Peacock hues brighten bedroom
January 19, 2010
TARA DALLA-NORA
I recently had a client who wanted to refresh their bedroom. Their existing colour palette lacked excitement: everything was beige. As a result, there was little contrast between the bedding, furniture and the walls.
Our goal was to create a space that they would enjoy spending time in, so we had to rethink the colours and soft goods.
My first thought was to brighten up the room by introducing white to the space, as opposed to more cream or beige.
We started with a white duvet set and bedskirt and added layers of colours on top. We chose white pillow shams with soft green and blue hues, then went bolder and brighter with the two accent pillows and the throw at the end of the bed.
The accent pillows are made of an elegant fabric with a plush texture, adding both comfort and glamour to the room. We chose to make the throw double-sided, a soft green paired with a vibrant peacock blue weave, which allows the client to use both sides of the throw depending on the season or their mood.
Our inspiration for the brighter blues came from an existing piece of artwork featuring abstract peacock feathers. The couple loved the piece, so we aimed to recreate its ambience for the entire room.
The cream coloured vinyl headboard, chosen by the client, blended in with the original paint colour of the walls. To better showcase the headboard, I decided to paint the wall behind the bed in an accent colour. We used a light blue by Benjamin Moore, called Icing on the Cake (2049-70), which tied into the colours of the bedding and drapery panels. The simple addition of an accent paint colour really made the headboard the focal point in the room – and helped differentiate it from the wall.
For the drapery panels, we chose a light teal fabric with a small textured stripe. The solid colour visually balances the patterns on the bed. We used fabrics in the same colour family but combined various textures such as silk, velvet and weaves for a sophisticated feel. The previous window treatment was white sheers, which blended in with the walls.
While the existing rug was an apple green, it seemed to blend with the dark hardwood floor. So we chose instead to use a light textured rug to frame the bedroom’s seating area.
Don’t be afraid to take a chance on colour to breathe life into a monochromatic palette. By playing it safe, the bedroom had become a completely neutral cream and beige landscape. The addition of a few well-chosen fabrics and paint in new hues transformed my clients’ space from dull to bright and lively.
Tara Dalla-Nora has a B.A. in interior design and is the owner and principal designer of Inner Luxe in Toronto's Bloor West Village.
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