Flaunt details with deep colours and crisp white highlights.

Painting a living room with period features? You’re in luck: mantels, built-in bookcases, windows, arched doorways and moldings all present a wonderful opportunity to add another layer of interest to your space using colour. As a general rule, the period features found in classic Victorian homes suit muted natural colours like dusty greens, powder pinks and creams or deep decadent shades of purple, chocolate brown and charcoal.

If you’re after a more contemporary look, paint your skirting boards, architraves and mouldings a clean, crisp white. If you have high ceilings, choose a colour a couple of shades darker than your walls. This will draw the eye downwards and give the space a cosy welcoming feel. This will allow the beautiful, sculptural details in your living room to take centre stage.