Put the wow back into your walls with glittering golds

“I’ve read gold is quite a popular at the moment. My living room walls are ready for a refresh, and I’d love to try it out, but how can I make sure it won’t look dated a couple of years?”

Modernising their home is a key decorating trigger for one in five people according to a recent survey from AkzoNobel.

So what better way to brighten up your home, and create a look that’s fresh and current, than by painting your walls with Monarch Gold, one of our most versatile shades or use one of Ambiance special effects in Gold colours for the real gold effect.

Monarch Gold is infused with ochre tones, making it bright enough to stand out, yet versatile enough to combine with other shades for a look that’s bold, yet supremely easy to live with.

Our resident colour expert Marieke van der Bruggen explains how to make gold work for you:

1. Forever fresh

Blue and gold may sound like an unusual combination at first, but with the right tones it can be uplifting and harmonious.

Here, Monarch Gold is teamed with warm neutral stripes and a light blue accent colour. These shades site next to each other on the colour wheel and match together beautifully. Varying the size of the stripes adds a playful feel to this study.

Which paints?

Monarch Gold - Dulux 20YY 36/370
Golden Crown – Dulux 50YY 42/490
Ivory Coast – Dulux 40YY 64/165
Storytime – Dulux 95GG 78/054

2. Go with the glow

Dividing your wall in half horizontally is a great way to allow complementary colours to shine and enhance each other.

The soft, luminous quality of the lilac shade here brings out the ochre tones in Monarch Gold, for a modern look that glows with vitality. These colours work particularly well on a wall that doesn’t benefit from natural light, such as a corridor or hallway.

Which paints?

Monarch Gold - Dulux 20YY 36/370
Golden Crown – Dulux 50YY 42/490
Floral Twist – Dulux 10RR 75/039

3. Warm and welcoming

For a welcoming colour scheme combine gold with a light and smooth shade such as cappuccino.

This earthy combination sits harmoniously together, and works particularly well in entrance halls.

Which paints?

Monarch Gold - Dulux 20YY 36/370
Golden Crown – Dulux 50YY 42/490
Camelcoat – Dulux 20YY 43/200

4. Inspired by nature

Dark, chocolaty browns and warm pinks create a pleasing combination that’s full of warmth and richness when teamed with Monarch Gold.

These gentle shades echo the natural undertones of wood, creating a subtle sense of drama when teamed with black accents, like the kitchen cabinetry in the image above.

Which paints?

Golden Crown – Dulux 50YY 42/490
Hale Village – Dulux 20YY 22/129
Eternal Beige – Dulux 10YY 75/084

5. Keep your cool

If cool, Scandi style is you’re thing, then you can’t go wrong by pairing gold with a cool-but-pretty neutral, like pale pink.

This calming and serene combination is perfect for bedrooms, and be sure to accessorise with pale wood furniture to complete the look.

Which paints?

Monarch Gold - Dulux 20YY 36/370
Golden Crown – Dulux 50YY 42/490
Exotic Grey – Dulux 70RR 73/025

6. Restrained glamour

Celebrate Monarch Gold’s glamorous heritage by pairing with a similar muted shade such as mocha.

Add definition with a thin stripe or accent in bright yellow for a traditional look with a modern twist.

Top tip

Add drama to your Monarch Gold scheme with copper accessories, such as a lampshade, or decorative bowl. The reflective, glimmering surface will lift the muted tones of paint, for a look that’s sophisticated, yet liveable.