Give the feature wall one hard decision, and let everything else relax. This is Van Gogh’s postman, all soft turquoise behind him and a deep blue uniform in front a face that holds a room without shouting.

Once it’s up, the wall stops being a wall and starts being a presence. The turquoise softens the air, the dark coat anchors the bottom, and the warm beard pulls the eye to the middle. Quiet rooms get a centre. Busy rooms get a moment of pause.

It suits a study, a hallway, or the calmer end of a living room. Hang it at eye level above a low console, sideboard or reading chair, with a bit of breathing room around it.

Pair with oak or walnut timber, linen or worn leather, brass fittings and stoneware in earthy browns. Chalky off-white or warm cream walls let the turquoise sing.

Don’t crowd it with other strong portraits or busy florals give this one the wall to itself. Stretched on a wooden frame and ready to hang, with the br