Using Colour in Interior Design

Colour choices come easily for some people and are a natural part of their home décor. For others it can feel like a huge decision and at times a big risk. But there are manageable ways to bring colour into your home without making you feel like you live in the barbie dream house. 

Here are our top tips on how to approach colour in 2024. 

1. The Psychology of Colour

Colour psychology plays a fundamental role in interior design. Different hues can have a profound impact on our emotions and perceptions. 

Understanding the psychology behind colours can help you select hues that align with the intended purpose of each room. So, have a think about what you want your room to feel like before you select your colours.

For example:

Blue conveys tranquillity and calmness, making it ideal for bedrooms or spaces meant for relaxation. But watch this colour as it normally has cool undertones, so if you feel cold easily you might need to add in a complimentary colour to warm up a space. 

Red is associated with energy and passion, making it suitable for dining areas or spaces where social interaction is encouraged. However, this is a bold colour so make sure the shade is something you would like to spend time with. Red is a wonderful colour that can range from vibrant to earthy, so there really will be a colour that can suit everyone.  

Green symbolises nature and growth, making it perfect for offices or rooms where productivity is key. Just make sure that you test and test again as it is notoriously tricky to get the ‘perfect shade of green’, if there even is such a thing! 

2. Creating Harmony

When choosing colours for the interior of your home, consider creating colour harmony. In interior design, the ‘colour wheel’ is an invaluable tool that can help you create harmonious and visually appealing spaces. So, before we go any further, go to Amazon and if you don’t already have one, order yourself a colour wheel and thank me later.

If there is a colour you love, but you don’t want a room in the same colour from walls to cushions, you can find a selection of colours that will complement with the help of this handy tool. 

There are several methods to achieve this using the colour wheel:

Complementary Colours: These are pairs of colours located opposite each other on the colour wheel, such as blue and orange or red and green. When used in moderation, complementary colours can create vibrant and visually pleasing contrasts.

Analogous Colours: These are colours that are adjacent to each other on the colour wheel, such as blue, green, and teal. Using analogous colours can create a soothing, cohesive look.

Triadic schemes: involve three equidistant colours on the wheel, offering a balanced blend of vibrancy and stability.

Monochromatic Scheme: This involves using different shades and tones of a single colour. Monochromatic schemes are elegant and can create a sense of continuity in a room.

3. The rule

There are no rules in interior design, but we know that sometimes it really helps to have some guiderails. So, if you are really struggling with bringing colour into your home stick to the 60/30/10 “rule”. 

This is where your colour wheel can really come into its own. Broadly speaking 60/30/10 translates to 60% being the dominant colour, this can be anything you like from a neutral white to a bold earth rust. Then 30% as the secondary colour which will support the main colour but be different enough to give the room interest. Then the last 10% is for an accent colour. This is usually the place where you can have more fun and experiment. 

4. Consider the lighting

Be careful with Pinterest. We all love it, but when it comes to colour, things are not always as they seem. Where your room is situated can turn an off-white into a custard yellow and a white into a grey. So, test, test, and test again. 

As a handy tip, north-facing rooms have a cooler natural light, and generally less of it, so can sometimes feel a little dark and cold. These spaces benefit from warmer shades.

East-facing rooms will have natural light in the morning, whereas west-facing rooms benefit from natural light in the early evening. These rooms take some extra consideration when picking colours. 

Spaces that face south enjoy strong clear natural light, so all colours work well. However, cool shades such as blue, green, and violet balance the intensity of the sunlight. 

Even if your natural lighting is a little iffy, artificial lighting can significantly impact how we perceive colour. When selecting colours, consider the lighting conditions in your space to ensure your chosen hues appear as intended. And then create a lighting plan that allows your space to work at all times of the day and night and makes your colours pop. 

We hope this has helped, but if there are other element you would like us to fucus on in future blogs please let us know in the comments. We love to see people experimenting with colour, so make sure to tag us in your social images so we can take a look at your designs.