Polygons stretching from baseboard to ceiling have all the fun of a tangram puzzle, but in muted colours for a grown-up look (shown left). Diagonal lines draw the eye up the wall, and the intersecting, irregular shapes contrast with the floor’s parallel boards. Simple, slightly angled furniture subtly echoes the painted lines. Try it instead of a gallery wall for graphic impact in an office or dining room.
In this minimalist bedroom (right), intersecting circles fall in the sweet spot between statement-making and a snap to do. Oversized and graphic, they could replace a headboard or art, but only take an afternoon to paint. Restful shades like charcoal grey and pale yellow keep the look from feeling too childish. Balance the curves with a few right angles, like a housetop-pattern quilt and open-ended side tables.
Get The Look
(Left) Freehand is best; stretch painter’s tape (we used Frog Tape) across the wall to create shapes. Stand back to study the effect and adjust to keep the look proportional. Paint the edges first with a small angled brush, then fill in middles with a roller.
(Right) Draw your circles by tying different lengths of string to a pencil, securing the loose end to a centre point and pulling the pencil 360º. Fill in freehand, using a small angled brush to get crisp edges, especially where the circles intersect, and painting the middle of each circle with a roller.
Photographer: Tia Borgsmidt (left), Angus Fergusson (right)
Source: House & Home September 2014
Products: Left: White Water (2120-60), Cloud White (CC-40), Violet Stone (2069-40), Province Blue (2135-40), Benjamin Moore. Right: Bit of Sugar (PR-W14), Upbeat (P300-5), Pencil Point (PPU18-2), Cool Ashes (N520-4),Behr; Grey duvet cover, West Elm; quilt, Lindsay Stead; blue pillow, Urban Outfitters; white pillowcase, sheets, Ikea; tables, Avenue Road; clock, EQ3; beaded sculpture, Snob; basket, Pimlico Design Gallery; pendant light, Hollace Cluny.
Designer: Mette Helena Rasmussen