Writing a regular blog is a new thing for me but I’m excited at the prospect of chatting away about things I love – interiors, design, inspiration, and ideas for the place you live - I may even pass on one or two good ideas along the way! We all know home is where the heart is, and everyone can add or subtract on a tiny, or huge scale to make their space the perfect place. Or you can just daydream and look at some great pictures…
Today I’m looking outside at the sunshine outside which always makes me smile. How can it not? The sun… yellow… lovely in itself but in your home? I bet you’re shaking your head - it’s a colour that evokes fear and mental images of hideous 1980s décor for many. But yellow is on it’s way back (yes really!) and it’s all in the shade of yellow you choose. I’m not talking sickly primrose shades, but richer tones with a hint of faded gold or mustard to add an instant contemporary and vibrant blast!
Teamed with charcoal grey the look is dramatic and breathtaking making a strong statement – just see how great it looks in a dining room setting in July issue of
“Ideal Home” magazine. The yellow warms the stormy grey beautifully.
If you’re a bit scared of such deep colours, you could adapt the scheme by using paler shades or introduce some gentle pattern. Alternatively, use shots of yellow amid a monochrome scheme for more subtle interest and impact.
Oak furniture gives warmth and the grain adds texture and as many of us have this tone of wooden furniture you should be fine with yellow. Having said that, more contemporary gloss white or perspex will look great too. If you find the colour combination a bit stark, try adding a touch of green or grey/blue – have a look at these cushions to see how that works.
So what works if you want to try out?
One wall of patterned yellow wallpaper,
wallpaperdirect.co.uk have some great options, in any room will create a focal point then pick up the colour in accessories. Think cushions and a rug in the living room, mugs and
tea towels in the kitchen (looks great with green, washed out navy or a plum colour too). Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how something will look in your home so always check a store’s returns policy in case you make any purchases that just don’t work.
Try these;
Fleet Organic tea towels or these
"Kitchen Tools" ones or zesty bedlinen. Think small; Even if you don’t want loads of yellow, consider a sunny print, picture or vase to brighten up a plain scheme then you’re not committed to a totally new décor, But whetever you decide, bring a little sunshine into your home.
Other yellow things I love:
Paint: Look at The Little Greene Paint company
www.thelittlegreene.com,
www.firedearthshop.com for some lovely golden shades without a hint of 80s primrose. It’s worth trying a tester pot before you buy a big tin of paint. Paint onto a piece of white A4 card and blu-tac to the wall so you can see how it looks in the room.
Fabrics/wallpaper: Harlequin’s new
Amilie range has a mix of delicate patterns for a hint of colour, through to bold statement prints.
More wallpaper designs,
"Wow",
"Saplings" and
"Elodie".
Vintage Chair: Simple, stylish, gorgeous.
Furniture: A splash of sunshine that you could do yourself by painting an old piece. Have a look in secondhand shops and rub down any wood piece, prime then paint.
This is a cheap and easy way to add unique twist.
And try these Accessories:
Clocks,
Pictures, or this
Stencil Tablemat
Some other room shots/ideas:
These images from Better Homes and Gardens show exactly what I mean, the BH&G website has a great section of inspirational images that can help when decorating, plus you can select a dozen other colours in their "Decorating with colour" section.


Images from
Better Homes and Gardens.
Becky
This is the first in a series of blog posts from Becky Clarke a contributing writing on Your Home magazine. Your Home magazine have featured our wall stickers on a few occasions and we loved Becky's approach to real life projects so we commissioned her to write about her interior design influences, trends and thoughts.