Decorating inspiration: Colour crush

Start with a dramatic shade of paint – we loved this deep turquoise. Rich colours create an intimate vibe.

Enchanting shades of deep sea green bring a rich modernity to dining rooms. Ideal for creating intimacy in shared areas, including lounge rooms, entrances, corridors and outdoor spaces, intense colours visually recede, making furniture and finishes grab the attention. To avoid uncomfortable contrast with pale hues, be bold and use saturated shades on every wall of a room, not just as a feature.

Inspired by denim-striped bedlinen, this soothing haven proves just how gorgeous a single colour can be. A seaside medley of stripes on the bedlinen and feature wall, this scheme combines tints and tones of blue to create a layered colour story that’s restful enough for bedrooms yet exciting enough to adapt for living areas. To ensure lighter colours hold a space, incorporate darker shades in furniture or flooring. The charcoal grey bed anchors this look and picks up on the dark stripe of the bedlinen.

Wallpaper is a wonderful tool for giving interiors a colourful twist. Here, patterned fuchsia paper enlivens a once drab entryway. Neon hues work equally well in studies, guest bedrooms and living areas – just furnish to suit. The deco-style motif of the wallpaper is mirrored in the shapes of the storage unit and hat stand, while the bright pink is tempered with aged blues and greys.

A neutral paint scheme lets you indulge your love of colour through furniture and textiles, and makes it easy to change on a whim. Velvety blue, tangy lemon and soft grey are the stars in this lounge room. Prints with stripes and graphic patterns are a simple way to introduce colour in moderation. Try it yourself in bedrooms, kitchens and living areas.