The popular ‘Vanilla Girl’ aesthetic is a simple yet luxurious look of creamy, neutral shades and textures such as chunky knitted throws, pampas grass and satin bedding. Neutral colours, from pure white to earthy tones of grey and beige, combined with pales such as blush pink, celadon and buttercup, let you vary your look while keeping that tranquil feeling. 

Why neutrals? A well-planned neutral scheme is good-looking, harmonious and inviting, and works well everywhere. Neutrals are perfect for room-to-room cohesion, and make a perfect backdrop for plants, artworks or collections, as well as providing a calming backdrop in any room. 

All white now Rooms painted pure, brilliant white appear bigger and brighter, fresh and airy, and white is a great background for vibrant paintings, books, plants or fresh flowers. Try a shade of white with a touch of yellow or pink to prevent starkness in north- or east-facing rooms. Slightly muddier off whites can complement original features in period homes.

Choosing and using neutrals The range of neutral colours varies in hue from cream to sand, beige to stone and more. Use one everywhere, or use different neutrals in different rooms, but with a visual link. Or opt for one colour ‘family’ and use several sibling shades within a room – experts recommend darker tones for woodwork and lighter ones for walls. Avoid clashing hues of the same tone. Shiny gold or brass accessories can offset the subtle scheme, but a dash of black is often a good finishing touch. 

Surface matters Choose your finishes carefully: ultra-flat, matt, eggshell, satinwood or gloss, though the shinier the finish, the paler the colour will appear, so compensate with a slightly darker colour. Lighting makes a difference, so look at test paint patches under different lighting conditions.

Attractively tactile Textures bring a room to life and make a house a home. From the polish of smooth ceramic to the soft squish of cashmere, the nubbly weave of wicker to the homely warmth of felted wool, a variety of textural surfaces add visual appeal and feels comfortable and secure. Natural textures such as sisal, shell, stone, brick, wicker, timber, leather, linen, wool come to the fore. Layer texture upon texture for pleasing, subtle contrasts. There’s an enormous variety of colours, tones and textures to explore and enjoy.