny that this carnival of colour is as fun and uplifting as it is crazy and unconventional? There’s something essentially charming and disarming about the mismatch of patterns and textures and  the clashing colours. This scheme is uncontrived and there’s a feeling of ‘letting it all hang out’: there are no rules, just go with it. This is the philosophy that if some is good, more must be better!

Bright interior

Alright for some, you say, but what if you’re not the type for unco-ordintaed  craziness? And is anyone else starting to wonder whether that aesthetic would be conducive to a nice cup of tea and a sit down? As much as we might love something, if it’s not something you can live with, it won’t be allowed to linger. There are plenty of ways to incorporate colour and make a bold statement without having to go wild. As below, choosing a bold colour against a monochrome palette  of other furnishings gives a sophisticated feel, and adding a select number of beautiful accent pieces keeps the fun under control.

Two colour scheme

Whether that’s still a bit bold or you’re just not sure where to get your hands on a marble bust, a simpler option is to up the ante with a statement piece. This hot pink chair is off-set brilliantly against a stark white background and you’re guaranteed a buzz when you walk past even if colour is a secret, guilty pleasure.

Hot pink chair

Colour can be both subtle and effective. Below, repeated pastel shades contrast softly in this pale interior. For the colour-phobic and die-hard monochrome devotees, keeping colour to table top pieces means they can be cleared away or changed to reflect  your mood easily.

Colourful accents

Perhaps the lowest commitment -and best known- option of all is to introduce colour with flowers temporarily. Even the hardiest blooms are unlikely to out-live your interest, but a statement wall you’ve fallen out of love with could well take two coats of paint to erase so flowers are a good start.

Bright flowers

I hope that these images have given you some food for thought. If you can’t quite stomach a whole slice of the colour cake, may I suggest nibbling a few crumbs to whet your appetite? We’ve seen that there’s no right or wrong when it comes to colour so add as much or as little as you like. Bon appetit!

Assorted macaroons