Black or very dark hues be cosy and enveloping. When going for this look, be sure to include interesting accents as a foil. Choose an elaborate tile for the surround and add sharpness with a graphic floor rug. Then use candles and fairy lights to inject spark and chandelier.
Photography/ Chris Everard
The sitting room of this Victorian property has been been given a very sympathetic and elegant period treatment. A grand marble fireplace topped with a gilded mirror anchors the room. As well as framing the fine Victorian windows, the silk curtains with swags and tails lend a lovely touch of opulence.
The sharp seed heads of teasels are softened with sprays of delicate foliage, creating a beautifully unusual garland and wreath. Grosgain ribbon adds a colourful flourish.
Photography/ Simon Bevan
The gentle glow of candlelight, frosted silver and natural foliage combine for an atmospheric Scandinavian-inspired feel. The unusual array of garlands gives this formal room an air of whimsy.
Photography/ Simon Bevan
Upholster a compact sofa with an oversized print to create a strong, elegant statement piece set against a calm backdrop. A bold linear design rug offers a contrasting but complementary sense of scale and drama.
Photography/ Simon Bevan
Reminiscent of a late-summer garden, this hand-painted watercolour mural in shades of warm peach and spice creates a relaxed and expressive backdrop for pared-back modern pieces.
Photography/ Damian Russell
Celebrate raw materials, organic textures, natural scenes and crafts such as mark making and weaving. Sweeping lines, tactile surfaces and deep tones of copper and red combine to create a deliciously warm and cocooning interior, with contrasting textures and a touch of glamour.
Photography/ Damian Russell
Celebrate the heat and colour of the subcontinent with vibrant patterns and textural accessories. Shades of rose bloom in this flamboyant scheme, with touches of burnt orange to give a nod to tropical heat.
Photography/ Jan Baldwin
Celebrate the heat and colour of the subcontinent with vibrant patterns and textural accessories. Fabrics in shades of sapphire and emerald create a space that both soothes and energises.
Photography/ Jan Baldwin
A new wave of geometric designs, inspired by the work of abstract artist Sonia Delaunay, combines graphic shapes with exciting colour combinations to create a smart mid-century feel. Mixing a range of fabric designs featuring diamonds, circles and hexagons brings instant vitality, especially when directional light gives it a stripped appearance.
Photography/ Paul Raeside
Vintage-syle tropical prints, teamed with bamboo and cane, evoke the faded grandeur of colonial Cuba. Découpage is an impressive way of creating a bespoke piece of furniture that can be tailored to suit your room scheme.
Photography/ Adrian Briscoe
Decorating with pastel shades needn’t mean going entirely pale. An accent wall in a darker colour, such as the deep blue used here, serves to balance lighter tones. To add depth, introduce subtle textures with wool upholstery and curtains and rugs in patterned weaves.
Photography/ Paul Raeside
Polished concrete flooring offers a smooth, subdued contrast to organic-shaped furnishings, while a smart grasscloth wallcovering lets dramatic artwork do the talking.
Photography/ Damian Russell
Serene greens, monochrome patterns, tactile weaves and rich textures combine to deliver an inviting colour palette for a considered living space. As seen in Japanese homes, a freestanding wall acts as a divider, zoning a large room. Natural flooring and delicate paper lights complete the look.
Photography/ Damian Russell
We embrace our inner nomad with a considered mix of Eastern, African and South American patterns with natural materials, rich textures and bold hues for an elegant, worldly look at home.
Photography/ Damian Russell
A black cane sofa arranged with palm leaf-motif cushions against plain ochre linen lends an elegant exotic feel to a classic scheme. Dark-wood flooring and a table of leafy plants complete the look.
Washed linens and the eye-catching open design of the rattan sofa bring a relaxing mood to this inviting space, which is enhanced by unlined curtains that gently filter the sunlight. Taking inspiration from the room’s palette of raspberry and citron, our moodboard offers further ideas for creating a fresh, stylish look.
Photography/ Emma Lee
A feature wall in a striking wallpaper was the starting point for this vibrant hallway design. Plain upholstery and curtains in complementary shades prevent the look from overpowering, while a textured rug adds depth.
Photography/ Davide Lovatti
A daybed layered with mattresses gives an Eastern flavour to this reading corner where a sense of adventure is suggested by books and maps.
Photography/ Paul Raeside
Opting for curtains and walls in the same pastel shade creates a subtle backdrop, allowing a choice abstract upholstery print to sing out.
