The OWO living room Vargas view | Angel O'Donnell | Interior Design London

The OWO living room Vargas view | Branded Residences | Interior Design London

The OWO Water Colour Closet | Angel O'Donnell | Interior Design London

The OWO Water Colour Closet | Angel O'Donnell | Interior Design London

Creating drama
in the home

Wallpaper allows you to go wild with pattern and colour, especially in small spaces

Small spaces – like a guest WC, landing or mezzanine – contain the element of surprise, a key component of any drama. Few people expect a downstairs cloakroom to make a statement. But if this space is covered in intricately patterned wallpaper or acid-bright tiles, it’s going to thrill anyone who sees it. The trick is to invest in a paper or tile you love – because when it ceases to surprise, it should continue to delight.

Or maybe a little Bridgerton-inspired opulence is more to your liking. Heavy, decorative curtains, pillowy cushions and shimmers of silver and gold will create whimsical touches of Regency splendour.

If you don’t want to commit so thoroughly, artwork is one of the simplest and most effective ways of adding a punch of drama to a room. Go big and splashy. Think large, explosive brushstrokes. Or a bold graphic print. Or a wall sculpture – something 3D and protuberant. Art can add drama and, depending on where it’s positioned, a much-needed focal point, too.

Whatever flames your flamboyance, you’ll find lots of dramatic inspiration in October’s The London Magazine.