How to transform your home with colour

When I think of winter I imagine snuggling up beside a roaring fire with a glass of Central Otago Pinor Noir. The colder weather makes us crave warmer colours in our clothing and our surroundings. Winter 2011 revisits neutrals, warm reds and deep greens, colours that have been on the circuit for some time through to the new wintery moody colours of inky blues, dusty pinks and purples.

BotanIcal Greens

Botanicals patterns and classic florals continue to be huge this winter. The botanical images bring all shades of green into our homes from deep greens, muddy greens through to fresh citrus shades.

Birds are popping up everywhere in fabrics and wallpapers, in nests, trees, perched on branches or in-flight. Many designs date back to the 7th century retaining a handcrafted look of pre-industrial manufactured designs which have been reworked in upscale forms so they look less fussy and more dramatic than in the past.

Inky Blues

Blue is always in as it tops and tails our environment in the wide skies and shifting oceans, so you simply can’t go wrong in using blue in a coastal country like New Zealand no matter what season. Aqua and chocolate continues to be popular and gives your home in winter a bold punch of colour. However, there is a new blue on our radar for winter 2011; it’s an inky indigo blue. Kate Middleton wore this gorgeous blue in her recent engagement announcement to Prince William to complement Princess Diana’s blue sapphire ring.

This colour way makes me think of the Ralph Lauren design style – elegant navy and linen stripe chairs. Think inky blue walls with camel suede chesterfield buttoned sofas and pale oak furniture. Blue is a colour of contemplation and its smoothes those prone to anxiety or stress. So, it’s great in a bedroom for a good night’s rest. Paint the walls a pale blue or soft duck egg.

Purple and Dusky Rose

In the 1990’s aubergine was the colour that grabbed us. The 2011 purple is in no way muddy, it’s a regal purple and we are seeing it everywhere in lush velvet fabrics to ornate purple wallpapers that are showcasing handcrafted designs from the 17th century.

This new deep purple is best combined with whites, dove greys and darker charcoals. Consider a purple statement bedroom chair with white waffle weave bedding, soft grey accents in cushions and throws.

Purple sits next to dusty pink for a vintage romantique look. For a luxurious and feminine bathroom, consider dusty pink mosaic tiles around the tub and relax into a bubble bath beneath the subtle glow of a gorgeous chandelier.

Neutrals

On the big screen of colour, neutrals are major stars. Texture and natural materials are their supporting cast. Winter 2011 sees khaki in military motifs and camel from creams to cappuccinos next to golden or red browns and mahogany.

Create a feeling of colour within a neutral room by laying textured neutrals together, such as light and dark timber, woven linen, shag-pile rugs, natural stone and animal prints.

Bedrooms are a great place to play with classic neutral-mix combinations. Make a statement with your bed’s euro cushions in an expressive fabric. First choose your neutral, and then team with your preferred accent colour, i.e. navy and linens, chocolate and warm reds; purple and dusky pinks or blacks and whites. If you keep your curtains neutral you simply change your bedding and your euro cushions for a seasonal look.

People often feel they need to keep their homes neutrals to future-proof them against fashion faux pas and for re-sale. The question you need to ask is how long you are planning to live in your home. If its 5-10 years, personalise it and enjoy the space in the time you are there. A neutral kitchen can still have a colour glass splashback, a neutral bathroom can still have a strip of coloured mosaic tiles to give it impact and a tactile quality. These items can easily be changed out in the future.

Warm Reds

the fabric houses are introducing us to ikat designs inspired by ancient tribal designs. Fabrics with Persian rug imagery in rich reds, navy and ochre can be used in scatter cushions to add spice to a neutral décor. The blurred and broken edges and rich textural interest of these ikat designs lend themselves well to our preference for informal and relaxed living spaces.

Red can be effectively used in a naturally cold room or a room that lacks natural light to increase the feeling of warmth. Make sure you use blue-based reds not an orange-based red to maximise the feeling of warmth in the space. Be careful in painting the walls red to only do this in a good size room as the colour tends to bring the walls in and make space appear smaller.

Consider wallpapering your entrance or lounge wall. Complement black and metallic wallpaper with red accents.

Red combines beautifully with charcoals and greys in throws and blankets for those chilly months.

Vintage

This new design trend is all about rediscovering old objects and either restoring them or creating new pieces with a twist from the past. Don’t be afraid to get Nana’s old chair out of the garage and give it a new lease of life. Mix 1960’s timber cabinets with modern artwork and soft feathered sofas. It’s all about heirloom colours and distressed finishes.

Classic-shaped furniture such as wing chairs and retro sofas are being reupholstered in wintery textured woollens, leathers or lush raised velvets with geometrical patterns.

Mix ages and materials to create a home that is relaxed and< comfortable this winter.

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