Bright furniture options if pastel is not your vibe (and let’s be real, just not practical)

We may have been bombarded with pastel-toned furniture for the last while, but there are other, more practical colours to love…

Whether it’s millennial pink, millennial mint or whatever pastel shade “millennials” are set to become obsessed with next, there have been swathes of sweet shades infiltrating our furniture options. At first, we have to say, we were as sucked in as everyone else.

They felt fresh and fun, but when it comes to furniture, sadly trend-driven pieces can feel tired quickly, and we’re already falling out of love with these rose-tinted tones.

Also in all honesty, we really don’t think we’re cut out for the commitment of pale-coloured furniture – we want to drink red wine on our sofa.

There’s still plenty of pastel out there (and if you’ve been a lifelong fan, by all means fill your boots), but if you’re craving deeper and richer colour for your home, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a selection of colourful furniture that packs a punch.

Although we do note the pastel pink cushions here, we’re allowing them because of the wonderful rich blue velvet of this bed. It grounds the lighter colours, making them feel more substantial, and as shown, complements a whole range of shades, from these pinks to orange and yellow.

It’s gorgeous as a focal point of this white room, or it would also work in a dark bedroom, to create a moody, cosy atmosphere. Hattie blue velvet double bed, around €502, Habitat.

There have been a lot of pink dining sets around recently, which is maybe why the rich rusty shade of this one grabbed our attention. It will add a hit of colour to your dining space, and as you won’t see 100 versions of it on Instagram, you’re much less likely to be sick of it in 6 months. Lule set of two dining chairs in Flame Orange, around €311, Made.com.

Rugs are an easy way to inject bold colour into a room, and we love this one from Ikea’s Art Event this year. Designed by Korean-French artist Seulgi Lee, its large abstract shapes feel calming yet colourful: an uncluttered design that’s still full of personality. Art Event 2019 flatwoven wool rug, €300, Ikea.

There’s nothing shy about the shade of this deep green lounge chair, adding a gravitas to these pale walls. With any investment piece, you want to stay away from trend-driven colours to make sure they stand the test of time, and we don’t think there’s any danger of us falling out of love with this forest-inspired shade. Bernard hunter green painted solid beech chair, €999, Hay.

Perfect for those who are nervous about introducing bright colours into their home, this stool is small yet still impactful, with its’ bright red shade. Whether it’s used as a spare seat in the kitchen, a side table in the living room or as a shelf for towels in the bathroom, it’ll make the space feel more lively. Revolver stool, €160, Industry & Co.

Featured image: Tab green sofa in alba fabric, from around €658 for two-seater, Habitat. 

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