It's probably a tad patronising to tell you that the colours used in your home determine how it feels inside. Yet, sometimes we forget the basics when consumed by the creative madness of interior decoration. Even when blessed with generous rooms and quirky architecture, if your home possesses an uncoordinated colour palette, the overall ambience of your indoor space will feel awkward, cluttered and stressful. Nobody wants that.
Rather than follow the latest eye-catching colour trend, take a step back to avoid horrific colour clashes that can leave your space feeling anything other than chic and relaxing. Take the warnings from previous generations, whom followed the trends and then were left behind when society came to its' senses. Was there any greater shame than an Avocado bathroom and a carpeted kitchen, when the times moved towards more sensible fads?
I mean, does it really matter which colours are in your home? What about just picking up some paint in hues that appeal, getting busy with a roller and hoping for the best? Should you even care about the colour of your carpet, in contrast?
It turns out that colour theory can be incredibly useful, preventing your home from constantly testing your nerves long after the paintbrushes and carpet offcuts have been put away. It’s time to embrace the science of colour.
So, when next in the paint aisle of your local homeware store, be sure to pick up a colour wheel. Colour theory might feel like yet another modern fad designed to waste time, but there must be something to it, for it has been utilised since first published by Sir Isaac Newton in an Opticks journal of 1704. Oh yeah. We know our stuff.
Getting jiggy with Newton's Colour Wheel
Newton’s proposals have underpinned our thinking on how colour harmony is achieved. You would never think homeowners contemplated avoiding colour clashes as the English Civil War raged on and the Industrial Revolution got underway. However, they did and historical homes across the land looked much better for it, despite the coal dust and smog.
In our honest opinion, the colour wheel is an ingenious tool. On the left are shades considered to be ‘warm’, whilst on the right there are colours deemed as ‘cold’. Which side you choose really influences how cosy or light a room then becomes. The primary colours on the wheel are red, blue and yellow. These cannot be produced by combining other colours.
However, upon blending primary colours, other shades - known as secondary colours - are created. For example, blue and yellow combined results in green. Understanding combinations is invaluable if a very precise paint shade needs to be custom-made. Less vivid shades are known as tertiary colours. These are formed when a primary and a secondary colour meet. Tertiary colours are less tiring on the eye and help to create more relaxing spaces.
Hues located opposite one other upon a colour wheel, such as blue and orange, are regarded as complementary and can provide interesting contrasts if used with care.
Some shades, such as neutral tones, don’t feature on the colour wheel. These include black, grey, white, brown and beige. Neutrals are the easiest shades to layer together but, without a dash of colour to liven things up, can lead to a washed out look if a small pop of colour isn’t added.
Informed use of colour is complicated. Even with a colour wheel in hand, it can be easy to feel stuck. Here are our top three tips to avoid horrendous colour clashes and an unintentional psychedelic migraine.
Colour control
Use complementary palettes while neutrals serve as anchors
There is good reason why complementary palettes and neutral shades are so popular within our homes. Quite simply, throughout the entire house, they work incredibly well. Decorative schemes based on complementary colours and the effective use of neutrals are both timeless and elegant. They serve as a distinguished, non-intrusive background to our busy lives.
Begin by considering which neutral shades will keep your house looking smart yet consistent as you work your way from room to room. This is a crucial first step for ceiling and flooring choices before getting creative with the rest. In particular, neutral tones are an excellent choice when it comes to floorboards, carpets, tiles and linoleum. Neutral flooring blends in well with any design theme and will continue to work even if eventually you change the design.
Neutral shades are particularly useful for smaller rooms as this can help make the most of any natural light coming in from any windows while also avoiding the room feeling cramped despite limited dimensions. A light-coloured carpet is great for opening up a room.
With the basics sorted, next take time to observe any fixed features within the home. This might include wooden beams, tiles, fireplaces, staircase bannister, kitchen units, ceramics, pipes, doors and window frames. Use these as a foundation so that the colours you add with paint, carpet, furniture and upholstery don’t clash with pre-existing features that likely won’t change.
It can also be helpful to consider the view outside. Are you surrounded by brightly-coloured, modern homes or do you live in a more historic setting? Is there a garden outside or a view looking out to the countryside or towards the sea? Using what lies out of the window as inspiration can provide a much more considered look.
Next aim for a complementary palette that adds the stylish touch to your neutral foundation and efforts to be sympathetic towards existing features or the environment surrounding your home. Earthy colours make a great choice for achieving relaxed ambience while creative colours often provide a touch of energy to the room.
As a general rule, try to aim for a 60:30:10 ratio of three different yet complementary colours. This adds a good proportion of variety and yet avoids overload while the neutral foundation anchors your home’s colourful ambitions.
Layer in extra interest
Counteract colour restraint with going wild for texture
If utilising complementary palettes and neutrals throughout the home sounds a bit too constrained, fear not! There are other ways to add interest beyond adding yet another colour to a room.
One of the most stylish ways to do so is to layer throughout with different textures. If a neutral carpet sounds bland, adding a rug in another neutral shade likely sounds even more so. But what if, instead of opting for a garish colour that will undo your carefully chosen choices, you opted for a rug with an interesting texture instead?
This very same rule can be used throughout the home. While a set of dishes might all possess a neutral or calming shade, you can vary the texture of different mugs and plates to add variety. Similar logic can be applied to pictureframes, woollen blankets, cushions, wall tiles and more.
Once you appreciate different textures, you won’t be able to resist another with which to layer!
Add an accent
Keep things fresh with a pop of colour
If a complementary palette combined with neutral anchors and layering with texture isn’t providing you with enough creative satisfaction, try adding an accent throughout the home.
In decorating circles, an accent is a consistent pop of colour that appears periodically amongst your more discreet colour choices be it an unashamed red, a lime green or a hot pink. This adds a touch of energy to each room while also looking like a considered yet bold choice.
Items that are perfect for adding a cheeky accent can include an individual piece of furniture, a strategically placed vase or cushion, a throw over the couch or even a canvas print upon the wall.
When chosen carefully and used with a modicum of restraint, an accent can keep both you and your guests stimulated while enjoying your home’s interior style.