Is there any facet of interior style more daunting than colour? For many of us, choosing a scheme comes with indecision. Perhaps you love Duck Egg Blue but are nervous about whether you
would like it on all four walls? Will reupholstering your couch in navy velvet sit well with the colour on the walls?
Perhaps your decision is influenced by knowledge of the psychological impact of colour. Deep greens are restful, a reflection of nature, while blue can be tranquil and calm but also cool, literally. Knowing the basics of colour theory is a great place to start when planning the look of your home.
To help ensure your choices are ones you can love for years to come, one of the best starting points is to mirror the interior experts and consult a colour wheel, the classic design tool created by Sir Isaac Newton. This will show you in an instant how your favourite shades sit together.
Put simply, the wheel is made up of primary, secondary and tertiary colours, then split into warmer and cooler hues, along with tints (colours with white added), tones (with grey) and shades (with black). A quick glance will soon determine if your colours of choice are complementary or more likely to clash.
The colour wheel
You can use the colour wheel in several ways but the number-one aspect to know is that opposites on the colour wheel attract. A great starting point is to try and create a colour scheme featuring a trio of colours featuring two shades adjacent to your chosen colour’s complementary one.
3 rules to keep in mind
1. Light and dark
Darker colours can make a room look smaller, cosier and moodier, whereas lighter shades will do the opposite and are ideal in living spaces.
2. Perfect ratio
Another useful trick is to split your use of colour using a 60-30-10 per cent ratio (the boldest needn’t necessarily be the largest percentage, unless it’s a colour you’re passionate about).
3. Power of three
Three is the magic number. If you’re stuck, think monochromatic and try paring back your colour scheme to a trio of shades.
Other aspects to consider
If you’re keeping your existing furniture in the room, use it as a starting point for helping to pick your paint shades.
Once you choose your colours, remember you do not have to be tied to that throughout your home. However, if you love the shades so much that you want that look throughout, opt for variation in
tone and ensure continuity through consistent wall colour, skirting boards and internal doors. Selecting the ideal paint colour might seem overwhelming, so testpots are a must.
Paint sheets of A2 card in your short-listed colour choices. Make sure you leave a white border around them. Attach them to the wall, then stand back and observe them from a distance. Also look at them at different times of the day and night to see how they react to light in the room. Leave them up for a period of time as you may find the colour you initially thought you liked the most changes the more you live with it.
Colour theory combos to consider
Opposites attract
Coastal cohesion
Nature-inspired
