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When it comes to interiors, colour has always been my most essential tool. From my earliest experiments to my current home and new clients, I’ve never used pure white or black. Instead, I strive to use colour artfully - sometimes with bold, statement-making shades and other times with quieter, subtle tones that reveal their complexity in different lights. I believe that choosing the right colour palette for your home is about embracing the unexpected while maintaining a sense of harmony. A truly inspiring palette doesn’t shy away from bold contrasts or unconventional pairings; instead, it thrives on them. Think about how a vibrant jewel tone might elevate a muted neutral, or how a metallic accent can bring depth and dimension to soft textures. Layering colours with varying intensities and finishes also helps create a sense of rhythm, making even the boldest combinations feel intentional and cohesive.
For my home, I embraced a neutral palette on many of the walls, creating a soft and inviting backdrop. But it’s the bolder choices that give the spaces their character - dark, moody greens or deep reds on the trim, jewel-toned furnishings, and layers of pattern and texture to elevate the entire scheme. This more muted approach allows each room to feel timeless yet full of personality, achieving a balance between restraint and flair.
Colour has a profound impact on our emotions and well-being, making it a key consideration in home design. Cool tones like blue and green evoke calmness and tranquillity, perfect for bedrooms or bathrooms. Warm tones, such as brown, red and orange, energise and can create a sense of cosiness in social spaces like living and dining rooms. By embracing the emotionality behind colours, you can create spaces that look beautiful but also support your desired mood and feeling in your home.
Many people are understandably nervous when choosing colours for their homes, the idea of “doing it wrong” often stops people from really creating their perfect homes that feel comfortable and cosy to them. Sometimes they just don’t know where to start. When I help clients with colour consultancy I often start with where we can look for inspiration.
For example you might look at the natural surroundings of your home - nature offers an abundance of interesting palettes - from forest greens and earthy browns to coastal blues and sandy neutrals. Or what about your favourite artwork or piece of clothing in your wardrobe - what do you feel good wearing? What brings you joy when you look at it? These items are the things that you love, and you can bring their colours into your interior. And remember you can play with it - colour can be an art piece in itself just as much as a backdrop to other pieces of art.
If you’re not doing an entire refresh and updating everything else in your home as well, make sure you think about the colour and feel of your existing furniture, flooring, and architectural details to find shades that complement rather than clash. Pull colours from existing upholstery or accessories for a cohesive feel, or use transitional hues like taupes or greys to bridge the gap between bold and neutral tones. If you want your home to feel polished and cohesive, try to pull the similar colours between rooms (either on the walls or trim, or flooring for example). If you want your home to feel more unexpected, play with other colours from the colour wheel to see what brings you joy, and pair them across rooms.
I love a good accent colour on trim. They are the secret weapon of dynamic interiors. By introducing bold or contrasting shades sparingly - on woodwork, cushions, artwork, rugs, or even lamps - you can inject personality without overwhelming the space. Consider the 60-30-10 rule: 60% of a room’s palette is the dominant colour (perhaps a neutral), 30% a secondary hue, and 10% the accent. This approach keeps the room visually balanced while allowing those accent pops to shine.
Pattern plays a pivotal role in bringing colour to life, adding depth, energy, and personality to a space. Think about using stripes, florals, geometrics, or abstract motifs to layer and tie your colour palette together. If you don’t want to go bold with colour on your walls, think about using a simple wallpaper instead to add interest and depth. Patterns in wallpaper, upholstery, and soft furnishings inject visual interest and can subtly reinforce or boldly contrast with your chosen hues.
Neutrals (I believe that an earthy yellow or a light green is as much as a neutral as a taupe is) can create a calming backdrop that allows your furniture and accessories to stand out. If you’re set on keeping your entire palette monochrome or neutral - then the key to making that feel rich and inviting is layering the different textures and finishes, such as combining matte and glossy surfaces or mixing soft fabrics with natural materials like wood and stone.
Vibrant colours can transform a space, but they require careful planning to avoid overwhelming the senses. Pair vibrant colours with complementary tones for a harmonious effect, and test shades in different lighting conditions before committing. You can always start small with bolder furniture or accessories to see how the colour feels in the space, before building out to the walls, trim or window treatments.
Selecting colours can feel daunting, but tools like swatches, sample pots, and digital mockups will simplify the process. Always test colours on your walls in different areas and lighting conditions - go and take a look at your swatches at different times of the day - they will often look vastly different. Remember to account for finishes - matte, satin, or gloss can significantly affect the final look. If you’re feeling bold, you can also do high gloss ceiling with matte walls!
For a truly bespoke look, consider working with an interior designer like myself. Designers can help you uncover colours that not only reflect your personal taste but also enhance your lifestyle and complement your home’s architectural character. One of my favourite parts of the process is creating tailored palettes using tools like the colour wheel, an extensive library of samples, and thoughtfully curated mood boards. Whether you’re refreshing a single room or reimagining your entire home, I’d love to help you achieve a look that feels authentic and inspired.
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However you do it, just remember that when selecting your palette, trust your instincts - sometimes, the most surprising choices are the ones that make your space truly unforgettable. If you keep returning to a bold choice, then go with it, you probably won’t regret it.