People often say that they haven’t a clue where to start when it comes to decorating a room. A really good tip is start with a piece of artwork that you love. After all, if you like it enough to hang it on your wall then you should like the colours in your décor. And if you don’t feel confident putting colours together you can be confident that the palette will work because the artist had been through the thought process for you. Take time to really study the piece and pick out the colours carefully. Next, decide in what proportions you are going to use each colour. From there you can accurately match any fabrics and finishes to produce your scheme.
You might be surprised to learn that I myself have been procrastinating with a decorating project in my own home for some time now and by some time I mean years. It’s a complete cliché but my husband and I undertook a whole house renovation project and aimed to be in for Christmas. This also coincided with the imminent birth of our first child who was due in January. In an effort to make some quick decisions on paint colours and carpets I opted for warm, neutral tones in our bedroom. My daughter is now six years old and I have been living with this inoffensive, but frankly very dull room ever since. I bought a couple of cushions, which were supposed to be my starting point for finishing off the room but it never quite happened. Being an Interior Designer, the problem wasn’t a lack of confidence but rather a lack of focus. When you are both Designer and Client it is all too easy to keep changing the brief, but the focus I needed finally came in the form of a painting.
Our office is situated in the lovely Montpellier area of Cheltenham and we are lucky enough to share the building with local artist, Rebecca Morris. Rebecca paints beautifully atmospheric, abstract pieces inspired by landscapes and skies. She was busy working on her latest collection when I spotted it - a gorgeous painting in rich inky blues with just the merest hint of neon pink. I instantly loved it and as fate would have it, it was the perfect size. I bought it and hung it on my bedroom wall. From there building the scheme was easy, a new rug has been installed, the blanket box is in order and cushions are on the way. After years of inactivity this happened in a matter of weeks – all I needed was the inspiration.
Of course, if you're still not convinced there is no need to worry, just pick up the phone and call us, we'd be very happy to help.
A selection of Rebecca's work is currently on display in the gallery at Burford Garden Centre.