An inviting study designed by @retwiggdstylist
In recent years, home studies have become an important space to consider in your interior design schemes. Whether it’s a dedicated home office or a versatile workspace within another room, the colours you use are instrumental in making this an effective and enjoyable environment in which to work each day.
It is conventional to paint home studies in neutrals or very soft shades. But if you want to produce a truly creative space, you might find that a stronger colour palette is a better alternative. Find inspiration in this captivating scheme designed by Sarah Twigg Doyle of @retwiggdstylist (www.retwiggd.ie), which features Roben’s Honour and Kasbah from Paint & Paper Library…
Tell us about your home study. What was your vision for this space?
“This room had been painted a deep grey-toned green which I loved, but as it was in need of a refresh, I felt it was an opportunity to be bolder with my colour choice. The space is multi-functional, serving as my office but also a second TV room and guest bedroom. So I wanted to choose a scheme which would inspire and feed my soul creatively as a designer, but still be restful as a bedroom and chill-out space.
I have always been drawn to pink, particularly the warmer, earthy-toned pinks, and as pink is a calm yet nurturing colour, it seemed the perfect choice.”
What colours did you use, and how did you choose this combination?
“Believe it or not, it was actually book spines that helped me to choose the colour combination. I had two beautiful interiors books sat side-by-side on my shelf, and something about their colour combination – the soft warm pink with the rustier brown tone – just spoke to me. I always adored the Paint & Paper library palette, so I was thrilled to spot Kasbah and Roben’s Honour on the chart, which were such a close match to the book spines. From there the room design began to take shape.”
Sarah’s palette
![Roben's Honour](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="262px" width="350px"><rect width="350" height="262" style="fill:%23cfa995" /></svg>)
![Kasbah](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="262px" width="350px"><rect width="350" height="262" style="fill:%23a7776c" /></svg>)
How have you used colour to create a versatile space that can have different functions?
“I did a good amount of research into multi-use spaces before I finished putting together my design. Pink seemed an obvious choice, because in colour psychology it’s a creative colour, but it also has calming and restful properties. Using warm mid-tones like these have struck the right balance of stimulating and energetic for when I’m working in here, but calming and restful for guests trying to sleep.
I decided to use the two-tone colours to delineate the individual spaces. I used the darker tone of Kasbah on the cabinets and desk wall for the office space. Then the softer, paler tones of Roben’s Honour in the rest of the room to create a calming bedroom.
Our joiner Aidan ORBespoke also designed some very clever storage solutions, including hiding the TV in the storage wall behind a bifold panel, which – unless you know it’s there – just looks like part of the wall. My printer and office filing systems are also hidden out of view, so it feels less office-like.”
Your scheme provides inspiration for painting home offices in bolder hues, rather than habitual neutrals. What atmosphere does this scheme create?
“A home office environment needs to feel exciting and stimulating, yet comfortable and nurturing to be in. Particularly for me with the work I do, I want to feel inspired in the space. Colour is so very personal, and each of us sees it so differently. But pink tones have always spoken to me, even as far back as my pink bedroom as a child. They feel familiar to me, like a big, warm hug. In fact, so many people who’ve been in the room have said this is exactly how they feel when they walk in!”
You have elevated your scheme with beautiful, eclectic accessories and details. Do you have any guidance for sourcing and selecting such elements?
“I think the key to any new room design is to marry a mix of old and new. For the space to feel organic, lived-in, like it has always been there. Practicality is important too, so one of the key decisions when we were planning the storage was to have open shelving that would allow me to curate and change treasures collected over time, but with closed-in sections for the everyday items I don’t.
I love browsing interiors stores, vintage and antique markets and shops, as well as charity shops and places like Facebook Marketplace. I'm drawn to quirky pieces, things with character and patina, an interesting shape or colour."
"Recently, I have really got into collecting vintage books, drawn to their faded colourful spines. I find Instagram is great for sourcing the unusual. There are lots of amazing small businesses and vintage dealers showcasing their wares, offering beautiful styling suggestions along the way.
When I buy pieces, it’s nearly always with colour in mind. Will they work from a colour perspective in the spot I envisage them going? That said, sometimes I haven’t a clue where it’s going, just that it’s beautiful, and I will nearly always find somewhere for it!"
Finally, can you share your top three pieces of advice when it comes to interior design and embracing bolder colours in your home?
1. "Mood is incredibly important. Colour psychology tells us different colours evoke different emotions. So how you will use the space and how you want the room to make you feel is key to making the right colour choices. Picking cooler colours in areas you want to feel calm in, for example, and warmer colours for spaces where you want to feel more energised and stimulated.”
2. "It can feel scary moving away from play-it-safe-neutrals, but so many of my clients want a bolder look, but feel nervous about where to start. We all have a colour palette which speaks to us. If you are not sure what yours is, my advice is: go and open your wardrobe. Very often the colours you are drawn to speaks volumes to what you do or don’t like. For example, if you wear a lot of blue, chances are this will be a colour you’ll feel happy having in your home. Then it’s about choosing the right type of blue for the light and space.
If the wardrobe trick doesn’t work, another way is finding an item you particularly love – maybe a sample of wallpaper or fabric, a cushion perhaps, or some artwork. Look at the colours in it and use these as a basis from which to create a palette for your home. I recently worked with a client who had the most stunning art print. There were some really beautiful warm, mid-tone greens, blues, yellows and rusts which we used in combination to create a harmonious palette in her renovation."
3. "As a huge believer in the power of biophilia – connecting our indoor spaces to nature – I often get clients to think about where they feel happiest outdoors. Perhaps it’s their garden, or the seaside, a woodland bathe, or open-space hill walking. The predominate colours you see in these settings can make for a great creative starting block when it comes to picking colour inside.”
