Kokova Magazine

When it comes to New Year resolutions, I don't make many but for 2026 I decided to be a bit more bold, especially in the bedroom, and my bedroom walls are now a beautiful, deep grape red paint.

The recent colour-drenching trend seems to be continuing into 2026, giving a cocooning effect when used across a whole room. That includes ceiling, walls, skirting, and floor, with contrasting furniture and accessories to create balance. If the idea of solid colour from top to bottom isn't for you then you can easily swap out the ceiling for a lighter colour match, and go lighter on the floor.

With home colour moving away from stark greys, home decor for 2026 strides towards a mix of warm comfort and subtle 'drama' in personal spaces. The trend is leading us to the beautiful and bold, with deep greens and dusky pinks creating natural calming lived-in spaces.

For my mini bedroom makeover, opting for a deep colour in a small room was a gamble yet I still chose Crown's 'Grape Escape' in matt for my walls and doors, colour-drenching the skirting to the floor. I mixed a small amount of Grape Escape into white paint, creating a subtle pink mix for the ceiling. Set against the deep grape walls, this created balance and complemented the new dusky pink carpet.

"Bold grape-red and deep wine-toned walls create an atmosphere of luxury, warmth, and drama, acting as a sophisticated alternative to bright primary reds. These colors blend red, brown, and purple, making them ideal for cozy spaces like lounges, dining rooms, and bedrooms." Crown - Grape Escape

I love a challenge but painting such a dark colour over light grey certainly meant it needed a few coats, but the coverage worked really well and I only needed two pots - which was lucky as this colour sold out completely in my local area.

The final result is a cosy room, with less light reflecting from the matt finish. Black-out curtains prevent the lights outside from illuminating the room, and my sleep quality has improved. My stress levels have also reduced, especially as the make-over remained under my challenging budget of £200.

A local carpet warehouse had an off-cut luxury twist remnant that fitted beautifully over my existing underlay. I bargained heavily for the carpet which worked perfectly with the dark walls and lighter ceiling. I re-used my old furniture, covering it with black vinyl for a more modern effect.

By completing the painting myself and having a brother who fits carpets, aside from the time it took, cost saving was at a premium. So be bold when it comes to choosing colour for your walls this year - you might just like it.