Natural Selection

So I decided to do a round up of neutral room schemes this week and along came Dulux Colour Of The Year - Brave Ground - which fits in perfectly! yay! Should a woman of my age be saying yay? Anywho, I do love the peacefulness of neutral schemes, I find them calming, and perfect for our troubled times when there is so much going on outside our homes, that we all need quiet and time to think in a tranquil setting. Also, it's always easier to add colour to a neutral scheme if you find it all a bit too bland or just want to change things up a bit. So here goes, first up Dulux of course!

So here it is, Colour of the year - Brave Ground, an earth tone - Dulux says 'a balancing, grounding colour. When the world seems unstable, we want to feel the ground beneath our feet.' It's a rich and warm shade that will work well with all sorts of complementary colours - check out the full palette on the Dulux website, it's just gorgeous. The ochre tones of the cushions and the almost pink shade of this coffee table are a case in point.

Panelling seems to be everywhere at the moment and it's a great way to add texture and interest to a plain wall. These pale wood planks are subtle and create a relaxed backdrop in this set up, with a pale grey, retro-shape slub sofa, Milton 2 seater sofa in Tactile Grey, £629 Sofology then a raffia table, rug, pendant and belly basket adds more texture. Don't forget your plants. A room isn't a room without them.....

A grey, cooler palette is used in this corner. The large wood and cane chair in a painted, washed finish is the hero. A painted, vintage crate, woven felt basket and some meadow grasses in a simple vase are all you need. Keep the window clear and add a rug for warmth in a knobbly weave, and a throw for when it gets chilly. Oak Wing-Back chair, £1195, Nordic House

In warmer tones, and similar to Dulux Colour of The Year, this wall has a textured finish - a good way to add interest to plain walls, try Suede paint from Crown for a similar look. Rattan furniture again for simple living and easy to move around too, great for renters. Add a monochrome, patterned rug and a fabric ball pendant. All the furniture and accessories are from the Ethnic Cosy collection from Bloomingville.

Gallery walls are here to stay and work just as well in a neutral palette, maybe even more so, as you look at each individual print more carefully. Keep the subjects simple to make the most impact. Beige Harmony gallery wall, all prints, Desenio

A neutral dining room means guests concentrate on the food rather than on the furniture. An oval table is bang on trend this season and these classic wood and rattan chairs are timeless. Simple linen blinds in taupe, a jute rug and a striking wooden pendant from Tom Raffield is all you need. Arc 8 seater dining table, £999, Scandi dining chairs, £299 each, Raffield Urchin ceiling light, £285, LSA lantern vase, £60, Broste Copenhagen Arild Stoneware vase, £56, Chevron Jute rug, £300, Croft Collection Oval Chunky Oak Wood chopping board, £45 all John Lewis

If you don't want to make a complete change, why not invest in some stylish new tableware? These simple pieces are works of art in themselves, in a bumpy glaze that makes them look handmade, subtle texture with dark edges and imperfections which are caused by how the glaze forms. Just beautiful. Nordic Sand tableware, Broste Copenhagen.Gorgeous walls too.

Another wooden feature wall, but this one is sleeker, to suit this ultra-modern white kitchen, and zones the space. The floor is a similar colour for a seamless look and the shiny silver pendant adds wow factor. It's the Asteroid from £895, Christopher Wray

A traditional wallpaper adds another dimension to this room. All rough, artless textures on the rug, throws, basket and black cushions with a vaguely Moroccan look, is teamed with a 60's Tulip-style table and retro table lamp. Like a contemporary room in a country house. The colours perfectly echo the black and white marble fire surround. Lauderdale Stone wallpaper, Little Greene.

Not forgetting the bathroom....pale wood and white is a match made in heaven and check out those angled wooden slats across the window for privacy - genius. A pale wooden box has been created to hide ugly pipework which doubles up as a shelf for accessories. The white bath, a squared-off oval is such a lovely modern shape. All the lines - of the tiles, stripped roof beams, the window slats and floor planks, make for a visually pleasing scheme. The Artemis Bath is from Ashton & Bentley.