Down to Earth

Down to Earth Go back to nature with Brave Ground, Dulux’s colour of the year.

Alpaca wool is durable, luxurious and silky, celebrated for its warmth and hypoallergenic qualities. Alpaca throw in natural diamond herringbone, £159.95, Annabel James. This ‘mouse’ pot is perfect for crayons or a small house plant. Mus small pot in sand, £18.50, Abode Living. Made of porcelain with a realistic, wood-effect design, these parquet-style tiles have a naturalistic matt finish, and can be used on a wall or floor. Woven sand woodeffect tiles, £39.95 per square metre, Walls and Floors.

This metal pendant light is a great combination of a neutral palette and clean lines. Montreux pendant light by Its

About RoMi, £269.95, Lime Lace.

This living room, designed in Dulux’s ‘Earth palette’, demonstrates how to use Brave Ground with other colours.

Natural tones and a chunky texture give this fringed cushion modern appeal. Beige frills cushion, £45, Rose & Grey.

Hard-wearing yet soft-feeling, this indoor/outdoor rug is made entirely from recycled plastics, will not rot or mildew and can be machine washed. Eco Sand, £39, Braided Rug Company.

Give your home a soft style with prints in tranquil and muted abstract poster, £12.95, Desenio.

Brave Ground, Dulux’s colour of the year 2021.

Featuring a low, buttoned back, this comfortable, contemporary Chesterfield is available in a wide range of bold colours. Dulwich midi sofa in Sahara Rope, £1,218, Darlings of Chelsea.

This warm and grounding neutral shade is said to help create a nurturing refuge for uncertain times

• Use this earthy colour as a base, and combine with touches of other shades such as rust, chocolate and ochre for a rich, warm and welcoming vibe. This palette would be lovely in a living room, but could also help create a relaxing bedroom, a sanctuary bathroom, a cosy kitchen or a productive home office. • If you prefer something less neutral,

Brave Ground can be contrasted with dashes of bolder, brighter tones. It works well with watery greens and blues, mustard, orange and acid yellow, and even shocking pink. • Natural materials are perfect for combining with Brave Ground: wood floors, jute rugs, sheepskins, raffia lampshades and comforting wool colours. Beige

throws. Add plenty of house plants and even some pampas grass for that on-trend, ‘hygge’ look. • The tone of this colour will change subtly throughout the day as the light hits it, and will appear quite deep at night. It is always worth painting a large sheet of neutralcoloured card using a sample pot, attaching it to the different walls of your room and observing how it looks from morning until night.

STOCKISTS

Annabel James: 0345 548 0210; annabeljames.co.uk Darlings of Chelsea: 020 7371 5745; darlingsofchelsea.co.uk Dulux: 0333 222 7171; dulux.co.uk/en/products Rose & Grey: 0161 926 8763; roseandgrey.co.uk Abode Living: 01273 621 116; abodeliving.co.uk Braided Rug Company: 01654 767 248; braided-rug.co.uk Desenio: 020 3318 2047; desenio.co.uk Lime Lace: 01423 900 522; limelace.co.uk Walls and Floors: 01536 314 730; wallsandfloors.co.uk