Working with Colour

Where to Start When Choosing Colours

There are so many different colours, and for many people the idea of selecting colours for their home can be totally overwhelming.  Colour is the most influential element in a space.  Get it right, and you can create the perfect feel or mood. You can create a space that works on its own, and visually relates to all the other spaces in your home.  Get it wrong and you can end up with a space that feels chaotic and overpowering – or just plain bland.

I believe the best place to start with colour is the floor.  Today most homes use the same type of flooring such as carpet through the entire home.  This makes sense.  It links the spaces visually creating a sense of harmony.  Flooring is a major expense so it is critical you choose correctly.  Select a colour that works for the south side of the house as well as the north side.  Choose a colour that works for the larger open plan rooms, and the smaller rooms in your home.  Pick a colour that suits your lifestyle.  Flooring forms the foundation for the space allowing you to layer other colours around it. Now you can begin the exciting part of adding colours to the rest of space....walls, furniture, soft furnishings, artwork and accessories.

Picking a Colour Palette

Most people will have heard of the colour wheel.  The colour wheel is based around the idea that we can start off with the three primary colours; red, yellow and blue, and from there by mixing these colours we can create all the colours on the colour wheel. On one side of the wheel we have the warmer hues-red, orange and yellow and the other side we have the cooler hues of green, blue and violet.  When choosing a combination of colours for a space, the position of these colours on the colour wheel can can dramatically change the effect on the space.

There are many rules and guidelines around how to combine colours using the colour wheel.  Knowing when to stick to the rules and when to break them can be a tricky business.   As I see it, nature seems to have got it right, so why not take a leaf from its book. Have a look around you and see what colours seem to work.  Sometimes this can give you a whole new perspective on colour.

Key questions to answer before pulling out your paint brush or roll of wall paper:

• Will this colour work in this space?

• Does this colour combination work together?

• How does this colour make me feel and does it match the feel that I want in this space?

Choosing the right colour really depends on the person.  Different colours make people feel different things, so choosing a colour scheme to suit an entire family can be a difficult task.  If you need help finding the right colour scheme to suit both your family and your home, contact me today.