Wallpaper

Wallpaper was once commonplace among elite households used extensively wherever possible. It was originally created as a cheaper decorative alternative to the lavish tapestries hung in the Middle Ages. Although available for more affordable prices these days I can’t help but feel people are scared to use it. Some dabble with the feature wall but I think with such brilliant wallpapers out there it’s time people commit to the whole room and embrace the different layers of decoration that wallpaper can beautifully create. Here are some examples of retro, geometric and generally eye-catching wallpapers on the market at the moment.

This is ‘Curves’ by Katherine Morris, beautifully retro and would look brilliant matched with old metal industrial look furniture. All Katherine’s papers are hand printed in any colour you want.

This charming print is by Louise Body and is called ‘Harry’s Garden’. As you can see from the detail picture is has the most beautiful vintage looking birds and birdcages. It would look great in a bedroom or dressing room.

Brian Yates last year launched the ‘Pip’ wallpaper range designed to give an instant vintage look to a room. This particular one has various small-framed images on it creating a homemade collage feel.

Here is another simple geometric patterned handmade wallpaper. ‘Chevron’ by Dunford Wood was originally designed for a seventeenth century kitchen; it would in fact look fantastically ordered in a busy room such as that.

Finally I love this ‘Pet Sounds’ wallpaper from Mini Moderns, lovely busy pattern that becomes more and more detailed the more you look at it and again has a retro feel to it.

3 of the best...Tiles

Tex Tile, Ikat design wall tile, 10.2cm x 10.2cm, £8.50 each

Hooper and Shaw, Mackerel wall tile, 10cm x 10cm, set of four £30

Saint Tropez Boutique, Zillij tile 55, 12cm x 12cm, price on request

Dare To Go Orange

Don’t be scared of using orange in your home, in fact it should be quite the opposite, you should be consciously trying to introduce it to your life if it’s not already there. It's a high energy, luminous and gregarious colour that creates a warming atmosphere and flatters skin tones.

I recently had a rental flat with an orange dining room. In fact being owned by a dreadlocked buddist with a yoga fetish the entire flat was orange however, we chose to paint most of the rooms a less Halloween-esq colour. I soon grew to love the orange dining room though as it instantly gave the room a warm sense of security. Something about the orange made people relax and open up, the perfect combination for dinner parties.

I’m not suggesting you all go and paint your rooms orange but it’s definitely a good colour to have in your house, so here’s a few suggestions of how.

Orange looks even better when illuminated giving off a light similar to a sunset, this lamp from BoConcept would do that beautifully.

This mug from The Conran Shop is the perfect excuse to get orange into your kitchen

For the more daring orange users check out this pouf from Skitsch, very unique and would instantly be the centre of any room, you cant help but want to touch it.

I love this Czech chair from Twenty Twentyone, so interesting to look at and of course a great colour.

This vintage looking sign from Rockett St. George would be great as a bold simple use of orange