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How to Choose the Best Colours for Your Interior In 4 Steps


I often get asked how to choose the perfect colour for a room so I thought I would lay out the steps that I would go through so that you can feel more confident next time you’re decorating.

Which way does your room face?

Knowing which way your room faces will determine what quality of light comes in through the windows, and this will affect the way colour works in the room.

If a room faces south then it will get a warmer light, and for much longer in the day. This allows you to choose any sort of colour as the room will often feel light and warm, however if it gets a lot of sun I’d be wary of too many warm strong shades, like red, as this could just be too much!

If your room faces north, it will usually be a cooler, darker room which will need more consideration. I would usually opt for a warm toned colour, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be a light shade, if you’re trying to create a cosy room then a darker shade can work wonders!

What are your favourite colours?

Its something that kids talk about a lot but as adults we don’t think about it much! However, you will probably find there are colours that naturally appeal to you, or it might be easier to think about which colours you wouldn’t want. I love blues, purples and warm yellows but you could be the complete opposite!

Think about things you already own that you love, it could be anything from your clothes, like a favourite coat or bag, or some favourite art that you own. Another thing you can do is create a Pinterest board, I use Pinterest a lot and have loads of interior images to inspire you. Once you’ve started gathering some images take a step back and see if you can find a common theme.

I suggest you think about this because if you’re going to be investing in new furniture, wallpaper and paint then you’ll want to be looking at a colour that you love!

What's the Key?

This is what I call something that either is not changing or has already been chosen, it’s the fixed item that will dictate the start of the scheme. I recently had a client who wanted me to help them choose their paint colour but they’d already had a new wooden floor put down. That became their key as it was the one thing that was non-negotiable.

Perhaps you still love your curtains or art? Or you can’t stretch to a new sofa? Use these things to help form your design brief, you’ll find it easier to have a fixed point rather than having the choice of the whole market.

Use Colour Theory

Its something that most of us learnt as children, and something I will cover in more detail in another blog, but there are a few reminders that I want to give you today.

Colours opposite each other on the colour wheel will complement each other and give a more vibrant contrast but colours next to each other will produce a more harmonise scheme. Any two colours will generally go together but consider carefully when you start to add more.

Another point to be aware of is whether colours are clean or muted. A muted shade will have had a grey added but a clean colour will be truer to the original hue. A scheme will work more easily if you don’t try and mix these two types of colour.

Oops, One More Step!

I think the most important thing is that you enjoy the process and choose colours that you love! Get some tester pots, Dulux online is very low cost, and always try on a piece of white card that you can move around the room at different times of the day.

Enjoy!

Another point to be aware of is whether colours are clean or muted. A muted shade will have had a grey added but a clean colour will be truer to the original hue. A scheme will work more easily if you don’t try and mix these two types of colour.


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