Coral is a vivacious, playful and inviting colour that can add comfort and warmth to a space. It's an instant mood booster! 

Because coral’s eclectic playfulness lends itself to a range of design styles, and can at first seem like a tricky one to decorate with, we've got 7 ideas to get you going. It's all about balance though and how a space makes you feel, so be sure to take your own feelings into considering when creating your coral space.

Touch of Turquoise

The coral-turquoise pairing is probably the most fun and popular in coral spaces right now.

Turquoise happens to be coral’s complimentary colour. This means that if you’re going for any kind of coral look, the eye will naturally want to see a hint of turquoise. 

Try introducing the colour to the space with a small artwork like this painting by Andy Mpetyane in Australian Salmon Gum, Ash Pink and Southern Ocean Blue (shop more artwork featuring turquoise to inspire you). Or give turquoise its due through a turquoise vase, cushion or other small accent.

A crisp, bright white will finish off this look so be sure to incorporate plenty of white with this colour pairing.  

Desertscape

We often see coral hues in Southwestern and Native American styles (think Santa Fe) inspired largely because of the colour of the land. Here, turquoise and coral also pair well together but go for deeper shades.

This look should be truly warm and inviting so if you are venturing into this style, play with different shades of coral, orange and red (think burnt tones but these can be as bright or mellow as you want) and incorporate them by using different textures such as pottery, fabric, leather or dark, rustic metal.

Flavour the space by bringing in small amounts of bright turquoise, rusty yellow, magenta, cactus green or indigo (or any other tertiary shade), or go bold by introducing a solid black and white pattern.

Lavender Luxe

For something a little more calming, lavender, violet and other lighter shades of purple go great with coral by offering a more harmonious colour.

Our artists use Permanent Light Violet by Matisse and, when combined with coral, it’s no wonder there’s a calming effect found in these pieces. A perfect example is Angelina Ngale's Atham-areny Story in Permanent Light Violet, Australian Salmon Gum, Ash Pink and Titanium White. Or Barbara Weir's Grass Seed which not only is an enchanting mix of lavender and skin tones that has created a soft coral-like colour in itself, it’s soft swaying grass evokes an extra sense of calm.

EXTRA TIP: Take a lavender luxe look to the next level by layering the space with deeper, muddier shades of these colours (like bronze or aubergine). And if you’re still looking for something extra, try adding a fresh spruce of greenery.  

Eclectic and Playful

Symbolising our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, coral embodies our desire for playful expression. What better way to create an eclectic and playful space than to introduce coral to a palette of bold, solid colours.

Try using coral as a base colour for this look, such as on a feature wall, which is a perfect way to tie them all in and helps soften the overall vibe that a range of bright colours create. 

Bright colours can be introduced through artwork, pots, tiles, flowers, frames, trinkets, small furnishings or rugs.

If you tend to be more reserved when it comes to colour choices, step outside of your comfort zone just a little by choosing a hallway to play with. It can be a chic and playful backdrop for showcasing a colourful, eclectic art collection like this design above.

EXTRA TIP: Experiment with patterns by layering your space with a bold or solid pattern and a fine, intricate one for added depth and playfulness. You’ll find that in doing this each pattern gives the other a platform to show off its uniqueness. We love doing this with art and it can work in many spaces.

Warm and Inviting

Warm colours can actually make us feel warmer. Pair coral with golden yellows, bright oranges and magenta and not only will you bring a sense of warmth to even the coldest room, you’ll make it inviting and downright cheerful.

Pinker shades of coral make this look feel even more approachable and friendly, and perfect to try in a guest room.

Because this is rich, monochromatic colour scheme, these colours can be introduced and layered in every way from rugs to walls, furniture and accents. Plenty of artwork and furnishings with coral and warm tones can be found trending at the moment, but you’ll find that they’ve always been around and will stand the test of time. Dot paintings by sisters Polly Ngale and Kathleen Ngale are often found in these colours, and with their soothing superimposed dot work they embody this kind of warm and pleasing spirit.

Neutral Nook

If you like a room cosy but not oh-so-warm like above, look at playing with neutrals. There is no space more inherently cosy than one made up of warm neutrals.

While coral is not considered a neutral, its softer shades can inject a subtle yet playful kick into neutral environments without overtaking the space and it looks lovely when paired with beige, cream, umber, tan and grey.

Softer shades of coral can be anything from soft blush shades to neutral terracotta iterations to deep shades of peach.

If you feel like you’re missing something, try bringing in gold or black accents, and ensure you’ve left room for plenty of white for that feeling of space, especially for smaller rooms.

Cosy and Inspired

Sometimes we get excited about grey. Whether it’s a brightly lit grey interior or a darker space, coral has a way of lifting this neutral and bringing out its absolute best. 

If you’re feeling the call of a dark and cosy space (there’s something about dark greys that feels inherently cosy), consider a room that has ample natural light filtering in so that it doesn’t feel too cave-like and get you feeling moody (else we’ve got some great ideas to lift your spirits in Creating Dark and Moody Spaces).

The grey should envelope the room and provide a backdrop to the coral so look at covering your walls in a dark or light grey or giving your floor to ceiling windows a grey treatment. Introduce coral with one to three key feature pieces such as artwork and furniture, and opt for cosy and intimate fabric such as velvet.

For extra cosiness, consider layering your space with a palette of soft and dark greys. To make it a little cooler, introduce a soft or grey-ish turquoise via artwork or a small furnishing. Keep other colours to a minimum and accent with golden tones or bronze to keep the coral grounded and warm.

EXTRA TIP: Consider whether you want a matte paint or a textured wall paper (this will really let the grey sink in and create a cosy ambience) or whether you need a glossy choice (to allow the natural light to reflect back into your space). 

At a glance

Quick tips for coral interiors

• Lift a neutral space with a soft shade of coral, like terracotta or peach. Accent with gold, black, cream, umber, and allow for plenty of white.
• Pair coral with lavender to introduce calm into your space.
• Choose a guest room or hallway to try a coral coloured feature wall. Hang your favourite saturated artworks to create an unexpected and playful art exhibition.
• Introduce coral through artwork, pots, tiles, flowers, frames, trinkets, small furnishings or rugs.
• For a rich, monochromatic look, mix corals with golden yellows, bright oranges and magenta. Not only will you bring a sense of warmth to even the coldest room, you’ll make it inviting and downright cheerful.
• Pinker shades of coral are particularly approachable and friendly.
• Coral has a way of lifting grey and bringing out its absolute best. Consider layering your space with a palette of soft and dark greys for extra cosiness.
• Missing something? Try adding a pop of turquoise (coral’s complimentary colour) to any coral space for instant pick-me-up.

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