5 timeless decorating schemes to update your home
From 1920s glamour to Scandi chic, elevate your home with one of our tried-and-tested room schemes
Need to give your home a style lift but not sure where to begin? Why not take inspiration from a classic scheme and build up from there. Whether you’ve always wanted to channel 1920s Art Deco or would like to let the natural world dictate your decor, we’ve picked five of the most timeless styles to use as your starting point. All you have to do now is set up your moodboard and once you’ve got that just right, try our top tips below to translate your vision into reality…
Recreate 1920s glamour
Use a flamboyant wallpaper pattern,as the starting point for a scheme, extending it around the room with highlight and accent colours. This peacock design by Little Greene has an airforce blue background, which is a great shade for cooler, north-facing rooms. Pull out the shimmering silver highlight for flooring and lighting – very Art Deco – while the rich berry looks striking used as an accent, whether a statement chair, rug or cushion.
Keep it simple with Scandi
Swap crisp white on your walls for a warmer clay shade to create a Scandi-style space. Bring in pieces of walnut and cane furniture, softening the black lines. Keep flooring natural – think pale and interesting. For accessories, find those pieces that make you smile. For example, you could try creating a quirky wall display of designer plates. Finish the look with a statement light – no Scandi home would be complete without one.
Copy a boutique hotel look
Dark walls are the calling card of designer boutique hotels everywhere. In order to pull this look off, you’ll also need to bring in paler colours, plenty of texture and an element of surprise, like this bold coral stool. An upholstered headboard in a pale shade will really pop against a dark wall, introducing depth to the scheme. Layer the bed with soft linens, working in texture where you can, before adding your accent.
Be inspired by nature
Why not take inspiration from your favourite season? Autumn, with its palette of reds, oranges, yellows and browns, is ideal for adding warmth to a room. Start with a soft shade of russet red on the walls, adding a bolder orange velvet sofa, then work in flickers of yellow and even brass or gold as accents.
Go to town with texture
Give your room a new look by turning up the texture dial. Start with a textured carpet or sheepskin rug, adding fabric upholstery and plenty of cushions and throws. You could even bring texture to your walls with a rough plaster or suede-look paint effect. Mixing finishes is key to this look, so style baskets near lacquered pieces, and knitted throws nestled next to silky cushions.
