Be clever with colour

For a brighter winter, use colour in the home, writes Susan Welsh

Published:

WHILE some of us may dread the long, dark winter nights, interior designer Ceri Rocca loves them because it allows her to create inviting looks for homes for the months ahead.

Ceri believes that when it comes to using colour, there are two distinct types of people – those who shy away from it and stick to neutrals and creams and those who fully embrace it.

However, successful use of colour in the home involves more than simply flicking through charts and selecting a random assortment of shades.

She offers this advice:

“The most obvious way to change the look of a room is to give it a fresh coat of paint, but it must be remembered that hues change depending on the direction of natural light coming into the room.

“The style and quality of artificial light, as well as factors such as ceiling height and furnishings, affect it, so is it extremely important to test your chosen colour in the room before simply slapping it all over the walls.

“Remember that colour can alter moods, and many have certain feelings attributed to them.

“Blue, for example, represents calm and tranquillity, while red creates a sense of warmth and passion.”

A carefully chosen scheme can make a real difference to the visual dimensions and general feel of a space, and with winter here, consideration must be given to the amount of light in the room.

When painting a small or dark space, there are a few simple tricks to help you create as much light as possible.

Lighter shades of paint contain more white, which reflects the light and bounces back into the room. If you have your heart set on darker shades, it is worth giving more thought to your window dressings.

Blinds and voiles are much thinner than curtains and will therefore allow a lot more natural light into the room compared with heavy drapes.

It is also wise to consider giving the ceiling a coat of pale-coloured paint as this will bounce light on to the walls.

Ceri added: “Many people are moving away from painting a room in one single block colour, and the current trend of feature walls creates a stylish alternative.

“This can be achieved with paint or wallpaper, with bold colours and patterns creating a much more dramatic effect.

“For those people who prefer natural tones, furnishings and accessories offer a quick and effective way of injecting a little bit of colour for a new look. Carefully placed cushions, vases and throws will provide a splash of colour and have the added bonus of being easily interchangeable, allowing you to create fresh new looks on a regular basis.”

This year, the style has been towards earthy, natural and organic tones, and this is set to continue as we move towards 2009, so go for oranges, browns and greens when selecting textiles and accessories.

“Another consistent trend is the use of monochrome. However, I would advise incorporating shades of grey instead of the more traditional black and white to take a fresh approach to an established design classic and perhaps throw in a curve ball of small accessories in a bright fuchsia, orange, lime green or turquoise to add a spark of interest to the monochromatic scale.”

For further information or to book a consultation, call 01629 813030.