Rashad Will DDS
Taken from arbiters of taste such as Kelly Wearstler, Athena Calderone, and design studio Banda Property, it's recently become cool to take a walk on the mild side. A warmer cousin to the cool Scandi-style grey walls that have taken hold of our homes of late, the beige renaissance brings with it feelings of warmth, coziness and a sense of tranquillity – just what we need in a space designed for unwinding in. ‘Beige blends seamlessly with shades found in wood, leather, and stone, and brings out the grain of timber, the tan of hide, and the veins of marble.
Combining them creates an aesthetic that reveals its complexity over time,’ says acclaimed interior designer Kelly Wearstler (opens in new tab). ‘To design a beige living room, choose the “star” items to work around, such as seating, a painting, or a treasured object, and build up naturals around them, layering them until the composition feels impactful, balanced and serene.’ Our guide to the best sofas of the year has plenty of seating options that come in a wide range of beige upholstery fabrics to make this your standout piece of furniture.
Solid beige walls beautifully highlight textural details in a space, the soothing tone allowing the eye to relax and explore other elements in the room. ‘Beige carries tactility and textures really well – the magic appears when you balance different elements such as fabric, stone and ceramics.’ ‘Beige and grey work so well together because they represent the same intensity of color, but one is cold and one is warm,’ explains Signe Bindslev Henriksen and Peter Bundgaard Rützou, founders of Danish design studio Space Copenhagen (opens in new tab). ‘I love the quiet beauty of beige florals – sometimes neutral shades can feel dull so it’s important to add life and energy to create spaces that are both calm and have vivacity,’ says Tricia Guild OBE, Founder and Creative Director of Designers Guild (opens in new tab). ‘A textured beige adds depth to a room and allows you to experiment with other textures, such as soft textiles and natural materials – play with the different finishes it works really well with a smooth beige,’ says Kristina Dam, designer and Head of Design at Broste Copenhagen (opens in new tab). ‘Different beige textures and hues add visual interest to a living room and create a modern feel.’
A space combining the rather unexpected colors of teal and beige adds a free-spirited element of modernity and freshness. ‘Beige and teal are a beautiful color combination,’ says Emily Morgan, Colour Expert at decorating brand Earthborn (opens in new tab).
‘Adding dark accents to a beige living room not only adds a dynamic twist, but makes a space feel lighter by way of contrast,’ says Joa Studholme, Color Curator at Farrow & Ball (opens in new tab).
‘Beige spaces feel seamless and undemanding, but the simple addition of a dark element creates a really chic, modern twist.’ ‘Expressive pieces such as handcrafted wooden stools, bowls with interesting patinas, sculptural cast bronze and stone objects look stunning against it.’ ‘Add graphic black touches to introduce dynamism, rhythm and expression without the room becoming too busy or visually chaotic.
‘Found endlessly in the natural world, beige is brought to life with plants and greenery,’ says Ann Grafton, Creative Director of heritage fabric company GP&J Baker (opens in new tab).
