Choosing colours that make every room feel right often feels easy until you’re faced with dozens of nearly identical shades at the store. In reality, finding the best colour isn’t about following the latest trend or choosing your favourite shade. It comes down to how the room is used, how much light it receives, and how the paint works with the furniture and finishes already in the space.

Begin With the Room You Have

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A helpful recommendation from Sherwin-Williams is to let your existing décor guide your colour choice. Instead of selecting paint first, look at items you already love, such as artwork, an area rug, or your cabinetry, and build your palette around them. Permanent features like flooring, tiles, brick fireplaces, or wooden cabinets should also influence your decision because their undertones cannot easily be changed, and paint that clashes with them can make the room feel unbalanced.The purpose of the room is another important factor. Areas where people gather, such as kitchens and dining rooms, often feel more welcoming with warm colours from the red or yellow family. On the other hand, spaces designed for rest, including bedrooms and reading corners, usually benefit from cooler, calmer shades that create a relaxing atmosphere.

Pay Attention to Natural and Artificial Light

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Lighting has a major impact on how colour appears. A colour that looks perfect in one room may seem completely different in another because of the amount and direction of natural light. Rooms that receive plenty of sunlight, particularly those facing south or west, generally pair well with cooler colours since the warm sunlight balances them. Rooms with limited daylight often look better with warmer shades that prevent the space from feeling dull or chilly, an approach also recommended in Benjamin Moore‘s guidance for living room colours.Before making a final decision, test your chosen paint on the wall and observe it at different times of the day. A colour that looks ideal in bright daylight may appear noticeably different under evening lighting, which is why many designers suggest living with a sample for several days instead of relying on a small paint chip viewed in a store.

Think About Room Size and Undertones

Colours can influence how large or small a room appears. Light shades reflect more light and are often used to create a brighter, more open feel, while darker colours can add warmth and intimacy, particularly in larger spaces. The ceiling colour also affects perception. A lighter ceiling gives the impression of extra height, whereas a darker ceiling makes the room feel lower and more enclosed.

Undertones deserve close attention as well. Grey paints with blue or purple undertones create a cooler, more contemporary look, while greys with beige or brown undertones, commonly known as greige, provide a softer and warmer appearance. Since undertones change depending on lighting conditions, comparing paint samples against your flooring, furniture, and trim is a smart way to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Create a Smooth Transition Between Spaces

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In homes with open floor plans, it’s often better to think about the overall colour scheme instead of choosing each room in isolation. Using colours from the same family or different shades within a coordinated palette helps connected spaces feel unified. Repeating a neutral colour on trim or doors throughout the home is another simple way to create consistency without making every room identical.

There isn’t one perfect colour for every room, but there is a reliable way to choose one. Start by considering the features and furnishings already in the space, pay close attention to how lighting changes throughout the day, and think about the room’s purpose before selecting a colour. Following these steps makes it much more likely that your final choice will look cohesive, practical, and thoughtfully planned.

Before you reach for protein powders, shakes, or supplements, remember that your best and most delicious protein sources are still found on your plate. Protein is naturally found in many everyday foods, which means you can easily remix your go-to meals into more protein-rich versions without losing any of the flavor you love. With a few simple tweaks, your usual breakfasts, lunches, and dinners can quietly turn into satisfying, protein-rich dishes that help you hit your goals and actually enjoy the process.

Choose Lean Meats

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Adding lean animal proteins to your diet is one of the easiest ways to increase your protein intake. For a satisfying protein boost, nutritionist Shapiro suggests adding chicken, turkey, or lean beef to wraps, quesadillas, toast and grain bowls.

Include Cottage Cheese

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Nutritionist Colleen recommends a convenient and versatile source of protein. Why? It has a protein of roughly 12 grams and is suitable for use in savory recipes such as pasta, rice, and vegetable dishes.

 Use Greek Yogurt

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Greek yogurt is another source of protein. A serving of seven ounces yields approximately 19 grams of protein, as stated by Colleen. With its rich texture, it’s easy to incorporate into homemade sauces, salad dressings and breakfast favourites such as overnight oats.

Sprinkle on Edamame and Seeds

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Those following a plant-based diet have plenty of protein-rich options. Nutritionist Colleen recommends edamame, nutritional yeast, and seeds such as pumpkin, sunflower, and hemp as easy ways to increase the protein content of meals. Sprinkle them over salads and grain bowls, or enjoy them on their own as a quick snack.

The world’s most opulent beach destinations are being transformed into summer retreats as luxury fashion houses reignite the trend. Six luxury beach clubs are offering guests designer loungers branded unbrellas and exclusive pop- up boutiques.

Dior at Il Riccio, Capri, Italy

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Dioriviera has returned to Il Riccio at Jumeirah Capri Palace for another summer season, just like previous years. This year’s concept for Dioriviera, created by creative director Jonathan Anderson, combines bold nautical stripes with illustrations of sailing boats inspired by artist Christian Bérard, longtime friend and collaborator of Christian Dior. The refurbished design extends to the parasols and beach chairs, while an on-site shop offers a range of seasonal products such as sunscreen, swimwear, sandals and sailor tops

Burberry at Hôtel Belle Rives, Antibes, France

Photo: Burberry

Burberry has taken over Hôtel Belle Rives, a historic seaside property on Cap d’Antibes, with a designer makeover running through late September. The house’s signature check has been reimagined in an exclusive blue colourway, dressing sun loungers along the private jetty and even the hotel’s original 1920s elevator. The hotel, once the private residence where F. Scott Fitzgerald began writing Tender Is the Night, hosts sunset sessions in its Fitzgerald Bar alongside the takeover.

DRIFT Beach Dubai × Missoni, Dubai

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Missoni’s first Resort Club in Dubai has opened at DRIFT Beach, part of the One&Only Royal Mirage. The collaboration has dressed the beach club’s daybeds, parasols, and cabanas in the brand’s signature zigzag motifs in shade of deep blue and turquoise. It follows earlier Missoni Resort Club openings in the Maldives and Sicily, and coincided with the debut of DRIFT’s new outdoor lounge, Drift Sea Lounge.

Gucci at La Rose des Vents, Monte-Carlo, Monaco

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The summer season will see Gucci transforming La Rose des Vents in Monaco’s Larvotto district, with the takeover scheduled to last until October.Marking 60 years since the Creation of Gucci’s Flora motif installation pays tribute to one of Gucci’s most iconic designs,the floral motif designed by artist Vittorio Accornero at Rodolfo Gucci’s request as a gift for princess Grace of Monaco. Sunbeds, cushions, and parasols on the private beach are now decorated with the iconic floral motif from past collection, while Gucci-branded towels and restaurant linens complete the look. The fashion house held a special launch event at the beach club on June 6 to showcase their new red-toned ready-to-wear collection, which can only be purchased from Gucci’s Monte Carlo boutique and online

Dolce & Gabbana × Ounass, Cloud 22, Atlantis The Royal, Dubai

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Atlantis The Royal’s cloud-covered rooftop pool on the 22nd floor has been transformed into a colorful Dolce & Gabbana design, and is now open for business. Inspired by traditional Sicilian folk art, the brand’s Carretto Siciliano print now adorns loungers, umbrella stands and even beach balls throughout the venue. The hotel’s ground floor has a pop-up boutique and guests can access ten dishes from the Dolce & Gabbana-designed menu. From Wednesday to Saturday, there are Moonlight packages Sessions available at a starting price of AED 250 per person for day passes.

Missoni at OKU Ibiza, Sant Antoni de Portmany, Spain

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Missoni has transformed the main pool at OKU Ibiza into its first Resort Club in Ibiza, dressing the space in shades of deep blue, turquoise and emerald green, similar to its Dubai location. Missoni’s seasonal pop-up at the IBI Gallery in Playa d’en Bossa will accompany the opening, offering ready-to-wear collections and products from Missoni Home.