Bedroom redecoration in deep colour

These bedrooms had been sitting in the same tired magnolia for years. The owners wanted something with far more character, so we took them to deep, saturated colour, a soft heather in one and a rich aubergine in the other, with the ceilings left light so the rooms still feel open rather than closed in.

Dark colour is less forgiving than people expect. Magnolia hides a multitude of sins, but a deep shade picks up every dent, every patch and every roller mark across a wall. So the preparation carried the job. Walls were filled, sanded and made properly flat before any colour went on, and the coats were laid off carefully to keep the finish even across large uninterrupted walls.

The oak doors, white architraves and skirtings were kept and cut in against, which is where a deep colour either looks sharp or looks messy. The finished rooms are warm, calm and considerably more interesting than what was there before.