Think Neutrals Are Boring? Olivia Dean Shows How a Simple Palette and Smart Textures Create Interiors That Look Effortlessly Chic
Varying the textures in your living room decor makes the space feel layered and interesting, as the Grammy winner demonstrates
It's not only Grammy Award-winning Best New Artist, Olivia Dean's music that we're loving – we highly approve of her taste in interiors, too. The Instagram post below is an example of how texture can be used as a styling device to create a beautifully layered look, alongside even the simplest color palette.
Layering in interior design is a trick that helps to avoid a room looking flat. The monochrome image emphasises the myriad textures in this room, where Olivia Dean looks very comfortable lounging on a chunky velvet corduroy sofa, with a tactile sheepskin-look rug underfoot, but the key is to keep the color palette simple.
Head of Interiors, Hebe Hatton explains: 'Sticking to a neutral and singular color palette, such as this off-white in this image – which reminds us of Pantone's Color of the Year Cloud Dancer – and the absence of bright color, really draws attention to the multitude of textures, from the ribbed sofa to the pleated lampshade and the fluffy rug, for a luxuriously layered and comforting space.'
We've searched high and low for textured pieces that get the look – from the curved floor lamp with suspended pleated shade, to the sculptural sofa – which are bound to get Olivia Dean's seal of approval.
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This is a pretty close match to the lamb featured in Olivia Dean's room. We love the curved wooden base and the way the pleated lampshade appears to be suspended from it as the top.
An alternative to the wooden-based lamp above, this one features the same style of pleated lampshade, but instead has a gold metallic base, which brings an added sense of luxe to a living room.
In softest velvet chenille and with the same chunky corduroy pattern as the sofa Olivia Dean favors, and softly curved silhouette, this cozy loveseat is the perfect statement piece to hang your layered look around.
The subtly quilted pattern on this pillow sham has been hand-crafted using a pick-stitch technique from a European linen and cotton blend for a quietly luxurious addition to a sofa or bed.
Made from 100% New Zealand wool, this stunning rug will bring instant softness to any space, particularly more industrial or rustic interiors which are crying out for tactile elements and contrasting textures.
Try the look without the big spend, by opting for a textured throw blanket like this one, which can be flung over a sofa to give a whole new look. The chunky corduroy effect mirrors the sofa Olivia Dean is lounging on.
A simple or even monochrome color scheme is perhaps the easiest way to try this Olivia Dean-approved look. The room shown below channels a similar concept, with the shape and color of the sofa matching those of the lamp, just like the textural mirroring of the corduroy sofa and pleated lamp in Olivia Dean's room. This helps to keep a coherent feeling throughout the space.
Another aspect that really emphasizes the use of texture in this space is the exposed brick walls. Juxtaposing luxe and comforting textures in soft whites and neutrals against the rustic, unfinished brickwork creates a wonderful contrast that is both unexpected and elevated at once.
We certainly agree with Olivia Dean that using texture in interior design is a wonderful way to lift and enhance a room. Just remember to keep everything else, such as color and pattern, to a minimum to really bring out the impact.
