A top interior designer’s easy tips for a home refresh
‘With all our projects we try to create spaces that can evolve over time,” says Beata Heuman, the Swedish interior designer who, since establishing her London-based studio in 2013, has become renowned for her imaginative schemes and masterful use of colour. “It’s important that our interiors don’t become stagnant, and there are so many ways of switching things up that don’t take too much money or effort.”
Wise words indeed, and if you do feel your space has become a little tired, there’s no better time than now to embark on a mini refresh. But what can you do to boost the vibe without a huge spend or, indeed, huge stress?
One of the simplest and most transformative ways is to use paint, and in Heuman’s own home, a 19th-century property a stone’s throw from the River Thames, the overarching palette is calm and neutral. “I tend to mix a lot of styles and patterns, so a neutral canvas throughout the house is a good way of connecting everything,” she says. “In the UK, where the light changes so much, neutrals are easier to work with than a rainbow of colours that look good in pictures but in reality can feel quite exhausting. And I don’t tend to worry too much about north or south-facing. Just choose a warm tone that you like — there’s no reason to overthink it.”
It’s an approach she carried into her latest venture, a collaboration with the luxury paint manufacturer Mylands. “I spent a long time looking at our previous work, analysing how the studio uses colour in the most effective way.” The result is a collection called the Dependables, which includes 24 key shades, ranging from the all-important neutrals to versatile mid-tones, darker contrast shades and a clutch of uplifting brights.
Swedish forests, London stock bricks and King Gustav III’s ceremonial sash are just some of the things Heuman looked to for inspiration. “It’s a palette that’s easy to navigate and easy to decorate with, so you can return to it again and again. I think about colour a lot and am very specific, so it’s joyous to be able to share my passion with a wider audience.”
Left: scalloped ledges above radiators provide useful storage space. Right: the backs of the bookshelves are painted a vibrant blue to add depth
BETH DAVIS
On the landing ceiling a pale pink, called Mormor Zaza, adds warmth. Heuman uses lighter colours on ceilings to add to the feeling of height. Smaller artworks are moved around on a regular basis to keep things fresh
BETH DAVIS
Don’t forget the ceiling (and the back of bookshelves)
One of the designer’s favourite ways to energise a space is to paint the ceiling a different colour. In her dining room, that shade is a pale blue-green called Glass, inspired by the real glass-clad ceiling in her kitchen. “The ceiling is a surface that tends to be forgotten, but this is an ethereal, crisp hue that creates a real sense of height, plus it looks much more considered than default white.” The same approach was taken on the landing, where a pale pink called Mormor Zaza is a gentle contrast to the coffee-coloured, patterned wallpaper. “A pink ceiling adds warmth and can create a glow that’s flattering to everyone,” she continues. “And never say never, but I’m unlikely to paint a ceiling very dark — you want to lift a ceiling and that’s best done with lighter colours.”
The neutral palette flows into the living room, which is home to a host of charming antiques, textiles and art, as well as a collection of treasures housed in floor-to-ceiling shelves. “If you’re not going all out on the walls, the back of a built-in bookcase is a great place to bring in an accent shade,” she says. “We used a vibrant blue called Stockholm, which adds a real sense of depth to the room, while also creating a backdrop that brings the books and objects into sharper focus.”
Move your pictures
Another idea is to move artwork around on a relatively regular basis, and when main walls are being decorated, it’s a good time to rearrange. “If things hang in the same spot for a long time, it’s almost like you don’t see them any more. Obviously with big pieces it might not be practical, but with smaller works, it’s an opportunity to find things a new home.” And, she says, try to think outside the box when positioning art — not everything needs to be at eye level. “I love paintings above doors, for example. It’s a great use of space and pulls your attention upwards, which can make a ceiling feel higher.”
Walls can also become home to more three dimensional objects. “I added a pair of sconces on either side of my fireplace recently. They don’t take up room on the mantelpiece, and the moment they are lit they create such a wonderful atmosphere,” she says.
Left: a porthole window has been given a colourful makeover in a rusty red. Right: in the dining room the ceiling is painted in Glass, a light blue-green from Heuman’s Mylands collection. The artworks and tablecloth add flashes of more intense colour to the neutral scheme
BETH DAVIS
Add an unexpected flash of colour
Playful flashes of colour — Stockholm, and Caca d’Oie, a deep yellowy green — can be found on slimline scalloped ledges (easily replicated by any skilled joiner), which sit above the chunky vintage radiators in the dining room and hallway. “I feel like we need more surfaces, as our rooms aren’t huge, so we added these shelves, which are tiny but functional. We use them for candles, vases, keys, plants and, in the dining room, bottles of wine.”
Another spot where there’s unexpected colour is a porthole window in the kitchen, which has been treated to a coat of deep, rusty red. “This is one of my favourite colours and in our range it’s called Crayfish Party,” Heuman says. “Diana Vreeland said you need a touch of red in every scheme, and I agree. It makes the space sing and things feel that bit sassier.”
Also in the kitchen, the fridge and pantry unit have been refreshed with a warm yellow shade, aptly called Butter, which sits comfortably next to new brass handles and a metal badge salvaged from an original vintage fridge, bought on eBay for £20, which has been added to the front of a cabinet. “Little details like this can make such a difference and don’t need to cost a fortune,” she adds. “We fixed an inexpensive row of pegs from Etsy on to a wall next to the sink, so we can hang aprons, tea towels and bags. There’s also a huge blackboard where we write shopping lists and family schedules, so what was a useless, narrow space now feels really hardworking.”
Left: the simple DIY bed canopy gives the feel of a four-poster without taking up so much space. Right: the ledge over the radiator provides the perfect home for a candlestick
BETH DAVIS
In the bathroom, chequerboard lino flooring was a quick and easy update
BETH DAVIS
Try some design tweaks
Beyond the communal living areas, the principal bedroom has been given a mini makeover by way of a bed canopy, for which a length of vibrant blue fabric has been draped over two rods suspended from the ceiling. “It’s easy to do and provides the height and the grandeur of a four-poster bed without being as cumbersome, and it also makes the bed feel cosy.”
Styling beds with a traditional bedspread is another favourite trick. “They look crisp, finished and neat. My daughters are so much better at making their beds since we started using bedspreads, and a fresh colour or pattern can elevate the room in an instant.”
In the guest bathroom another of Heuman’s trusted updates is lino flooring. “I’m obsessed with lino in general, and here we’ve used a chequerboard design in green and brown. It’s a great way to add personality, especially in an area that can sometimes be quite clinical. You can install it on top of anything, so it works well if you don’t want to rip out tiles, which is a costly thing to do.
“Often a simple tweak, be it flooring, fabric, art or paint, can really make you appreciate your home in a new way,” she continues. “I love these latest updates, but who knows where the space will take us next?”
The Dependables paint collection, by Beata Heuman for Mylands, is available from February 12; mylands.com, beataheuman.com
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