Earth Calling: Is Terracotta the New Black?
Now is the time to give your home a touch of welcoming warmth with terracotta tones in your decor
Try to forget the rag-rolled trauma of ’90s TV makeovers for a minute to appreciate this new take on terracotta. Embrace the tone’s organic, mineral quality, which can relieve the stark finish of an all-white scheme in a similar way to wood. Think soft shades, small doses and rustic accents, which you can use to introduce subtle colour. These terracotta-themed interiors should give you some elegant yet earthy inspiration.
Drop a hint
An unexpected touch of terracotta overhead enhances the soft neutral tones in this room’s decor. Combining small amounts of colour in this way feels contemporary when juxtaposed with lots of wood, to create a mixture of manmade and natural materials.
Adding a terracotta table lamp would have a similarly grounding effect – think small mineral accents rather than gaudily glazed ceramics.
An unexpected touch of terracotta overhead enhances the soft neutral tones in this room’s decor. Combining small amounts of colour in this way feels contemporary when juxtaposed with lots of wood, to create a mixture of manmade and natural materials.
Adding a terracotta table lamp would have a similarly grounding effect – think small mineral accents rather than gaudily glazed ceramics.
Keep it simple
There’s no need to go to great lengths to incorporate the terracotta trend – you probably have some suitable plant pots already. Rustic-looking examples (complete with lichen) bring effortless texture into a sleek, minimal kitchen.
Using pots for displaying herbs such as basil and rosemary will mean you’ll always have them on hand for cooking.
There’s no need to go to great lengths to incorporate the terracotta trend – you probably have some suitable plant pots already. Rustic-looking examples (complete with lichen) bring effortless texture into a sleek, minimal kitchen.
Using pots for displaying herbs such as basil and rosemary will mean you’ll always have them on hand for cooking.
Do delicate decor
Unusual cabinet colours provide a refreshing change of pace in a busy kitchen. This sublime salmon shade is subtle and sophisticated when placed next to neutrals such as off-white walls, stone benchtops and handmade tiles.
Slab-front drawers and minimal metal pull handles dial down the country kitchen associations for a more streamlined style.
Falling in Love With Romantic Blush Schemes
Unusual cabinet colours provide a refreshing change of pace in a busy kitchen. This sublime salmon shade is subtle and sophisticated when placed next to neutrals such as off-white walls, stone benchtops and handmade tiles.
Slab-front drawers and minimal metal pull handles dial down the country kitchen associations for a more streamlined style.
Falling in Love With Romantic Blush Schemes
Tackle rich tones
Warm wood and terracotta might not sound like natural bedfellows, but this divine dining space shows how well the two can work together. Mid-century furniture has the clean lines and simplistic shapes required to carry off all kinds of creative colour combinations.
Go for green accents, including plenty of plants, to stave off any ‘1980s peach’ associations (in case you don’t remember, it was a particularly sickly shade of the soft fruity hue).
Warm wood and terracotta might not sound like natural bedfellows, but this divine dining space shows how well the two can work together. Mid-century furniture has the clean lines and simplistic shapes required to carry off all kinds of creative colour combinations.
Go for green accents, including plenty of plants, to stave off any ‘1980s peach’ associations (in case you don’t remember, it was a particularly sickly shade of the soft fruity hue).
Take a complement
Blue for the bedroom is a soothing choice that should ensure restful slumber. Complementary colours – those found in opposite positions on the colour wheel – usually have a stimulating effect on our environment. However, a small dose of terracotta velvet feels suitably sedate in this scheme due to the neutral base colours: white bedding, a wooden floor and pale grey walls.
Browse more bedrooms featuring a warm-orange tone
Blue for the bedroom is a soothing choice that should ensure restful slumber. Complementary colours – those found in opposite positions on the colour wheel – usually have a stimulating effect on our environment. However, a small dose of terracotta velvet feels suitably sedate in this scheme due to the neutral base colours: white bedding, a wooden floor and pale grey walls.
Browse more bedrooms featuring a warm-orange tone
Understand upholstery
A subtle way to incorporate this colour is on fabric, and little is more elegant in a living room than a neat upholstered armchair.
Don’t be afraid to steer away from a matching suite and choose a different style and fabric to your sofa. This debonair duo sit pretty thanks to their classic straight-armed design, which will weather the years wonderfully.
A subtle way to incorporate this colour is on fabric, and little is more elegant in a living room than a neat upholstered armchair.
Don’t be afraid to steer away from a matching suite and choose a different style and fabric to your sofa. This debonair duo sit pretty thanks to their classic straight-armed design, which will weather the years wonderfully.
Ruffle some feathers
Lift your living space with a light-as-air feather shade in palest terracotta. This fluffy feature is the perfect counterpoint to more sombre colours, such as navy or charcoal, providing a feeling of fun.
In this ravishing living room, the light shade draws the eye upwards to the beautiful moulded ceiling, and works with the muted tones of the vintage rug.
Lift your living space with a light-as-air feather shade in palest terracotta. This fluffy feature is the perfect counterpoint to more sombre colours, such as navy or charcoal, providing a feeling of fun.
In this ravishing living room, the light shade draws the eye upwards to the beautiful moulded ceiling, and works with the muted tones of the vintage rug.
Tweak a classic
For a new take on the traditional quarry tile, herringbone-patterned terracotta bricks provide texture and warmth. In this setting, the deep red colouring should be treated almost as a neutral, due to it being a natural product.
Heritage shades of green and navy are a timeless choice to pair with brick, but any colours from the cooler end of the spectrum should sit happily with it.
For a new take on the traditional quarry tile, herringbone-patterned terracotta bricks provide texture and warmth. In this setting, the deep red colouring should be treated almost as a neutral, due to it being a natural product.
Heritage shades of green and navy are a timeless choice to pair with brick, but any colours from the cooler end of the spectrum should sit happily with it.
Add an accent
For a hint of vibrancy without the risk of whole-room decoration, paint a small section of wall where there’s a natural divide. This chimney recess behind the oven provides a flash of colour to contrast with the room’s muted blue palette.
Terracotta accessories have been added to emphasise the two-tone effect and tie the scheme together.
Tell us
Are you tempted by terracotta? How would you incorporate this fashionable shade into your decor? Tell us in the Comments section.
More
Read more stories about decorating with colour
For a hint of vibrancy without the risk of whole-room decoration, paint a small section of wall where there’s a natural divide. This chimney recess behind the oven provides a flash of colour to contrast with the room’s muted blue palette.
Terracotta accessories have been added to emphasise the two-tone effect and tie the scheme together.
Tell us
Are you tempted by terracotta? How would you incorporate this fashionable shade into your decor? Tell us in the Comments section.
More
Read more stories about decorating with colour
This sumptuous space includes lots of similar warm tones layered together to form a rich tapestry of colour. The terracotta paint on the walls is bordered by two other shades to create a blocking effect that mimics having a picture rail.
Try this modern paint technique to create a feeling of intimacy in rooms with very high ceilings.