If you’re after no-stress decorating ideas, much like a pair of heels or statement necklace can transform an outfit, the same is true with colour, pattern and texture.
“The reason we love colour so much is how it influences our emotions, and how we feel,” says Rebecca Proctor, chief brand officer and creative director of renowned home and lifestyle brand, MacKenzie-Childs.
“If someone wants to redo an interior in blues and greens, maybe they want it to be a more calming spa-like space… that’s why you see softer colours, perhaps in the bedroom.”
“And then if you want something really energetic and a mood-booster, you might have a splash of red somewhere because reds are exciting… so colour is a trigger for emotion,” highlights the New York-based designer who has a background in art history, fashion and retail, and has been with the luxury brand for more than three decades.
Here, Proctor shares some of her favourite ways to introduce colour and inspire your creativity…
Be imaginative with paint
“I love paint,” enthuses Proctor. “I think paint can be incredibly important, also without breaking the bank.
“And you can use paint in so many unexpected ways. For example, the right paint colour can totally transform a small space, to make it have more depth and atmosphere.”
“Or, you can paint a ceiling a lighter colour than your walls, just the ceiling, and that can make a room seem bigger or taller.
“Paint can be tricky and fun and playful… and I don’t think people often think about what paint can do.”
She continues: “You can even just paint trim, or just the moulding around your ceiling in a darker shade. If you paint it a darker shade, it can make the space feel more intimate.
“So you don’t have to redo the whole room, and it can have a really dramatic impact… paint is a wonderful tool, and it’s got so much more dimension than people give it credit for.”
Visual style and decor
“I think the trend right now is people are getting a little bit more into maximalism again.
“For so long, interiors were just monochromatic, and maybe a little bit dull to me,” she quips. “I love colour.”
“So even in a very contemporary, let’s call it monochromatic interior, if you add a pop of decor; you know a vase, or just an object, a bowl, or an arrangement of bright flowers on a coffee table, buffet… wherever you want to put it, your eye goes immediately to it.”
“It draws you in, and creates drama in a space. And I love punchy colours. I think they’re quite beautiful.
“But then it’s funny how people underestimate white… look at all the different shades of white; there’s a lot of colour in white if you really study it.”
She continues: “Just one item can really draw your eye in, add a ton of personality, and really give it a playful sort of little wink or a nod in the room.
“It’s a wonderful trick, and you can do that with bright, bold colours. Or something that’s large and scaled differently to really call your attention to it.”
Accent pillows and trimmings
“Accent pillows are another way to do something dramatic on a sofa or chair,” underlines the creative.
“Accent pillows or a throw in a beautiful colour that complements your interior can really create drama, and it doesn’t have to be ‘all… all everything’.
“It can be very intentional, and you can use colour minimally; or you can drench your colour, and both things work. I think it depends on the personality of the person.”
Moreover, she says: There’s no design authority. I love people to do what feels right for them, and what makes them feel good.
“When you think of using colour in interior spaces, your home is your diary.
“Your home is where you find calm and quiet, or a place to hang out at the end of a very busy day, and so there’s no authority. I just like people to use colour and pattern in ways that feel right for them.”
Proctor is also a huge fan of tassels, fringes and trimmings. “We adore anything passementerie.
“Historically, we’re known for the most beautiful array of tassels and passementerie trims… we use them on everything.
“And that’s another fun way to use colour. When we design pillows, we might do some irreverent colour in a bullion fringe or a beautiful trim; or pom pom on the corners of pillows.
“I love trims, and I also love the tactile experience of a trim… running a tassel through your hands. It’s a wonderful feeling.
“But back to colour, whether it’s paint, decor or trim, colour can have a very dramatic and exciting effect on a space,” says Proctor confidently.
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