Choosing Paint Colours For Your Home
Choosing paint colours for your home can be tricky and is one of the main things my clients struggle with . Faced with so many choices, I understand their frustration. It’s all very well looking at colours on Pinterest, Instagram and in magazines but is it really you?
Does it fit in with your home, style and how you live? Sometimes clients even try the same colour a friend or family member has used only to find out it doesn’t quite look the same in their own home.
I’ve put together a few helpful tips to steer you in the right direction and feel a little bit more in control.
First of all, don’t feel intimidated with current trends. I know the new neutral was grey ( and that’s a whole other topic) forget trends and get comfortable with col0urs you are drawn to. This can be evident in the colour choice of clothes you wear (check out your wardrobe for inspiration, unless you are like me and almost everything is black, I am drawn to blues however), or your favourite flowers could be another indication of the colours you like.
I have clients who love sunflowers and autumnal burnt oranges and browns and they are naturally drawn to the warmer colour palette, you may be more into cooler tones like blues and greens, generally we fall into two categories warm or cool tones.
By choosing a colour you like, even love, means you won’t tire of it easily, therefore more longevity.
Colour Trends
Like I said, colour trends should be used with caution. Dark blues were having a moment and now every colour of green is saturating the market from kitchens to bathrooms. New kitchens and bathroom vanity units are generally big ticket items and unless you absolutely love these trends and have no problem ripping out kitchens and bathrooms or repainting them in 5 years time, they will look dated.
Explore Colour In Your Home
If you aren’t ready for full on colour but would like to explore, take baby steps. Try colour out in the downstairs cloaks area, bathrooms and dressing rooms and let your creativity flow. You could even go with a bold and colourful wallpaper, this will let you see if you really do like this colour and can live with it perhaps on a larger scale.
Make A Decision On Colour
Now that you know which colours you like, say purple for example (but hold on, “I’m not painting my entire room in that colour!” I hear you say) maybe not but you may like a version of it, say a deep red purple like Farrow & Ball Brinjal or Pelt. I have used both of these colours on occasions on all walls and although pushed out of their comfort zone (sure isn’t that when all the best results occur) clients have absolutely loved the colour!
TIP Choose your sample colour, paint two coats on to wallpaper lining or card 2ft x 2ft and place all around the room, observe morning, noon and night BEFORE making your final decision. Don’t be tempted to skip this stage it will be worth it in the end.
Make Notes
The next step is important, so make some notes and take time to really think about the space you are decorating.
How do you use the room?
This gives you an idea on the overall look you want to achieve, cosy and intimate or bright and airy. Taking time to think of the function of the room will help in your decision, maybe you work in this room or the kids use it for homework.
Is it north or south facing? Take into consideration what direction the room is facing will let you know how the light will affect the colour.
How do you want this room to feel?
Rich dark colours would look perfect in a north facing cosy living room which is only used in the evenings while curled up watching t.v. or perhaps a bedroom. Dark and dramatic colours work fantastically well in bedrooms and feel instantly relaxing as the colour envelops you and helps unwind the day.
Perhaps you want the room to feel light and airy without it looking cold and boring, something that brings a sense of calm and peace to your day.
Flooring & Furniture Affect Colour
Maybe you love colour but aren’t sure how to incorporate this in with existing furniture and furnishings.
When choosing colour you need to think of the flooring and furniture as colour too. If you have oak flooring, doors, skirting and furniture that’s a lot of colour in itself and knowing which colour sits right with oak can either make or break a colour scheme. I find blues and greens work beautifully with oak.
Still Feel Unsure on Choosing Colour?
Neutrals may be your happy place, safe, reliable and calming. Neutral doesn’t mean boring, there are lots of ways to create a beautiful neutral scheme, see my ‘Done For You Perfect Neutrals’ to get you started and use colour sparingly in accessories, cushions and artwork. This means you can easily change them if you get bored or decide that purple is not your favourite colour after all ;)
