Creating a colour scheme for your home
We all naturally gravitate towards a colour grouping that we feel comfortable with. Try thinking about other sources for inspiration, and consider your interests and influences as a starting point.
Colour should be used purposefully, whether to enhance, blend or compliment. Focusing on the space and its intended use helps you begin your research.
Useful tools - An interior designer’s colour wheel is a helpful tool to use as there are easy patterns to follow that can help how you pick your colour palette. Download our guide to popular colour pairings here.
Tried and tested colour tips to help you choose colours.
A monochromatic scheme - Using one colour in varying shades and tones by adding other white or black to lighten or darken.
A blended colour scheme - consists of colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel, similar shades that can work well together. This palette forms a harmonious scheme and is easy to follow.
A complementary colour scheme - When you choose two colours directly opposite each other on the wheel. A common choice is red and green; it creates a strong contrast but also sits well together.
A triadic colour scheme - Using three colours evenly spaced around the colour wheel. These schemes offer contrast but can also be used to create one dominant colour with the other two as accents. By adding shade and tones, you can calm or increase the contrast.
Tones, hues and shades - This is when you add a lighter or darker colour to create shades of one colour.
Cold and warm colours - Look at the colour wheel and draw a line between the blues and greens, colder colours, reds and yellows, and warmer colours.
Bright and bold colours—You can use a bold colour as a background for a piece of furniture, making it stand out. Dark grey or Peacock blue are fabulous for a backdrop to make the colour pop. Some other good combinations are Dark Grey- yellow, Navy-yellow, Dark grey—red, Peacock blue—red, and Teal - yellow.
Trends—Look at colour trends for inspiration; try Dulux Colour of the Year and Pantone for guidance. All interior magazines, like Living Etc and Elle Decoration, will have current interior colour trend features. Remember, these should be used as a guide; the lighting of a room can change colour dramatically.
Paint samples - are a great way to try a colour in the space. Buy a roll of lining paper to paint the samples on, tape it to your walls and watch the colours change during the day. This is a good way to get the tone you like.
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Paint colours - Keep your colours to a group of 3-4. You can use these colours as a reference throughout your project. Have them with you when choosing other items for the room, whether in patterns, textures, sofas, paintings or furniture.
You can form your colour scheme with your chosen design scheme in mind. Have fun creating your colour story.
