Use colour to inspire intimate dining

Sharing and reconnecting with family and friends over a home-cooked meal is one of life’s loveliest pleasures, and the way your dining room is decorated plays a big part in setting the dining mood. A warm colour palette that highlights soft, muted shades is the key to creating a cosy and inviting space. Warm hues advance, meaning they tend to draw walls closer together and create instant intimacy, while cooler shades recede, giving the impression of a more expansive space.

For instant colour inspiration, look to nature. Think warm camels, dusty pinks, reds from beetroots and summer berries, burnt caramel and buttery yellow. Paint your ceiling two shades darker than your walls to help trick the eye into thinking the space is smaller than it is. If you’re a frequent entertainer, choose colours that fill you with passion and confidence. After all, a happy host makes for a joyous occasion.