Get the Look: Calm And Collected

For a true showcase of OKA style, look to our latest scheme that manages to marry our ever-present display of colour, pattern and worldly influences into one calm and collected space. If you want to play with muted tones, natural materials and mixed inspirations to create a relaxing atmosphere, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for tips on how to recreate this style at home.

Pick a Tonal Colour Palette

From ochre to rust to clay and straw, a collection of earthy hues set the base for this contemporary interior design scheme. All the colours harmonise perfectly, and in such a light and airy space they ground the room with a sense of depth and cosiness. A few pops of red – from the darker end of the scale – and touches of metallic black act like the ink outline of a sketch, adding definition to a space that might otherwise blend into its own background. It’s important to add these defining details to bring muted tones to their full potential. 

Place Artwork at Eye Level

The real eye-catching element of this look is the contemporary artwork that lines the walls, most notably the Dayo Range and the Edan paintings. It can be slightly intimidating trying to figure out where exactly to place your prints and pictures, especially if you have particularly high ceilings. One trick to stick to, is to place your artwork at eye level. This will ensure, for one thing, that it’s visible and captures attention, and for another, that your space will retain a cosy and contained ambience despite its lofty – or otherwise – backdrop. You also needn’t be too precious about frames hanging in an accurate line; it can add character and appear more curated if one is positioned slightly higher than the other.

Choose Angular Shapes and Graphic Prints

When it comes to furniture, make considered choices and don’t overcrowd the space to keep it feeling airy and light. This look uses lots of geometric shapes, from the travertine Birling Side Table with its hexagonal top to the Kaishu Dining Table with its statement legs. These shapes are enhanced by the stripes of the Symbology Rug, the Java Lidded Pot and the Bridget Lampshades. Don’t be afraid of bolder, more unusual prints such as on the linen upholstery of our Nomeko Armchair, or the various abstract patterns of the cushions that line the sofas. Even the ceramics have been touched with the same brush, our Georgia Planter displaying a bold, diagonal paint stroke that blends it in with the rest of the design. The curated colour scheme means that these patterns do not result in the space looking too busy.

Add In Soft Textures

A rug can make a world of a difference to a room with hard flooring, and it doesn’t get more solid than the concrete of this farmhouse. Our tufted Sufian Rug adds heaps of extra texture, while the striped Symbology Rug adds graphic interest and a central zone around which to position furniture. Cushions and throws are an easy way to add softness and pattern, while velvet-upholstered wooden chairs bring comfort. The tabletop may be a departure from the obvious place to bring in softness, but choosing feathery fronds for your floral bouquets and adding napkins to plates is another way to do this.

Treat Your Outdoor Space as an Extension of Your Home

Rugs aren’t just for indoors ­– our weather-resistant floor coverings work just as well outside and they’re great for creating zones. Our striped Collina Rug here offers the perfect al fresco place to kick off your shoes without the fear of dirty feet. If you’re not blessed with a soft, grassy lawn, you can also look to potted plants for a flourishing feathery touch. Mixing hard and soft is a good tactic for outdoor spaces, as with our concrete Pierre Coffee Table set in front of our weather-resistant cushion-clad Swanmore Range of sofas and armchairs. Make sure you’ve thought about ambient light sources too, so that you can stay in the space you’ve curated on warm evenings and chat away long beyond sunset.