Set the mood in a cozy corner with textured finishes, sculptural shapes and a soothing color palette
Photo: Barlow & Barlow
In this cozy bedroom, interior designer Lucy Barlow has created a sleeping nook by taking the color through the walls and woodwork and then introduce a bold stripe fabric with a complementary raspberry.
Photo: Shapeside by Genna Margolis,
'While dark colors tend to advance (close in), black has the magical quality of infinity, which means you are less aware of room proportions,' explains O’Donnell.
Photo: Paolo Moschino
In this cozy corner, interior designer Paolo Moschino(opens in new tab) painted the inside of the alcove in a rich caramel color. He cleverly added a plethora of colorful cushions to carve a comfortable niche in this dressing room-cum-guest room.
Photo: Milo Brown
‘Some people feel the need to flood small spaces and living room corners with ceiling lights to make them feel brighter and therefore larger,' says Claire Sa, director, De Rosee Sa(opens in new tab).
'However, I think atmosphere and dimension can be added to small spaces with different levels of controlled lighting. The lowest level might be lamps on side tables; the next would be lamps on a desk, console or chest.'
Photo: Studio Indigo / Luke White
'We believe north-facing rooms should be painted a dark or strong color, like brown, to make it more cocooning and those on the south side in lighter colors,' says Mike Fisher, creative director and founder, Studio Indigo(opens in new tab). 'The thinking is where you have darkness you should bring color, warmth and joy.’
Photo: James Merrell / White & Faded
For her own home, White & Faded(opens in new tab) founder Janet Parrella Van Den Berg layered up the texture – sheepskin, washed linen and old, whitewashed floorboards – to create a crisp white bathroom that’s surprisingly warm and inviting.
Photo: Paul Massey
Deep chocolate brown walls sound as delicious as they look. A confident hue for an all-over color, yet equally perfect for pairing with brights and pastels for a modern take on cozy decor.
Photo: Farrow & Ball
‘Decorating with deep purple is about selecting the right tone,' says Joa Studholme, color curator, Farrow & Ball(opens in new tab).
'Purples with an underlying red create a warm, intimate space, while blue-based ones are more dramatic. Purple works best in small spaces deprived of light, so is ideal for creating jewel-box rooms.’
Photo: Thurstand
‘We would usually lean towards quieter palette combinations, but darker shades can work really well within smaller spaces,' says James Thurstan Waterworth, founder, Thurstan(opens in new tab).