How to use beige in interior design
Friday, 16 September 2011 12:00 AM
The term 'beige' originates from 'beige cloth', a fabric left in its natural colour. It is a neutral colour, with the warmth of brown and coolness of white.
Beige has a rich palette of colours, from grey through warm chestnut to tan. As a neutral colour, its beauty is its simplicity.
Painting a small apartment in tonal beiges throughout makes the space appear larger as one room runs into another, the only difference being that the rooms are painted in variants of two tones.
Be warned though: if you're using a two-tone scheme like this, a mixture of textures is essential. Accentuate the subtleness of the scheme through soft furnishing fabrics, scatter and floor cushions and throws.
In the living areas use natural linen, glazed or slubbed (when there are small knots at random points in the material), for upholstered furniture. Reflective walls with pigment in the plaster will give a 'polished' look and serene vibe. It also creates a great palette on which to hang large, oversized black and white photography. Complement the walls with wooden floors in a deep, rich colour: think old oak, ebony or walnut.
In the kitchen, choose units in a warm beige with dark matt granite or dark oak worktops to ground the overall colour, then install floor tiles in chequers laid diagonally.
Beige bedrooms come into their own with layers. Use floating linen sheers with textured curtains and consider having a large headboard in beige croc-print leather as a focal point. Add masses of cushions and, for a real wow factor, a chair in a strongly contrasting colour: mahogany, brass and suede would all work well.
Bathrooms can get the beige look with travertine or stone-finish porcelain tiles. Avoid monotony by breaking the colour up with exotic, dark green leaf plants – make sure they're shade-loving as most bathroom do not have sufficient light – or an art piece.
Eliska Sapera is an interior designer with over 25 years’ experience and a gorgeous shop named Eliská. She is former exhibition director of the British Interior Design Association (now known as the British Institute of Interior Design).
Main image credit: Table and front chair, Dulux Woodsheen in Church Oak; right-hand chair, Dulux Woodsheen in Dark Walnut; walls, Dulux matt emulsion in Iced Frappe. Dulux Woodsheen is available from B&Q and costs £5.99 for 250ml/£13.99 for 750ml; Dulux matt emulsion is available from B&Q, Homebase and selected independent stores and costs £18.99 for 2.5L.
Want to be the first to know when we break a story? Follow @AboutProperty on Twitter and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter.
