Can you decorate with big colours and still have a home that looks neat, chic and refined? When scouring through archives, articles and social media, so many "colourful" interiors are either spirited and bohemian, a maximalist haven, or a mess. It's true what you read, too: bold colour is a dangerous path to tread, and bright can easily become washed-out, overbearing and tiresome. So we take the safer option and choose to admire from afar. But have you ever wondered, what if? What if I just went for it? How can I live with it? Will I be alone in appreciating it? These are all valid questions and the answer is the same: you'll only know if you try. So my aim of this post is to inspire you and to bolster your confidence when it comes to using colour. I'm not advocating a mix-match of colourful accessories at all. No, I mean BIG colour: one purposeful and particular colour, and the beautiful outcomes that come with it. And I apologise now, for the huge pictures included, but I wanted to get the message (and the impact!) of colour across effectively!
First of all, question yourself. If you don't believe in it, don't do it. And remember that you can paint over it if you really do have a change of heart. Nevertheless, I'd prefer you to stick to your guns. Don't bow out and decide to add a "pop of colour" here and there unless that is what you set out to do in the first place. Your decision to decorate with a bold colour and then deciding not to put it to full effect will result in a room that will constantly fall short of your expectations and as a result you won't love it as much as you should.
Find the colour that is for YOU. There is a real emotional quality to decorating with colour, and one of them plays on your personal preferences and what makes you feel more 'you'. I read a great tip the other day: if you're stuck on where to start in selecting a colour, head to your wardrobe and see what you naturally steer towards. If you can't decide between two, create boards for each using interiors and aesthetics and see which makes you feel more content, which excites you more. The images used throughout this post are good platforms to begin with too.
Remember that colour impacts mood, too. If you want a space of complete calm, then a shade of crayola may not be for you. If you want a space that speaks to your passions and lifts you every time you enter, then colour is an empowering tool to do so. If it is your bedroom that you are decorating, go with cooler shades such as mint green, mattes or pinks. This will keep the room from becoming too stimulating as you try to sleep at night! Your bedroom is a sanctuary and should be prioritised that way.
Instead, use social rooms or connecting halls as your starburst experiment. Your dining room is a great place to use energising shades such as red or hot pink, and the hallway a perfect space for youthful brights such as yellow or orange. Greens and blues are great in social areas too as they are both shades found in nature and promote feelings of natural energy and balance - especially valuable for those who live in the city. Light blue is one of the most underrated but elegant colours for interiors and one that I have always leaned towards when designing particularly classy and timeless spaces.
Of course, the task doesn't stop once you have chosen your main colour. When picking a particular shade, make sure to test it out on each surface in the room so that you can see how it responds to light throughout the day. Although bright colours are intense enough to hold their own, it may surprise you how much change can occur.
It's also imperative to ensure that your chosen shade doesn't clash with the pieces you already have, or plan to buy. To make sure the room still feels purposeful and well-designed, make sure there are some connections - either by colour or stylistically - between your internal items and the cocoon of colour that surrounds them.
If your heart lies with pink, go for pinks found in nature, like those in sunset or on the blossom trees. Bright pinks are refreshing and sticking to natural hues keeps them from being unbearable and harmonises the space with the world outside. Paler colours look great in rooms with lots of natural light and can be used as an alternative neutral for both formal and informal settings - so males have no excuse not to use it. The same goes for orange. Avoid washed out oranges as these will look tired and dirty. Use vivid colours with cream undertones, and again those found in nature as a platform.
And finally, you don't have to be a maximalist (or boy-racer) to have coloured lights. If you have the resources, light-boxes can be used too, and are a good alternative to the constant bright colour in your home. The first image below is a bit more futuristic than I would usually go for, but it's a great display of how palatable a light-box can be and I love the tunnel of colour.
So if you're ready to dip in to the paint pot, don't let fear of the unknown divert your exploration in colour: Be passionate, be ambitious, and be in love with your home.
AE x
Comments