Choosing colours for your home

COLOUR IS perhaps the single design element which has the most impact on how a space looks, as well as how it makes you feel. Choosing the right colours for your home is serious business, and there are different avenues for arriving at what are the best colours for your rooms.

Each year, the colour industry decides on ‘colours of the year’, and while these are recommendations, they will have new ones next year. Since it is not likely that you will be making major changes every year, it is best that you choose colours for your home which truly appeal to you.

Taking a look at colours which are well represented in your closet can be a good starting point in choosing colours for your home which will make you happy. Tints and tones of these can be translated to your walls and other elements in your rooms. Using the colour wheel (which you can easily find on the Internet) can be very helpful in creating a colour palette which works well for you.

Contrast, drama

Colours which are adjacent to each other on the wheel will relate well, allowing for easy transition between shades. While colours on opposite sides of the wheel will add some contrast, along with a bit of drama.

Shades of the same colour (monochromatic) ‘expand’ the room and can be very relaxing. Whatever you choose, it is best to limit the colours to three. Make one colour dominant, another secondary, and the third, in limited amounts, will be the accent. Using the more muted shades of brighter colours is usually easier on the eyes.

Consider the size of each room and how it will be used. Smaller rooms usually appear larger with lighter colours; but darker, dreamy colours can add coziness to any room. Bold colours will add some fun to a family room, while softer shades will help to make a bedroom calmer, more relaxing, and even more romantic.

Neutrals (such as greys, off-whites, browns), when used carefully, can result in very calming spaces. The decor can lay flat, however, if they are not properly combined. A subtle combination of shades will help to combat this. Adding a stronger colour in limited amounts can also bring a bit of excitement to a neutral space. This could even be in some accessory items.

Textures add life to every room but are particularly important in a room with neutrals. So, include rugs, throws, cushions, art pieces, etc, with varied textures to bring that life to the decor. The same applies to all-white rooms. Here, the inclusion of wood tones is especially beautiful.

Inspiration for developing a colour scheme for a room can come from anything – the colours in a piece of art, a rug, drapery fabric or just a fabric swatch. Pick colours from any of these for walls, upholstery, accessories, etc. Keep in mind that all colours should not be given equal importance in the room. The amount of light a room gets will also have to be considered when choosing colours. This is especially important for wall choices.

Colours, when carefully combined, will result in comfortable spaces. Choose colours which you love and which will make you happy.

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