Go dark and dramatic on the ceiling.

Designer and TV host Alexandra Hutchinson gave her living room ceiling a splash of rich, peacock blue paint for a surprising, whimsical effect. Contrasting white trim calls attention to the dramatic pendant light. A natural-dye Chobi rug adds a rich hit of pattern underfoot, while the chenille sofa’s blue tone is a pleasing reference to the ceiling.

See more surprising decorating moves that really work in our gallery.

Use unexpected upholstery accents.

In this welcoming library, designer Tommy Smythe combined traditional furniture, a grand chandelier and whimsical throw pillows for an eclectic feel. He designed this sofa with leather piping, an unexpected detail, and continued that trend with the pompom trimmed pillows. The combination of crisp white moulding and the walls’ light-reflecting, high-gloss finish has a modernizing influence, keeping the room from feeling too dark despite a dramatic black paint job.

See more surprising decorating moves that really work in our gallery.

Use a formal dining area for lounging instead.

HGTV star and Toronto designer Tommy Smythe opted out of a formal dining area in favour of a sitting room off the kitchen: “I think it’s just about the truth,” he says. “The kitchen is where everyone wants to be in any house, and in this one, the family can cook, eat, watch TV and talk to each other.” The red tufted sofa ties in with a red pendant light in the kitchen and a red bentwood chair at the dining table.

See Tommy Smythe’s Victorian Makeover for more photos of this home, plus watch Suzanne Dimma tour through the kitchen. Find more inspiration in our photo galleries of Top 10 Eat-In Kitchens and Suzanne Dimma’s Favourite Dreamy Retreats.

Experiment with pattern.

For this main-floor bathroom and staircase, HGTV star and Toronto designer Tommy Smythe introduced a few fun elements to liven up the Victorian home. The powder room’s fixtures, sconces and art are ultratraditional to offset the bold zigzag pattern painted on the walls. Project manager Jenny Dames actually blew up a scale of wallpaper she and Smythe liked, then hired a painter to bring it to life. Smythe also hung a series of convex mirrors in the stairwell instead of the usual family photographs. Mix and match vintage gold frames offer a eclectic look.

See Tommy Smythe’s Victorian Makeover photo gallery for more photos of this home, plus watch Suzanne Dimma tour through the kitchen.

Complementary patterns are a fun addition.

H&H design editor Sally Armstrong took a pattern-on-pattern approach to her home’s entryway. She started with the floors, taking an inspiration shot featuring dramatic patterned tilework to Edgewater Studios and asking them to make a similar pattern. From there, she chose a sunny, yellow wallpaper that doesn’t feel too busy combined with the floor, thanks to its smaller pattern. A mod bench and handy hooks complete the space.

See more surprising decorating moves that really work in our gallery.

An eye-catching sofa grounds a small space.

A custom-made sofa is the focal point of this small living room. Contrasting upholstery is a bold move, but one that works thanks to an all-white envelope. This space was inspired by Diana Vreeland’s famous quote, “Pink is the navy blue of India,” so it’s no surprise that exotic touches abound: a fluffy, Mongolian pouf and wooden chandelier add to the room’s collected, well-traveled feel.

See more surprising decorating moves that really work in our gallery.

A painterly wall treatment softens modern lines.

To create this soft, painterly wall treatment, H&H design editor Stacey Smithers enlarged a section of a 19th century still life by Otto Franz Scholderer onto a custom, self-adhesive wall mural. This large-scale art becomes the focal point of the space, softening the effect of the sofa’s contemporary silhouette, graphic striped rug and sleek floor lamp.

See more surprising decorating moves that really work in our gallery.

Bold walls and a ceiling fresco add personality to this dual-purpose space.

A blue lacquered wall and ceiling fresco are just two of the rich details that give this room personality. The striped tablecloth and green velvet chair adds contrast. Gold shell-shaped lights shine on book spines for easy searching.

See more of Colette van den Thillart’s London Home in our photo gallery. Also, find more inspirational libraries in this photo gallery.

An unexpected circular shape adds instant impact.

Inspired by childhood vacations to Los Angeles and Bermuda, homeowner Victoria Webster opted for loads of colour in her bedroom. The Art Nouveau designer Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann-inspired bed is the focal point, and a backdrop of textural green wallpaper makes the oversized, nailhead trimmed headboard stand out even more.

See a video tour of this bedroom. Plus, learn how to make a DIY upholstered headboard from House & Home editors Joel Bray and Morgan Michener.

See more statement beds in our photo gallery. 

Bright colours and pattern look sophisticated when paired with on-trend neutrals.

Yellow drapes with a box-pleat valance and patterned wallpaper combine for a polished tone-on-tone effect in Victoria Webster’s living room. The sofa, carpet and trim in pale grey balance the graphic impact of the yellow wallpaper without stealing its thunder.

See more sunny spaces in our photo gallery of 26 Happy Yellow Rooms.