Well, Spring is hovering in the air, the light feels more generous with a slight warmth to it, the green shoots emerging from their winter slumber, the daffodils getting ready to fill our gardens with a rush of much needed golden hues.
Why We Crave Colour
After the kaleidoscope of colour and sparkle over the festive season, followed by the wonderful feeling of cleansing when our home space is decluttered and tidied away, it can feel rather flat and dull as we sit waiting for the snow drops to rise up, the air to warm and our energy levels emerge from their winter slumber.
Spring is defined by colour, and surely it is the prized Daffodil that distinguishes Spring as the Season of Colour. The RHS describe Daffodils as one of the most popular and cheery heralds of spring. It's the yellow, the glorious joy of yellow; followed by the luxury of looking forward to the Alliums, and the Hyacinths. Colour just when we most need it. Nature knows.
Calming Intensity of Colour
The simple fact is people are enriched in a colourful environment. As hunter gatherers we needed colour to distinguish food for survival and today we eat with our eyes, a colourful array of food for their nutritional benefits.
Our desire for colour enriches our mental well being; a walk in lush, rich, green forests or along a sandy beach, it is the foaming blues and greens against the mustard colours that reinvigorate as much as the fresh air and the gentle exercise.
While for interior enthusiast the last decade saw the reign of neutral palettes, there is no doubt that colour is now front and centre in interior design. Proudly supporting Edward Bulmer Natural Paints, their spectrum of conscious colours have found themselves mixed and matched in every room in the house particularly the greens and blues, and here Pompadour in all its glory. But colour can be added in simple and delicate ways throughout the home to bring a sharp energy to any space.
No 1: Coloured Lighting Flex
A clever upgrade to your pendant lighting by replacing the white plastic flex with fabric flex available in a rainbow of colours. Take this little trick to the next level, triple the length of the flex . The extra length allows you to create lovely loops and swirls; making the most of the colour pop. Go one step further and replace the old ceiling rose with a lovely metal piece. You can buy roses that have more than one flex hole to add multiple shade as we have shown here.
No 2: Adding Pops of Colour to the Dining Room
To add some quirky personality to the woodwork. Let your creative spirit free with whatever design takes your fancy. It's only paint and not a large area so low risk, easily changed and a great way to use up some left over tester pots.
Freshen up dining furniture with a strong powerful colour. Not many of us can cope with red on the walls but a pop of red to draw the eye is actually very satisfying. Here we have painted the bamboo dining chairs and lacquered over the top so easy to wipe down any spills. Ideal spot for a January cocktail.
Candle sticks and candles are another easy colour upgrade for an array of different primary colours to give the dining table a youthful flare. Add a vibrant table cloth and napkins, colourful napkin rings and all of a sudden, what could have been a beige area is bursting to life through colour.
Finally ceramics. It's not the law to eat off white plates,( often question why all toilets are white, what happened to pink and avocado.... but that's another story) a rainbow of colourful mismatched table wear and coloured glass set the scene for celebrations galore.
No 3: Adding Pops of Colour through Lighting
Thanks to Stranger Things, coloured 1980's Christmas Lights were a surprise hit. Have you kept yours up until its warm enough to get them outside...
If it sits still for too long it is at risk of a colour upgrade so any wooden lamp base is in great danger, particularly if there is left over paint from the furniture.
Of course we recommend colourful lampshades and if you have plain ones you'd like to reinvent, using fabric paint can be a fun and effective upgrade.
No 4: Rugs
If there is one large area of monotone colour, flooring is a challenge to add colour. Back from a trip to Ibiza a couple of years ago I religiously painted the floorboards white, soon to be dismayed by the amount of cleaning and chipping that occurred. A softer pink would actually have had a more interesting effect, and, been more forgiving. The holy grail in floor painting must be the chequerboard. These are all high risk, moving heavy furniture, time to dry, number of coats, can put a room our of action for a few days. Worth the effort though.
So we turn to our dearest of friends, the one who never gives up on us, understands what we are trying to say even when we can't quite articulate it.... the vintage rug. Colour, charm, style and flexible. www.thatrebelhouse.co.uk/vintage-rugs
Finally of course we can fill our vases and pots with colourful flowers and smile and dance the day away. Spring is coming...
Next time: Ideas for rotating pieces around your home.
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