Colour is a very important element in our lives. It can affect our mood substantially, so getting the colours right in your rooms could mean the difference between a happy home and just a place where you live.

Where to Start

It’s always good to start with a blank canvas, as any existing colour can influence your choices. If you are redecorating a room, remove pictures from the walls, take out non-essential furniture, and put a coat of white paint on the walls – if you are changing the colour of the walls, this coat of white emulsion will help anyway.

You need to consider existing furniture when choosing a colour scheme, but don’t let it be the be-all and end-all. There’s no point in putting up with bright green walls because you thought it would match the sofa! It’s a good idea to pick a piece of furniture or a picture for your starting point though. If you have a lot of dark wood in the room you will need to choose colours that complement it. If a large painting takes pride of place on the wall, you must make sure it doesn’t fade into the background. If the room is carpeted or has a large rug that you are planning to keep, this is a very good starting point as it has a big visual impact.

Look at a colour wheel and pick a starting colour that you like, and that matches with any existing furnishing. Then decide if you want to create a colour scheme that is tonal, harmonious or complementary.

Tonal schemes

Toning is using one colour, with varying degrees of light tints and dark shades. Paint colour charts are very helpful in choosing tonal colours, as they often show a range of tones for each colour. If you are using a tonal scheme, you can help it to feel less boring by adding patterns and textures.

Harmonious schemes

Harmonious colours are those that are next to one another on the colour wheel. Secondary colours with the tertiary colours on either side work best in harmonious schemes.

Complementary schemes

Complementary colours are the exact opposite of each other on the colour wheel. You need to be quite brave to use complementary colours, as you will likely end up with more bold colour in the room than you would with tonal or harmonious schemes, but done correctly a complementary scheme can create a striking room. Use more of one colour than the other, otherwise they will fight for attention and cause an assault on your eyes. If you have a blue sofa for example, a warm yellow colour will look good on the walls.

Choosing colour for mood

We all know that red is a colour associated with danger and passion. You can use colours in your home to change the atmosphere and ensure each room has a feeling that is right for its use. For example, if you have a room that is cold and dark, adding warm oranges and yellows will make it feel both brighter and warmer. Certain colours go better with certain rooms too – red is a great colour to use in a dining room, but very bad for a nursery. Here is a quick guide to colour usage, but use your own intuition to get a feel for what colours are right in your home.

Warm colours

Reds, oranges and yellows are all warm colours, and they are also advancing colours so be careful if you are using these in a small room as they can make it feel more enclosed. Red is good for a dining room because it is a lively, stimulating colour. Orange is a warm and reassuring colour, good for living and dining rooms. Yellow is a colour of sunshine and energy, good for kitchens rooms with little natural light.

Cool colours

Greens, blues and violets are cool colours which are receding, so can help to make a room feel more spacious. Green is a colour with associated with both energy and a feeling of calm, depending on the shade. Good for living rooms and hallways. Blues are very calming and soothing but can look too cold if you’re not careful. Warm tones of blue will work well in a bedroom, study or bathroom. Lilacs and violets have a spiritual, creative feeling, but can look grey if you aren’t careful.

Deciding on the Right Colour

If you aren’t sure about whether colours go, buy a couple of match-pots, paint a large section of each colour on a matt white surface (use a separate piece of thick paper or card for each colour),  and position them around the room. Look at them in both daylight and artificial light, and try moving them around the room.

There are always certain colours in vogue as paint manufacturers follow fashions and release special ranges, but don’t be tricked into painting your living room bright pink simply because it’s fashionable. On the other hand, don’t let your life be muted by a range of beiges – if you need to use neutral colours, add pictures, ornaments, light shades or soft furnishings with colour to give a room character.

 

At myhome mygarden, we work with a number of interior designers throughout the UK and can provide you with a design service tailored to suit your needs. For more details on this, refer to our Interior Design Services section.

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