Réka Thornton’s living room didn’t have the fun vibe she wanted, so she got creative with her own wallpaper design for a feel-good scheme
Feature and styling Lisa Moses Photos Caroline Mardon
My colourful decor journey began during lockdown. When we first moved here, the living room was painted cream and aqua, and we decided to use that as the base for our initial scheme. We chose some complementary wallpaper and matched our furniture to the look, choosing beige sofas and wooden cabinets.
But the room always felt bland to me. As we were spending more time at home during lockdown, Dave and I felt the space didn’t suit us and that it needed an injection of colour. We began by painting the ceiling in Blue 10 by Lick – not an easy job but it made a huge difference, helped by the addition of colourful accessories like bright cushions and throws. However, the scheme still wasn’t singing to me, and I wanted a space that felt joyful and happy, so I began researching wallpaper which I thought would elevate the look. Then, after failing to be inspired by what I found online, I decided to create my own designs.
I invested in an iPad, did an online creative computer course, and began playing around with colours and patterns. I started with the checkerboard effect in blue to match the ceiling, and then I moved onto the floral design on the main wall. The soft pastels were the perfect backdrop for the bold, rich tones of the velvet sofas we invested in. Rather than buy new, I began to slowly add colour to our existing wooden furniture, using Rust-Oleum paints which are quick and easy to apply as they don’t need a primer. Creating my colourful home has been a gradual process but I’ve learned new skills along the way, and my whole family now loves this fun space that reflects our happy home!
