The joy of unexpected colour

The weekly micro-decorating newsletter * Issue 10 of 13, SS23 *
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One of the most powerful design tricks is placing a strong colour where you least expect it. Because it takes guts to execute, it's also underused... so keep it in your arsenal when you're at a loss for inspiration.

My wardrobe is a testament to its mood-elevating impact. Whenever I wear my shoes with navy blue uppers and turquoise soles, I feel lighter in step and ready to conquer anything:

The colour flip repeats at the ends of the laces, the kind of detail that takes it up a notch – and probably sealed the deal.

In fact, if I were a girl with the taste and budget, I'd be powerless to resist the siren song of Christian Louboutin's stilettos, with their trademark reveal:

In my real life, I'm settling for a second pair of my old favourites in a different colour range, arriving at my place any day now:

I'm eager to find out if the yellow triggers a whole new outlook, or if it's roughly the same as the blue. Either way, I'll get more mileage.

Etsy knows well that I'm a sucker for sudden chromatic shifts, and continually serves up items like this 1960s Finnish decanter with its stopper vibrant as a hot air balloon – more suited to my eyes than my wallet:

Thankfully, anyone can attain colour nirvana with the help of progressive housewares companies like Denmark's HAY. Check out how they elevate the common wastepaper basket:

Once you've seen how colour can transform the ordinary, you're left wondering why this tactic is used so infrequently. Why should office storage boxes, for example, be utilitarian grey when they can be a candy store of possibilities?

Now that it's high summer and we're awash in nature's colours, it's easy to forget how starved of warmth and intensity we might become in four to six months.

Maybe it's time to emulate squirrels, stockpiling the best, brightest colours like nuts. If we're diligent and resourceful, we'll have homes that can be a source of joy no matter the season.

Thank you for reading.