Revitalising home makeover: creative use of colour for upliftment and inspiration – private rooms

Written by Claire Bond

Today we move away from this home’s open plan living room and kitchen to the guest bedrooms and bathroom.

In the transitional space that leads us there, as well as in the guest bathroom, the floors are covered in similar tiles to those in the kitchen and lounge. Given their visual connection throughout the space, I treated them the same way as before: by painting the grout lines to match their colour, thereby softening their strong geometry and reinforcing the flow.

creative use of colour for upliftment and inspiration in private rooms

Next, I had to get creative with the rest of the white and I selected a pastel green, as this is a colour that is healing and is known to reduce stress. I considered colour drenching this passageway. This is a technique where a single colour is used across all the surfaces of a room, creating a full-on, immersive effect. I wanted to avoid the visual noise that often comes from contrast between ceilings and walls.

My goal was to link the pastel pistachio paint colour we used in the kitchen with this adjacent area, to create a sense of cohesion. However, once I had applied the pistachio colour to the walls and the doors, I immediately realised that colour drenching the doors would not work here. So, I repainted the doors and skirting boards in a fresh coat of white non-drip enamel. The crisp white looked beautiful against the pastel pistachio, and it was this combination of colours that ultimately made the space feel balanced and inviting.

Colour drenching tips:

Do take the colour of your floors into consideration. The wall colour must look good against the floors.
Do choose some décor before you pick your colour because décor also introduces colour. Colour drenching is a bold decision!
Do consider using a paint colour from an adjoining area to create cohesion and harmony.
Do add in texture; we added a ribbed pendant light, a sisal rug and framed pictures.
Do colour drench a small space like a guest bathroom, guest toilet, guest bedroom or the entrance to your home.
Do add good ambient lighting.
Do push the boundaries of design.
Do not colour drench an entire open plan home because, if you choose to use a different colour somewhere, there is no suitable point at which to join the colours.
Do not give up if your colour choice feels wrong. Try out other colours.

I coated the linen cupboard in the same colour as the walls and ceiling, adding a golden knob for a touch of glamorous shimmer. To complete our space, we replaced the existing handles on all five doors with new brass ones.

Among the pictures are some of the owner’s vintage family photographs, which remind her of special moments and are bound to spark a conversation.

TIP: A gallery wall looks great with a mix of different frames. They do not have to match. Various sizes, materials and colours will add personality and character and make it uniquely yours!

When faced with an unsightly electrical box, a practical solution we used was to hang a Marilyn Monroe picture over it, which can be moved easily whenever access is needed. Notice how our new ribbed pendant light casts a stunning pattern across the ceiling and walls. It works so well because the room is a pentagonal space.

Builders shopping list:

Fired Earth Non-Drip Enamel Walls & Doors
Fired Earth Colour Burst “Fab” stainer (pistachio pastel green)
Pendant Light & Bulb
Sisal Rug
Brass door handles
Golden door knob for built-in linen cupboard
Splash sheets, paint trays, paint brushes, paint rollers and sponge rollers, masking tape

Bathrooms are no longer the soulless, purely functional spaces they once were. These days we see more colourful ideas and character added to private spaces. In this bathroom, I tackled 70s and 80s relics like tiles, fittings, lighting and a mirror that was fixed very firmly to the wall. Removing the towel rails was straightforward. The mirror was a challenge. I ended up having to smash it out and scrape away a lot of stubborn glue.

Once the wall was finally clean, we could touch up the plaster and paint. The colour needed to complement the existing floor tiles, which have a salmon hue in them. I chose ochre, a colour very much in the spirit of our time right now. This rich hue, derived from iron-rich rock, is one of the earliest pigments used by humans for art. If you struggle to find it online, try looking up mustard.

TIP: Always ensure your walls and tile surfaces are absolutely clean before applying paint. Sugar soap is effective for this.

In order to maintain a light and bright environment, I decided to extend the white ceilings to the upper portion of the walls, down to the height of the window lintel. I measured the distance between the ceiling and the lintel, right around the room. Then I marked the horizontal line with a pencil and followed it with masking tape, to help keep the dividing line between the two paint colours straight.

For the lower part of the walls I purchased a 5L Fired Earth Non-drip Enamel “Mud Run”. The outdated tiles were painted in the exact same shade, after they were cleaned and coated with a primer. Rich, dark colours are harder than pastel colours to mix by yourself. The Fired Earth stand in Builders stocks a selection of colours to choose from and they can even mix your preferred colour.

This window brings in beautiful sunlight, brightening the small space. Natural light is our friend here, bringing a welcoming energy into the earthy, warm quality of the ochre. A new ceiling light carries the effect through beautifully after dark. Perfect for a guest bathroom.

I used the existing holes in the tiles, to avoid drilling more holes to fit our modern, golden bathroom accessories. A generously-sized, new functional mirror, in a golden oval frame, adds a wonderful touch of class compared to the one we smashed out.

We added more golden shimmer and character with three spectacular “picture” mirrors belonging to the owner. Mirrors are a wonderful way to reflect light around a room, making the space feel brighter and more open. Once again, light serves to enhance the atmosphere.

How to get the look

We worked with a cohesive colour palette for the décor, incorporating hand towels, a textured washable non-slip floor mat and a wicker basket. I added modern golden hooks for hanging towels and face cloths. All these small details contributed to the warm, homely atmosphere.

Builders shopping list:

Sugar soap
Fired Earth Plaster Bond & Key and also Portland Cement (to plaster the wall)
Fired Earth Multi Grip Primer (tile primer)
Fired Earth Walls & Ceilings (white walls and ceiling)
Fired Earth Non-Drip Enamel “Mud Run” (ochre walls and tiles)
Golden oval mirror
Light wood ceiling light
Waste paper bin
Non-slip floor mat
Golden bathroom accessories
Brass door handles
Splash sheets, paint trays, paint brushes, paint rollers and sponge rollers, masking tape.

A guest bedroom offers the perfect opportunity to express your creativity and explore new ideas, without the commitment of living in the space yourself. It is an ideal place to experiment with colour and design, whether you yearn for a floral, feminine space or a more masculine feel. Personally, I love to dial up the colour intensity and incorporate bolder hues in the bedrooms I create.

In this homeowner’s first guest bedroom I was working with a moss green cement screed floor and a new brass daybed, the centrepiece of the room, purchased to double up as a sofa. I was happy to use some of her mother’s vintage furniture here, including a half-moon table and a bedside table. I did not have to do any work on these as the wood was in excellent condition.

My vision for the colour palette ranged between shades of pink and orange, complementing the floor colour, to create a room that exuded a gentle, nurturing energy. I was hoping to find a suitable wallpaper to finish some walls, in keeping with the recent trend shift towards artistic expressions, particularly through bold, large-repeat patterned wallpaper. While accent walls are still popular, a newer trend is to wallpaper entire rooms.

During one of my many trips to Builders , I discovered an elegant wallpaper featuring peacocks on a gorgeous coral background. I decided to use this for two adjacent walls and to paint the third wall in a soft and cheerful peach, a surprisingly versatile colour that complemented the existing moss green cement screed floor beautifully.

I won’t pretend it was easy to apply the paper: the pattern repeat was so tricky that I enlisted a professional to handle the installation.

To add to the comfort and ambience, I layered the room with a variety of textures and patterns. The daybed was adorned with scatter cushions in duck egg blue and other complementary patterns, along with a fringed duck egg throw. These elements pulled the room together seamlessly.

For the window treatment, I chose a delicate, sheer, curtain that allows natural light to filter softly into the space. Framed prints and a vintage mirror added a personal touch, bringing the room to life.

Initially, the homeowner was not sold on the peach. She had to see the completed room, with wallpaper and furnishings in place, to love it. She eventually confessed that this least favoured room in her home had now become her most favourite space and was destined to be her reading room. That was enough to make my job in this tranquil room fulfilling.

In the previous guest room I played with a feminine mood so, for the second guest bedroom, I opted for a more masculine feel. A challenge for this room was its small size and the ever presiding budget consideration. The trouble was that it had a queen-sized bed taking up nearly all of the floor space in the room and, since a single bed would not do for her needs, it was there to stay.

I chose a bold navy blue for the walls and, to open up more space, removed the melamine doors of the built-in cupboard and repositioned the bed. This new arrangement created its own set of unexpected challenges and, ultimately, exciting opportunities.

The chipboard interior of the cupboard looked unattractive so, as a little trick, I painted it the same colour as the walls. For functionality I installed a brass clothing rod in its hanging section.

Since the view from the newly positioned bed catches a glimpse of the flamingo covered refrigerator, I completed the look with a matching wallpaper that echoed its bird theme. A professional handyman installed it for us, inside the cupboard behind the rod, creating a stylish detail where guests hang their clothing.

The combination of this brave, bold and beautiful blue combined with the exotic wallpaper instantly looked opulent and stimulating, especially set against the visible pastel greens of the passage. It injects a potent pocket of joy: functional, fun and totally unexpected.

We spent the rest of our budget for this room on “Dopamine Décor”, the perfect antidote to an over-abundance of grey. This aesthetic is all about decorating in a way that stimulates the brain through layered colours, patterns and textures.

A patterned quilt from the owner’s bedding collection added texture on the bed and we added another layer with a luxurious golden blanket. For some extra style and a relaxed and effortless vibe, we draped a fringed throw over the corner of the bed.

Among the adorning layers of pillows, in varying sizes, shapes and textures to create depth and dimension, the two golden velvet cushions added to the dopamine décor effect. We were able to replace the existing light fitting with a textured wicker pendant light that echoes all the golden details.

Another standout element of this navy blue bedroom was the remodelling of the homeowner’s very short but striking chartreuse curtains. Her friend, an able seamstress, added a navy blue band of material to lengthen the curtains and accessorised them with colourful, playful pom-pom fringes.

If there is one design trend that is guaranteed to make you happy, it is the use of brave, beautiful, bright and bold colour. I feel confident that we achieved a major injection of joy in this lovely room.

.Builders shopping list for bedrooms:

Fired Earth Whispers low sheen washable pure acrylic, colour “Piece of Cake” (pastel peach)
Fire Earth Whispers low sheen washable pure acrylic, colour “Swag” (navy)
Splash sheets, paint trays, paint brushes, paint rollers and sponge rollers, masking tape
Brass clothes hanging rod
Wicker pendant light
Brass door handles
Rattan bedside pedestal
Antique gold desk lamp

Has this makeover persuaded you to try out bold, bright colours? What did you think of our wardrobe idea? Let’s keep the conversation going. We can all learn from each other.

Until next week, bye from Claire.