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Did you know adding colour can make a room feel bigger, smaller, calmer or crazy — here’s how to do it well.
Bored with the colour scheme at home? Feel like mixing things up but don’t know how?
We feel you. Painting fills us with terror, too. But it shouldn’t.
Interiors expert Jane Thomson told 10 daily, “colour is something that is appears in nature and it’s a constant in our daily lives, so why the hell are we so worried about splashing it about in our homes? Painting is the most inexpensive way of changing the mood in a room.”
But it’s okay — if that doesn’t help your nerves, then why not start small? Add colour the cheat’s way first.
“One of the easiest ways to add colour is with accessories,” said Thomson. “Try cushions, accessories, art work in colours you love and just make sure everything ties together. Don’t be afraid of teaming different colours and patterns and textures together, as long as you have a colour thread or theme.”
READ MORE: This Season’s Hottest Home Decor Colour May Surprise You
“If there’s a look or a feel that you love, just go with it,” she continued. “So, for example, if you love the tropical beachy feel, you’ll be looking at greens, palm leaf patterns, strong textural aspects say in cushioning in soft neutral stone and straw colours. Add a fiddle leaf fig or a strelitzia and you’re on your way.”
READ MORE: The Living Room’s Barry Du Bois Tells How To Make Your Tiny Home Feel Bigger
Feeling brave enough to try painting? You can always start with a feature wall.
“There’s a common misconception that painting a room in a dark or mid tone colour makes the room look small, but that’s incorrect — it gives dimension and depth,” said Jane.
“So let’s say a dark blue wall in a flat paint,” she said. “If you add whites, taupes, complimentary blues — just layer the blue!! — and an accent of gold with accessories and soft furnishings, it just delivers an enormous pop! Give it a go!”
READ MORE: 25 Genius IKEA Hacks To Try This Weekend
Colour expert Lisa Rickert who founded home decor company Jolie Home, agrees there’s no need to be afraid. There are some simple things you can do to make your home beautiful — and the results will make you wish you’d done it years ago. She gave 10 daily her five hacks for using colour.
You can use colour to make a room feel bigger
“Using light colours on walls and ceilings will instantly make a room feel bigger, brighter and welcoming,” she told 10 daily. “In homes with small windows, light colours will also reflect natural light, giving an illusion of extra space.”
You can also use it to make spaces feel more intimate by painting… the furniture
“To make a space feel more intimate, it’s important to select neutrals that contain warm undertones particularly on large surfaces such as walls and/or floors,” she said. “To add an element of drama and intimacy to a room, consider using dark, subdued colours on your furniture and homewares.”
There are colours that you can use to make a bedroom feel calming and restful
“Muted blues, greys, and greens are the best colours,” Rickert said about bedrooms. “Although light, muted neutrals can be used to invoke a sense of calm and assist with sleep.”
“To a smaller degree, furniture as well as fabric colours and patterns make an impact to the tranquillity of the room and should be a consideration when designing a space. Avoid busy patterns and strong contrasting colours.”
There are some dos and don’ts for feature walls
“The colour of a feature wall should be selected to provide contrast to the rest of the space,” said Rickert. “It’s important to carry the accent colour through the room by using the same or similar colours on furniture and accessories.”
No colours are wrong
“There are no colours that are off limits, it really depends on how you use them and how to incorporate them in order to achieve your personal style,” she told 10 daily.
“For example, If you are considering painting bedroom walls, traditionally it’s best to steer clear from bright stimulating colours like yellows, reds and purples, although that doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate these colours in smaller doses in homewares such as pillows and lamps.”
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