Transform Interiors With Colour

Take the time to learn these three principles of design and you’ll be well on your way to understanding the basics of colour coordination for a fearless approach to trying it at home.

Both the architecture of the home and the style of your furnishings come into play during the paint selection process.

Shaynna says working against a strong architectural style takes confidence and practice – you must work in harmony with it for a pleasing result.

“Looking to established colour schemes from past eras always works. Bring it all together and up-to-date with pops of a contrasting colour,” she said.

“I think that the colour of this room is really working around the furniture.

“The timber and shapes have a colonial feel, and this green works with the period and also the narrative, one of adventure and safaris.

“To stop it looking staid and old-fashioned, the green is yellow-based rather than blue, making it sunnier and more vibrant, and there’s a sense of fun in the art.”

Worrying that what’s in the tin will look different on the wall is a realistic concern, but advances in colour technology have taken much of the guesswork out of the selection process.

When colours were made of natural pigments, choice was limited. Now, the base colour can be altered and adjusted by fractional margins to create an exact tone.

Shaynna says it’s the undertones that have left people undone in the past.

“A colour changes dramatically depending on the underlying tint,” she said.

“The new colour cards from Taubmans were designed with exactly this in mind and are grouped in base tones, so each shade with the same base will blend harmoniously.”

The colour of the paint will look different again under overhead or lamp light. Incandescent and halogen lights will warm up reds and yellows while muting blues and greens.

Fluorescent and cool-toned energy saving bulbs enhance blues and green tones but flatten reds and yellows.

Keep in mind this also applies to the undertone, not just the surface colour. Test your colour in artificial light by painting a large canvas.

You might not have seen one since school, but a basic colour wheel is invaluable for a beginner to understand the interplay of colour. Think about:

Contrasting colours sit on opposite sides of the wheel and while these colours complement each other, like the purple and yellow of an iris flower, they also make a dramatic statement.

Used on large areas, the effect is energising and stimulating.

Tonal colours sit next to and near each other on the colour wheel, making them harmonious.

Working within a tonal scheme creates a look and feel that enhances tranquillity and restfulness.

Even with exactly the same setting, the colour of the wall can make a dramatic difference, according to Shaynna.

“The strong grey wall works to bring all the bright elements together without any overwhelming the other,” she said.

“The art stands out, the room looks coordinated without being too overdone and the bold colours are calmed.

“With a neutral background, the effect is lost and confused and the eye can’t identify where to rest.

“It doesn’t look unified and the reds and yellows take on too much strength and dominate, when the intention of these bright additions is to highlight and make a point of contrast.”

Experimenting with the colour on the wall is no longer necessary, as so many online tools give you the ability to see how different treatments work. Most paint companies also have colour specialists who are available to advise and inspire.

Shaynna advises taking the furnishings into account when picking out an accent colour from an artwork.

“If you have an amazing piece of art, the wall colour should be the tone of a dominant colour in the art,” she said.

“The art should stand out as the main feature, but the way the furniture works with it makes the difference.

“A bold wall would force distinctive and bright furniture like the sofa forward, making it compete with the art and both would end up losing.

“If what is paired with the artwork is neutral, like the timber table and white accents, the wall can be strong because the furniture isn’t competing.”

Shaynna says this turquoise blue is great for a dining area or any space that you want to use to bring people together.

“It’s a happy and uplifting colour and most people respond well to this shade,” she said.

“It sidesteps the very restful qualities of some blues and instead has a strength that stimulates conversation and upbeat engagement.”

Shaynna says the light mint green that’s used here is a great example of matching the colour to the architecture.

“This beautiful room with the high ceilings and decorative plasterwork harks back to another era and the effect is well resolved by the colour choice,” she said.

“It also works because the room opens out onto a garden area that casts a green hue.”

Shaynna says dark blue may be the last colour most people would choose for a nursery, but it works in this room for a number of reasons.

“This shade is very restful and helps create a dark environment both day and night for a baby to sleep,” she said.

“And a small room like a nursery can be made to look bigger by making the walls disappear with a dark shade.”

Shaynna says red is not a colour that’s usually recommended for bedrooms as it’s too forceful and energetic, but it works here because the red, which is really more of a raspberry, has a grey undertone.

“The grey base means it can be matched with neutrals and even pastels, so the whole effect is calmed down while retaining the romantic and passionate qualities of red,” she said.