The colour code to your office or home
January 23, 2015 at 12:50 PM
Wonderful whites
Who’s heard the colour rule that white makes a room look bigger? That’s often the number one rule that people consider when interior decorating. And of course there’s nothing wrong with that. White can certainly help to make a room look and feel bigger, as it reflects light better than any other colour in the colour spectrum. If you are using a lot of white though, try breaking up the monotonous look of the room with some bright or dark coloured items.
Painting the ceiling white is virtually a given for most interior decorators. But if your ceiling is a bit more interesting than most (say, if it’s coffered or a barrel vault ceiling like what you might see in a fancy historic home), then this is a great opportunity to show it off with some colour. Think of the ceiling as your “fifth wall” and don’t be afraid to be daring!
Sophisticated dark colours
If you have a room with limited natural light, then you might want to steer clear of dark colours as it can produce a “cave-like” effect. Conversely, if you have a room with lots of windows that bathe the room in natural light, then painting one or more of the walls in a dark colour can look fantastic. Just make sure that you help to balance out the darkness with some light, bright furniture, curtains, or flooring.
Colour is child’s play
Often people choose to paint their children’s bedrooms bright, stark primary colours - blue, yellow, red - or sometimes Barbie pink. Those are fine but don’t forget that there’s a whole spectrum of other colours and shades that you can choose from, with a little imagination. For example, you could use a mint green shade and then jazz the room up a little more with brightly coloured furniture or even some of your kids’ artistic paintings!
Colour combinations
When it comes to painting houses, there’s a persistent myth that every room should have a completely different colour. But the overall effect can be quite overwhelming, and looks like you couldn’t make a decision at the Resene shop! To avoid turning your home into a colourful kaleidoscope, choose one colour palette and paint the walls using just that carefully selected scheme.