Magnolia

I’ve just moved into a rented flat and everywhere is painted magnolia. I’m a lover of colour so it’s slowly driving me mad. Any ideas on how I can brighten the place up a bit?

I’d check with your landlord first but pictures and wall hangings can make the world of difference to a plain room. A cheap way of doing this is to print out some of your favourite snaps in black and white and create a montage in a huge frame or lots of different size and style frames and hang them in a random pattern.

You could ask your landlord if you can paint the rooms. They might have done it in magnolia to attract a mass market but not really mind what colour it is. Make sure you ask first though and be careful about your colour choices, while they might ok subtle shades they might not be too keen on a black living room!.

Soft furnishings and accessories will make your rented flat feel more homely. Layer your sofa, chairs and bed with brightly coloured throws and cushions to make it feel a bit more cosy and dress sideboards and mantelpieces with vases and other decorations.

Bright red cushions and black accessories might help – going for this kind of colour scheme