Use colour to inspire intimate dining

Sharing and reconnecting with family over home-cooked food is one of life’s loveliest pleasures, and the dining room decoration plays a big part in creating a cosy mood. A warm colour scheme that highlights soft, muted shades is the key to creating an inviting space. Warm hues advance, which means they make walls feel closer together and create instant intimacy.

For colour inspiration, look to nature. Think camel browns, dusty pinks, reds from beetroots and summer berries, burnt caramel and buttery yellow. Paint your ceiling two shades darker than your walls to make the space look smaller than it is. If you frequently have dinner parties, choose colours that fill you with passion and confidence. After all, if you feel comfortable, your guests will, too.