Nottinghamshire &amp; Derbyshire


<p>Played it safe on the interiors-front for years with pared-back Scandi chic? Join the club. But, with many of us working from home and spending more time chez nous than ever, interiors have trended towards becoming a little bit bolder and a little bit braver with our décor. So, how to inject a shot of personality and splash of colour into your home when your safe place is neutrals?</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/05/Howson-Design-Katy.jpg" alt="Katy Interior designer from Howson Designs by pink door" class="wp-image-8877" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/05/Howson-Design-Katy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/05/Howson-Design-Katy-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/05/Howson-Design-Katy-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/05/Howson-Design-Katy-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/05/Howson-Design-Katy-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>‘I think&nbsp;when people hear the word maximalism they think intense pattern on pattern,’ says Nottingham-based interior designer Katy Howson of <a href="https://nottsderbyshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/howson-design-nottingham-interiors/">Howson Design</a> (pictured). ‘However I think if used correctly it can work&nbsp;incredibly well within interior décor. The key is to find a strong pattern or design that you love. Used well, it can make a real impact on any space. For me it’s about having the confidence to follow a bold&nbsp;idea right through to fruition.’ Tempted? Here are Katy’s tips to take you out of you interiors comfort zone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-start-small">1. Start small</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-cushions.jpg" alt="patterened bold cushions and chair interior design" class="wp-image-10133" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-cushions.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-cushions-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-cushions-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-cushions-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-cushions-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If your safe place is a neutral grey, you have a blank canvas you could add virtually any colour tone to. Start small by introducing colourful&nbsp;accessories, such as cushions and artwork.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-add-personality-without-a-full-make-over">2. Add personality without a full make-over</h2>



<p>Start with a piece of artwork or a print that you love, use this as your&nbsp;palette and slowly introduce colour. I very much&nbsp;believe that interiors take time to evolve. Be mindful and trust your instinct.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-go-boldly-with-blue-or-green">3. Go boldly with blue or green</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-pared-1024x683.jpg" alt="home office with blue desk and bookshelves" class="wp-image-10134" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-pared-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-pared-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-pared-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-pared.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>If going for a strong bold colour, go for a natural tone such as&nbsp;green or blue -these tend to be much more timeless. Start small by painting your skirting boards, doors and architraves. It’s a great way to create a focal point and gives the room character.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-pick-a-palette-from-your-patterns">4. Pick a palette from your patterns</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-palette.jpg" alt="interior design patterned wallpaper and blue curtains" class="wp-image-10132" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-palette.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-palette-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-palette-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-palette-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-palette-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Always take your colour palette from the bold pattern you have&nbsp;chosen, but be careful with your palette. It’s always good to limit the number of different colours you use in a room. I suggest&nbsp;having three harmonising&nbsp;colours and one&nbsp;contrasting colour. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-know-when-to-stop">5. Know when to stop</h2>



<p>It&#8217;s important to create spaces that are going to remain timeless for years to come. This snug is a project we recently completed and is a room for&nbsp;various&nbsp;functions &#8211; a work space, a place to&nbsp;relax and a place to entertain. We began at looking &nbsp;for interesting textures and patterns and decided on a print by Susi Bellamy. At first the&nbsp;clients were&nbsp;apprehensive when I suggested using it to&nbsp;upholster two beautiful vintage chairs. However I explained how it would not be overpowering once in situ. This fabric gave us a fantastic range of&nbsp;colour to work from.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-chair.jpg" alt="interior design living room with patterned chair and blue woodwork" class="wp-image-10130" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-chair.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-chair-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-chair-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-chair-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-chair-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The room is spacious so I suggested keeping the&nbsp;walls&nbsp;light but using a dark colour tone within the Susi Bellamy pattern for the&nbsp;woodwork and bespoke&nbsp;joinery we chose (COAT Adulting) a bold yet soft&nbsp;greeny-blue.&nbsp;The range of colour within the fabric &nbsp;gave us so much scope to use a variety of colours within the room creating depth and&nbsp;interest.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-skirting-1024x683.jpg" alt="Living room with blue sofa and bookshleves" class="wp-image-10131" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-skirting-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-skirting-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-skirting-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/nottsderbyshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2024/08/Maximalism-skirting.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>We chose a bluebell sofa from&nbsp;<a href="http://sofa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sofa.com</a>&nbsp;in Harbour Blue and added cushions with a contrasting fringe to match the vintage chairs. We used an ochre tone fabric for the roman blinds with a fine texture. We also added a vintage style rug from Zara home with a subtle pattern to not be too dominating&nbsp;within the room.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://howsondesigninteriors.co.uk/">Howson Design</a>, West Bridgford, Tel: 07368 423942</em></p>


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