Our first wallpaper in the Colour Notes series is Climbing Curios, from our collaboration with the ever-so-lovely Fee Greening. It displays vines of pearls containing a treasure trove of magical motifs - reminding us of our connection to the natural world. We instantly recalled Botticelli's iconic painting, The Birth of Venus (likely mid-1480s), with its mythological depiction of Venus in her giant scallop shell, and the wind god Zephyr blowing on the breeze. The colours in this painting are rich jewel-tones, both natural and luxurious... just like Fee's design.

THE GREENS

Celadon is a coined European name used to describe the glaze of porcelains which originated from China. The glaze on the porcelain resembles jade which was once exclusive to aristocrats hence has meanings with wealth, success and immortality. Pairing Celadon by Edward Bulmer with Climbing Curios allows the calming nature of Fee's artwork to be accentuated. With its soft undertone of grey and blue it is muted and understated and combines the tranquility of blue with green's sense of growth.

Verdigris by Edward Bulmer is a darker option than Celadon. Whilst Celadon harmonises with the soothing nature of the design, Verdigris has greater contrast and allows the motifs of Climbing Curios to stand out. Verdigris was a one of the more expensive colours to come by in the 18th century and was twice as costly as the more common colours that were cheaper to produce. Rich and elegant, the shade complements the wavy stripes and stimulates feelings of balance, rest and growth.

THE PINKS

Nowadays, the colour pink is strongly associated with girls. It was not, funnily enough, always the way. The relationship only dates from the mid 20th century. In the 19th century, it was the boys that often wore pink, as the colour was considered a stronger and more decided colour (as soldiers and cardinals often wore red) and boys were deemed to be mini versions of men. Blue was the hue of the Virgin Mary and was seen as delicate and dainty and hence associated with girls. In the context of Climbing Curios, Rose Matta by The Hackney Draper works well with the pink hues of the shells. You can make up your own mind about their gender!

THE WHITES

White is abstract. For many it is seen as positive or having a transcendental quality helped by its association with divinity, the Holy Spirit and the white dove. For others it is seen as elusive and alarming. In Herman Melville's Moby Dick there is a chapter titled, 'The Whiteness of the Whale' devoted to the terrifying nature of the colour. Here, white is more about absence of colour, something suggesting voids, nothingness and emptiness. Historically, white has also been associated with money and power where fabrics such as wool and cotton had to be heavily processed to appear white. Only the wealthy could afford to keep their garments in such immaculate form. With a name befitting the theme of the design this Pearl Colour by Edward Bulmer is an off-white, so hopefully not so scary! It allows the design to radiate and shine, just like a pearl.

We hope this helps with some colour inspiration. We’d love to see how you bring our wallpapers to life in your homes. Tag us on Instagram @commonroom.co, using the #mycommonroom or get in touch with images via email to info@commonroom.co.