Calm the chaos

Home should be a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life: a place to pause, rest and decompress. “Colour is key to promoting wellbeing,” says Eleanor, “Nordic blue is a huge trend in interior design right now. It’s proven to promote calmness and encourage a slower pace in life. We’re seeing people painting entire rooms in it, and that includes ceilings.” And if you can’t do that? “There are plenty of blue products that can help bring the same ambience to a space.”

Annaleena H: Photos Krista Keltanen/ Living Inside PRODUCER JONNA KIVILAHTI

Bring the outside in 

“Natural hues are more popular than ever, showing a collective desire to feel close to nature,” says Eleanor. “They’re great for creating a sense of balance and harmony.” That doesn’t have to mean green-everything, though. “People think of nature’s colour palette as being muted and calm, but there can be some bold and unexpected clashes.” Her favourite pairing? “Greens and yellows the same shades as sunburst lichen – there’s something so energising about them.” As for dressing green rooms? “Greens are beautiful with furniture in earthy, organic materials such as rattan and mango wood,” Eleanor recommends.

Bedroom accessories and soft furnishings by Ferm Living

Boost your mood with dopamine decors

A more-is-more attitude and exuberant maximalism have taken over all corners of design, from fashion to interiors. “There are some really ramped-up colours around right now, such as Pantone’s 2023 colour of the year, Viva Magenta, which is loud, robust and energising,” says Eleanor. “When it comes to decor, we’re seeing a lot of clashing colour combinations. There might be a sofa in red, a bright pink side table, and then striped curtains.” The trick to getting it right? “Maximalist interiors work when they’re underpinned with a palette or a specific colour, so they’re more thought through than you may think.”

Vase by HAY

Think about what brings you joy

“It’s your home, and it’s not for anybody else: listen to your intuition and instincts and think about what brings you joy. If you need inspiration for bolder colour combinations, look to your favourite art pieces or art movement,” says Eleanor. “I bought a piece of art at Spotlight market in East London, which I’ve extracted oranges and mustards from and used throughout my living space.” The key takeaway? “Always stick within the artist’s palette – they’ve already taken the hard work out of colour pairings.”

Vases by Serax