There’s a reason the gradient has such an oddly satisfying allure, and not just because it removes the element of decision. If you’ve ever gazed at a wall of paint swatches for longer than strictly necessary, it’s because a group of tonal shades strikes a chord within us.

“While statement, standout colours are powerful in their own right, there’s something about the harmony of coordinated tones,” explains Ruth Mottershead, marketing director at luxury paint showroom Little Greene. “Harmony is soothing to the soul, and an array of harmonious shades resonates with our senses and reminds us of the same palettes we see in nature.” That explains our universal love for colour coordinated bookshelves, too.

How to master gradient nails, autumn’s ultimate nail trend