Blue and Green

The dreamiest of colours, these two shades are oh-so soothing to live with, as shown in Sally Denning’s new book

- Polly Wreford

ELECTRIC DREAMS Bold colours might not seem the obvious choice for a calm interior, but as this elegant entrance hall suggests, it is not only muted hues and off-whites that offer tranquil and serene settings. The key is to keep the scheme simple, the space uncluttered, with pale painted woodwork and light wood floors to balance the more vibrant shades of electric green and teal blue.

ALL OVER BLUE A clever trick for creating a seamless feel visually, ensuring a calm interior, is to paint the entire room – including all the woodwork and ceiling – in the same shade. Here, the fresh, soothing blue used throughout allows the warm pops of colour from the velvet chairs and bookshelves to sing out and complement the main palette.