What is life without colour? And when it comes to renovating or building your home, narrowing down to a colour is the most crucial decision you will have to take.
All colours have a different appeal. Each shade within each colour can convey warmth or coolness depending on how you bring about a sync among all the elements in your room. That’s why knowing how to choose the colour of your décor among hundreds of options matters a lot. Let’s try to figure it out.
Why Start with Colour?
Colour is right at the centre of your personality and the personality of your home. It is the most expressive aspect of your décor. The way different colours play with each other will determine what your home will look like. That’s why colour should never be an afterthought but a starting point.
Broad Categorisation of Colour
Largely, colours fall into 2 categories:
- Cool, calming, relaxed: Mostly used for bedroom or study, cool colours include green, blue, and purple.
- Warm, stimulating: Warm colours such as red, orange and yellow are mostly used for living room and dining room.
Should you start with furniture or with the wall?
The colour of a room is not determined only by the colour of one entity. Those who want to play it safe with evergreen black and white and brown start with the walls because furniture, rugs, paintings, wall art are easier to find in these colours.
Those who want a unique or even offbeat touch to their home décor start with the furniture. This is because wall paints can be easy to customise as per the specific colour one wants. But not all furniture can be customised that easily.
Types of Colour Schemes:
1. Single dominant colour: Choosing a monochromatic look means working with one major colour in different hues.
2. A blend of adjacent colours: Choosing colours that are next to each on the colour wheel is another option. The colours are various but they look harmonious giving unity to your room.
3. Contrasting colours: Contrasting colours sit opposite to each other on the colour wheel. Because contrasting colours are a good mix of warm and cool colours, they give a room a life
4. Pay Special Attention to White!
Do not take white to be a neutral colour. That is, no two shades of white are the same. White can be a cool white or it can be a warm white.
5. Understand the Distribution of Dominant, Secondary and Accent Colours.
The dominant colours are generally neutral colours used on walls, ceilings, or flooring. The secondary colours emerge from pieces of furniture like – dining table, sofa, or curtains. The accent is added by lamps or wall pieces.
Being a little more conscious about these basic aspects about colour can make your home look lovely and welcoming.
Do share your thoughts about how you have played with colours in your home décor.