Putting together a colour palette for a client is a lovely part of my job as an interior designer, but there is one aspect which sometimes makes me sad…
Some clients want our help because they are concerned that they will ‘get it wrong’ on their own. We do of course steer people away from unintended consequences of their colour choices, but I hate the idea of people holding back from what they really want in their homes for fear of breaking some unwritten ‘rules’.
If there’s anything we can learn from 2 years without visitors during lock-downs, it’s that the only real decorating rule is to do what makes you happy.
Happy place? We love bright colour in a cloakroom…
This shade of pink is so welcoming!
Our tips on choosing a colour palette
Start with what you like
If there is a colour that you really like, and seeing it makes you happy, find a way to get that into your home. Start with that colour and build on it.
You could choose something you already have, and love, (e.g. an artwork, or a piece of furniture) and use that as your anchor.
If you aren’t sure, leaf through a magazine (interior, or art or fashion – anything with lots of colour and texture) and flag pages that appeal to you. See what common themes emerge! This is better done offline as online algorithms can limit your inspiration.
It’s also important to notice what you don’t like!
There is a whole part of the industry given over to generating and predicting ‘trends’ including Colour of the Year. These can be fun ways to get inspiration – but it’s really ok not to get on board with a trend if you don’t love it.
Existing artwork can inspire your colour scheme
Think about how you want to feel
If you have a few colours in mind, and can’t decide which to use in which room, think about how you want to feel in those spaces. For example, you might want your kitchen to feel lively, your bedroom to be soothing, and to feel calm & focussed in your home office.
Then consider which colours make you feel that way. Ideas from Colour psychology may help, but remember that some of our associations with colour will be cultural, and some will be deeply personal. For example, based on the principles of Biophilic design, we will often consider soft green colours for office spaces – but if you don’t like green then it is highly unlikely to be calming or to stimulate creativity.
Pink details in a warm & welcoming living room
Only use the ‘rules’ that feel useful
Concepts such as 60/30/10 and colour wheel schemes can be useful if you’ve chosen one colour and want ideas about how to build that into a scheme – but don’t stick to them if they are steering you away from what you like.
For example, there’s a ‘rule’ that painting a room a colour will make it feel smaller, especially dark colours. Here’s why you can ignore that;
It isn’t universally true. Dark colours can add depth and blur boundaries in a way that increases the sense of space.
If a room is big, it can probably take feeling smaller. If a room is small, colour isn’t the thing that will make it feel bigger. Furniture selection and placement is much more important.
What’s the point of a room that feels big but doesn’t make you happy?
Bear in mind that some colour rules originate from fashion, or graphic design, rather than interiors.
Wallpaper is another great way to play with colour
Use the resources on the paint company websites.
We tend to use low or no VOC paint ranges (see more here). While this is driven by health and environmental considerations it has the additional benefit that these ranges are usually limited/ curated: sometimes less choice is good! For example, most of the Farrow & Ball colours will work together in a colour scheme.
These brands often feature colour schemes on their website, and recommendations for neutral or complementary shades to pair with your colours of choice.
This is particularly helpful if you are aiming for an overall light/ neutral scheme. Counterintuitively, this can be harder to get right than a bold scheme. For example – take green and pink;
Bright, saturated versions of these colours are quite ‘clashy’ and invigorating. You’ll know if you love this look or hate it!
Slightly dusty versions are soothing and complementary.
If you’re choosing neutrals (greys or beiges) these have an underlying colour. A green-grey and a pink-grey might subtly & unpleasantly clash in a way that is much harder to spot than with the bright versions at the sample stage.
If you choose your ‘main’ neutral, the resources on e.g. Farrow & Ball will help you to choose the complementary ones to work with it.
A neutral scheme can actually be trickier to do well than bright colours
Be brave…
When it comes to paint, we recommend being brave. If you’ve chosen a colour you really like and think it could look lovely but you aren’t sure, go for it! Re-painting a wall is one of the easier changes to make in a home.
When it comes to long-lasting finishes (kitchen cabinets, wooden flooring & tiles) and furniture, it is best to aim for something timeless – but wall paintwork will need refreshing every few years anyway so it’s a great chance to play.
For inspiration, look at Instagram hashtags like colourifiedhome, Our blogs on colour palettes, and finished projects.
A rich blue feature wall beautifully contrasts with the light wood floor
…but do test before you commit.
Always test colours on your own walls before you decide. The light in your home will have a big impact on how the colour actually looks (and therefore whether you like it!)
Of course, there’s more to designing a great interior than the colour palette – and we’re here to help with all of it.