Accenting is a great technique for bringing colour and variation into your rooms as well as patterns and textures.

It’s a way of completing your colour palette and adding detail and focus to your rooms. Whether you’ve opted for a more cool and neutral palette or a delectable display of deep and dark tones, accenting is about getting the most out of your interiors.

Accenting your room: where to begin

Accenting isn’t about choosing lots of colours, it’s about finding different ways to represent one or two hues to create a consistent theme.

Start by looking at your main colour and pick something contrasting yet complementary. Remember not to pick too many accent colours throughout your home either.

If you can make one or two colours work, then this will allow for consistency and reduce the level of colour noise. It also means you can change things up easily by switching accessories around your rooms for variety.

Accent colours: how much to use

For an accent colour to have presence, it needs to appear at least three times in different areas of the room to look intentional.

Use accessories – even more useful things like little storage boxes – books, cushions, art and even flowers.

Stick to similar hues If you have a muted palette, choosing bright crisp colours will interrupt the flow of your room. Equally, darker colours like deep purple will benefit from more metallic touches.

Choose accent colours which have the same tonal weight to your main palette to ensure they have the desired effect.

Using furniture and textiles for colour

Do you already have a wonderful piece of furniture that you would like to show off? A set of cushions or a throw that you love? Embrace the beautiful elements of your home and work with them – this will really help to direct you in your accent colour choices.

Accent colours can blend too If you prefer a more muted tone, then use accent colours which are very similar to your main colour theme.

Perhaps you have chosen eggshell blue for your walls – white, natural wood, silver and an even lighter blue will all direct the eye around the room without being too striking.

Bright and bold

If you love colour and want to have a real impact, add drama to your rooms by using accents which are opposite to your main colour on the colour wheel. Teal walls? Use red to accent your room. Lemon yellow walls? Use violet. Burnt orange? Try deep blue.