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5 reasons teal is the colour you need in your home

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5 reasons teal is the colour you need in your homeGraham & Brown

Half-way between blue and green, teal crosses design borders that neither of the two can traverse alone. Its depth is sophisticated enough to use in a sumptuous velvet to cover a classically shaped sofa, or form the background to a hand-painted wallpaper design, yet will also happily pair with a crisp white in a fun geometrical pattern in bedlinen or wall art.

Here’s a selection of places you might not have considered teal for in your home:

1. On upholstery

Fabric and upholstery are the go-to places to inject a little colour into your home – particularly if you’re just getting started and introducing colour in small bursts. Make a statement with something as small as a cushion or sizeable as a curtain in fabric patterned with teal as the main colour. 

5 reasons teal is the colour you need in your home
(Credit: Sparkk Fabrics)

Or go for something plain and contemporary, such as this fabulous felt-look armchair.

2. In your bed linen

Because it can look either classic or contemporary – depending on the pattern and palette of complementary colours teal works easily here with warm greys and brass accents on a white background

Bollitstel quilt cover and 4 pillowcases, $49, IKEA

5 reasons teal is the colour you need in your home
Bollitstel quilt cover and 4 pillowcases, $49, IKEA (Credit: IKEA)

3. On your walls

Perhaps a little unconventional set in a chinoiserie design, teal comes to the party in “Tori”, the Wallpaper of the Year 2019 from Graham & Brown. Inspired by traditional Japanese Kabuki theatre style, a tiny vibrant bird hand-painted in pink and mauve flutters across a textured background of teal to alight on delicate, blossoming branches.

“We have identified Kabuki as a key design influence for 2019 and the Wallpaper and Colour of the Year 2019,” says Paula Taylor, colour & trend specialist Graham & Brown. “With a rich ancient history, entwining spiritual meanings and diverse mix of inspired imagery, Kabuki-inspired this glamour paper that transforms traditional art into a modern style statement.”

5 reasons teal is the colour you need in your home
(Credit: Graham & Brown)
5 reasons teal is the colour you need in your home
(Credit: Graham & Brown)

In a more contemporary setting, teal looks sharp when paired with monochrome black and white and makes a statement in this laundry, warmed up with textures stone tile flooring and woven storage baskets.

5 reasons teal is the colour you need in your home
(Credit: Cath Muscat)

4. On your kitchen cabinetry

In the kitchen is where the versatility of teal really shines. The undertones run from cool metallics of steel grey and silver – which look stunning with stainless steel and chrome – through to the warmer gold tones brought out when teal is placed together with gold and brass accents. Indeed, it’s this chameleon-like effect teal has that causes it to bring together a colour scheme combining all of these tones – topped off with marble benchtops, black grout detail or even a touch of timber, teal is your ultimate best friend in a colour palette – it gets along with everyone!

5. On your table or benchtop

A great way to effectively decorate with bold artwork, picking up the colours in your artwork by choosing teal benchtop accessories or setting your dining table with a selection of teal accent plates will take the colour further visually, giving it more depth and a layered decorating effect.

5 reasons teal is the colour you need in your home
Maison Sarah Lavoine ceramic plates, $120 set/2, Bastille & Sons
5 reasons teal is the colour you need in your home
(Credit: Harvey Norman)
5 reasons teal is the colour you need in your home
(Credit: Lara Scolari)

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