Bring colour into your spaces with style tips from @carolineshomehacks and @carolinesstylehacks

Caroline Cook explains how she brought character to her home with stylish accessories, vintage finds and splashes of colour

When we first moved into our house it hadn’t been decorated since the 1980s, and every room was wallpapered bottom to ceiling. It was in great condition though, with lots of original features and an old Aga which we were scared of, but now love.  

There was so much wallpaper to scrape off and replaster that we didn’t feel confident enough to add colour or much pattern to the walls. So we kept everything very neutral with creams, whites and a touch of green and blue.   

After five years, I realised the house needed more of my style incorporated into it. Initially I added some colour with prints and cushion fabrics. We started with the hallway, which has a gorgeous original Victorian tiled floor. We picked out the racing green from the tiles and got the hall walls painted in the same green. It worked so well at adding character and warmth.    

Then came the lounge, which was too brown and cream. I started with a patterned rug as my starting point to adding colour to this room. We changed the tiles at the fireplace to sticker tiles, so it wasn’t a costly job and added the perfect pale blue to bring personality and freshness to the room (Parma Gray from Farrow & Ball). We got one of our sofas recovered in a fabric from Scottish brand The Isle Mill, and layered more pattern and texture with lamp and ceiling shades, mixed in with vintage furniture and ornaments. 

The kitchen has a permanent fixture – our navy blue Aga. We chose grey units but wish now we had been a little bolder. I’d love to look at getting the kitchen units professionally painted or sprayed, but we have enjoyed adding fun prints and ornaments – both vintage and new – to bring character. Our Pooky wireless wall lights were so easy to install. 

Our small bathroom was the last to be decorated, as it was such a huge job. Striped tiles were my starting point, and I brought in the green from the hall and painted the bespoke cupboards in a similar blue used elsewhere in the house. 

I like the house to flow, and like my personal style, there are neutral areas with splashes of colour, pattern and texture.   

Catch Caroline Cook at Ideal Home Show Scotland at SEC, Glasgow on Monday 25th May