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Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Katrina Harper-Lewis

Think Neutrals Are Boring? Olivia Dean Shows How a Simple Palette and Smart Textures Create Interiors That Look Effortlessly Chic

White sofa and lamp in living room / Olivia Dean at Grammy's.

It's not only Grammy Award-winning Best New Artist, Olivia Dean's music that we're loving – we highly approve of her taste in interiors, too. The Instagram post below is an example of how texture can be used as a styling device to create a beautifully layered look, alongside even the simplest color palette.

Layering in interior design is a trick that helps to avoid a room looking flat. The monochrome image emphasises the myriad textures in this room, where Olivia Dean looks very comfortable lounging on a chunky velvet corduroy sofa, with a tactile sheepskin-look rug underfoot, but the key is to keep the color palette simple.

Head of Interiors, Hebe Hatton explains: 'Sticking to a neutral and singular color palette, such as this off-white in this image – which reminds us of Pantone's Color of the Year Cloud Dancer – and the absence of bright color, really draws attention to the multitude of textures, from the ribbed sofa to the pleated lampshade and the fluffy rug, for a luxuriously layered and comforting space.'

We've searched high and low for textured pieces that get the look – from the curved floor lamp with suspended pleated shade, to the sculptural sofa – which are bound to get Olivia Dean's seal of approval.

Shop Textural Living Room Pieces

A simple or even monochrome color scheme is perhaps the easiest way to try this Olivia Dean-approved look. The room shown below channels a similar concept, with the shape and color of the sofa matching those of the lamp, just like the textural mirroring of the corduroy sofa and pleated lamp in Olivia Dean's room. This helps to keep a coherent feeling throughout the space.

(Image credit: Future)

Another aspect that really emphasizes the use of texture in this space is the exposed brick walls. Juxtaposing luxe and comforting textures in soft whites and neutrals against the rustic, unfinished brickwork creates a wonderful contrast that is both unexpected and elevated at once.


We certainly agree with Olivia Dean that using texture in interior design is a wonderful way to lift and enhance a room. Just remember to keep everything else, such as color and pattern, to a minimum to really bring out the impact.


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