Colour your Interior

I was never admitted to design school only because I never applied to join one. This however did not affect my love and appreciation for fashion and design but I have come to realize interior designing is what I have most of my attention on. 

With more exposure, I have observed that people are now more open to having unique creative Interior design in their homes. However, one would wonder whether things like color paints, flowers, pots, light fixtures etc existed before or were they so expensive then and cheaper now? Of course NOT!  I want to believe that we were too conservative to apply any of these to our homes.

Speaking of indoor paints back in the days, these by default were white, off white or cream. Most of the floors unless tiled, had to be maroon in color…

match your colors before you start

Thanks to the many interior designers and paint houses out there, we have learnt to appreciate the difference color can bring to our homes. Now that you have a huge selection of colors at hand please use them right bearing in mind that color will bring relaxation, fulfillment and satisfaction if painted to your expectations (done right) and the total opposite if your expectations are not met.

Colors affect the illusion of space in a room. A monochromatic color scheme (one/similar color with different shades) like off whites, cream and beige will give you an appearance of more space while warm colors like deep red, orange, brown will give an impression of a smaller space. On the other hand cool colors like sky blue and light green will give an openness, calm and airy appearance.

When choosing new colors for your home, do not limit yourself. Have a variety to choose from and match the paints before you start.  Paint a section of the wall and observe it for a few days at different times. It is a good idea to paint one shade lighter than your sample swatch. Most times, the color on your sample will look brighter on a big wall than on a smaller one.

Do not use strong colors like red on areas that are frequently used. This color can stand out better on hallways and staircases where you just pass by and don't really stay as often like your bedroom.

Mix and match the colors you love...

As much as color plays one of the major roles in making a good interior, the quality of material plays a key role you therefore need to be sure of the quality of paint, brush and other material necessary for the job.

Note that while choosing a color for your home, bear in mind the furniture and other key factors, for example dark colors on walls will be complimented with bright wall fixtures and curtains. 

brown brings a warm feel to the room but remember not to over do single colors. 

 

All said and done, the bottom line is to choose a color that makes you comfortable and happy not the color that makes your Interior designer happy. At the end of the day it is you living within those walls...

Till then…

Sarah