COLOUR THEORY

Coral Bloom matt emulsion, £32 for 2.5ltrs, Valspar Volt matt emulsion, £46 for 2.5ltrs, Graham & Brown Coral Flair Mixing Flat matt emulsion, £33.11 for 2.5ltrs, Dulux

Coralina No 65, £41.95 for 2.5ltrs, Victory Colours

green, alongside grey and white to give a sophisticated, relaxing and fresh look. A vibrant coral is best complemented with a brighter blue with a hint of green, such as aqua blue or turquoise, so these bright colours can balance each other out.’

Coral is an inherently happy and lively shade. ‘Coral simply adds summer to a space,’ says Marianne Shillingford at Dulux. ‘It’s a holiday in colour form and is perfect for cheering you up when life feels a bit grey and overcast. It has a delicious fun and flirty character.’

‘Optimistic, uplifting and playful, coral is perfect for communal spaces and kitchen interiors, as its moodboosting quality and promotion of light evokes feelings of joy across the home, and encourages imaginative days spent inside with family and friends,’ says Tobie Lewis, senior brand manager at Valspar. As with any colour, the direction your room faces in relation to the sun can make a huge difference to the overall feel of the shade. ‘If your room faces north, combine coral with warm, off-white tones, rather than pure white, as the cooler, greyer natural light often needs an injection of warmth to make the space more inviting’, says Aaron Markwell, colour lead at Coat Paints. ‘In south-facing rooms, the apricot tones in coral will bathe your space in a warm golden hue,’ says Cathryn Sanders, head of creative at Earthborn Paints. This will enhance and maximise the sunshine vibes for a warm, uplifting space.

Pastel coral poster, from £8.95, Desenio Paula coral stoneware mug, £11.50, Beaumonde Coral dyed throw, £29, Barker & Stonehouse

The rules

Do

Combine with neutrals, greens or blues Use with warm shades in a north-facing room Try before you buy

Don’t

Combine with purples Use on all four walls Forget to add depth with warm woods and textures

The perfect pairings with coral

Complement your scheme with striking or neutral hues

the neutral palette the bold palette