How to choose Interior colour schemes that you'll love

Interior colour choices are highly subjective, which means there's no right or wrong way to select a colour scheme for your space. You don't necessarily have to follow theories of design or the colour wheel to create a successful combination. The most important consideration is finding a colour palette that feels right to you. When planning a room's colour scheme, however, resist the temptation to select the paint colour first. Because paint is inexpensive and can be matched to virtually any colour, it's best to start your colour search with room elements that are less flexible, such as furniture, fabrics, tile or wallpaper. Then base your paint colours on those elements.

Here are some ideas on how to narrow down your color choices.

There are three things you need to think about:

Architecture, Light & Style

Size and Shape

Colour can appear to visually alter the proportions of a room, changing it's size and shape. Lighter colours are often best suited to big room because they maximize the space and won't feel overpowering. In contrast, darker tones will enhance small areas and make the feel more intimate.

Detail It is important to familiarize yourself with all the architectural features of your room and its peculiarities before starting to paint. Small tonal changes usually enhance architectural features, and quieter palettes will make the most of small spaces - the more contrast there are, the less relaxed and small a room feels. Or perhaps you would want to paint every element in the room the same. Rooms in one colour, no matter how rich, are restful and tend to draw the eye away from mundane features such as picture rails, chair rails and architraves.

Light Whether the room you are decorating benefits from bright southern sunshine or indirect northern light (depending on where you are based), the most important thing is to monitor how its appearance changes throughout the day. You will then better understand the effect that light and shade have on colour.

Without light there is no colour. Colour changes through the course of the day, which makes them feel alive and exciting. In the morning the light is bluer, at midday it is fairly neutral, while evening light is somewhat warmer. It is always tempting to use light colours in small, dark spaces, but this generally results in a dull, visually unappetizing room. Although a strong colour in such a space might seem counterintuitive, the results can be wonderfully theatrical and much more exciting than any attempt made to create light by painting a room white.

Interconnecting rooms can benefit from a subtle, tone-on-tone approach and using colours that have equal strength is particularly harmonious. However, an entrance hall, especially one with little or no natural light, that is painted a dark colour exudes glamour at the point of arrival and means that every room leading off it feels bigger and brighter. Conversely, large, light rooms are best suited to lighter tones of paint, which then lead to glimpses of intriguing darker colour in smaller adjacent rooms. Sounds pretty logical, doesn't it?

How to apply your colour scheme

Adding colour to a room doesn't have to mean a long-term relationship with a chosen hue. If you prefer a neutral background, there are many ways to add colour with small touches or even bursts of a selected colour scheme. Fabrics and textiles such as rugs, pillows, throws, and window treatments are the perfect elements for inviting colour in and can add pattern and texture as well. Artwork brings in colour and personality at the same time. Accessories and personal collections can act as colourful accents in your room. And don't forget the lively hues of natural elements like flowers and fruit. Grouped in vases or bowls, they create a colourful mass in any space.

While neutrals might seem safe, there are many benefits to using colour in your home. Colour can unite disparate styles of furnishings and works well for renewing worn or outdated furniture. A fresh, unexpected pop of colour can turn a boring room into a stylish, personalized space. Using colour can also manipulate your sense of space. A small room can seem larger with light colours; a large room will shrink with a darker shade on the walls. You can visually lower a ceiling with a dark colour and raise it with a light one.

You want to know more about colour combinations, the colour wheel, and are eager to find out what colour palette best complements your style? And, are you excited for part 2 of our "how to decorate" journey? Then better stay tuned and make sure to check out my upcoming blog posts.

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