Cool Neutrals
Work in some well chosen neutrals for a relaxed refresh and timeless style - here are 10 ways to dial up your decor with a paler palette.
6. Battersea Easy Fit Pendant Shades (Domed) €140.50, and (Round) €117.00 (other items from a selection), visit gardentrading.co.uk
When it comes to stylish simplicity, neutrals gives us the freedom to play with paint finishes and layer natural textures that can be tweaked and tailored to create the perfect backdrop – without the worry of making a ‘big mistake’.
After all, a pale silhouette can be styled up with a shot of colour if you think your beige landscape is, well, too beige. And ivory soft furnishings blend beautifully with pastels, if your dark woods and dove greys call for a sweep of blush. Easy-on-the-eye neutrals certainly don’t need to be bland and boring.
Here’s how to echo a relaxed scheme with rich taupes, two-tone neutrals and a wash of white…
1. Holwell Dinner Plate (White) €21.20; Side Plate (Tarn Blue) €14.50; and Side Bowl (White) €14.50, visit gardentrading.co.uk
Much as we love a buff tablescape, this contemporary tableware features a pale blue glaze as well as classic white when you want to break up a panoply of beige.
2. Creative Tops Golden Reflections Pack Of 4 Large Placemats €23.39, visit kitchencraft.co.uk
Create a stunning dining arrangement with these understated and stylish designed placemats featureing a speckled stream of gold scattered across a canvas of precious teal and cream.
3. KASEBERGA Coffee Table €90 and KASEBERGA Rug €40 (120 x 180cm), visit ikea.com
A coffee table in the shape of a surfboard? We’re in. Bleached bamboo teamed with fin-shaped metal legs offer a sleek contrast.
4. Safi Fringed Pyramid Natural Rug rom €70.46, visit carpetright.ie
Whether you have wooden flooring or carpeting, there’s nothing like a throw rug to create a focal point – not to mention the barefoot luxury of sinking your toes into its soft weave.
5. Cotton Rich Woven Monochrome Stripe Throw €34.64, visit marksandspencer.com
Throws are an essential part of styling up and adding warmth to your space, and this woven one – complete with stripes and tassels – can be draped over a sofa or accent chair, or styled at the bottom of a bed.
6. Battersea Easy Fit Pendant Shades (Domed) €140.50, and (Round) €117.00 (other items from a selection), visit gardentrading.co.uk
When you want to switch up your summer lighting, a Scandi style woven rattan shade will hang beautifully among your bleached woods, linen blinds and globe glass vases for a bright, airy feeling – and touch of texture for good measure.
7. Beige Palma Cushion €134.47, visit sweetpeaandwillow.com
Blend a hint of tropical style into your theme with this lovely palm leaf pattern, this fabulous cushion will add instant comfort to your sofa or bed, with its neutral tone allowing it to complement any space effortlessly
8. Bumblebee Fawn Velvet Bedspread €216.32, visit frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk
The toned fawn brown velvet is dotted with hand-embroidered bees that are sewn through from the front face to the underside, giving a gently quilted effect in an offset pattern.
9. Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year 2022 – October Mist 1495 (Aura Matte) from €34.64, visit mrcb.ie
Sage green has been trending for a couple of years now and has the potential to make any space look clean and fresh – one of the reasons designers love it. This gentle shade evokes a sense of calm and we’re big fans of the split-wall paint effect, teamed with ivory and natural materials for a soothing atmosphere and crisp, inviting aesthetic.
10. Small Glazed Decorative Jug €17.63; Terracotta Citronella 3 Wick Candle €14.69; 5 Wick Sand Blast Citronella Candle €34.6, visit marksandspencer.com
Putting the flair into al fresco, this trendy jug vase styled with potted outdoor candles looks gorgeous – and with the gentle scent of citronella and green tea wafting through the air, hints at faraway places and wellness retreats.