‘Too safe,’ said nobody standing in front of soft pink and lilac. A loose, painterly still life yellow mimosa, a green vase, a lilac table and a blue checked floor done with the cheerful confidence of a Matisse-inspired interior.

In a quiet room, it turns up the volume without shouting. The yellow flowers do the talking; the pink wall keeps everything warm; the lilac and green hold the centre. You stop worrying about matching and start enjoying the room.

It likes a kitchen, a dining nook or a sunny bedroom. Hang it on a chalky off-white or soft pink wall, above a sideboard, console or small dining table.

Pair with pale oak, painted chairs, linen seat pads, stoneware in cream or green, and a few real plants. A glass jug of yellow flowers on the table closes the loop nicely.

The canvas softens the brushwork and pushes the colour even further into the room.