Some basics in how to make the right colour choices for you.
Colour is an inexpensive method of expressing yourself and your moods. Applying paint colours to brighten and heighten the ambience in your home is one of the easiest (and may I say, ancient, think…cave paintings) home decorator ideas around to gain maximum effect. As it’s very cost effective and fun to do you can achieve a refreshing makeover relatively quickly.
In my day to day working life I am very familiar with the multiple dilemmas of paint colours choice, the process of thinking about, choosing and finally having the courage to apply a colour scheme. Therefore after many years of helping people through the decision making process, here is my greatest advice of all time…ta tadah!!
CHOOSE THE PAINT COLOURS YOU LIKE
This may seem obvious but alas, it is very often not the case. So many colour decisions are made out of fear of what other people will think. What if, your friends come around and are shocked by your peacock blue wall and don’t like it? What if, your mother comes around and says you are too old for ‘that’ lime green wall in your dining room?
What if…and this is a big one, your paint colours choice is not in fashion or on trend! God forbid!
My answer to all these ‘What if’s’ is… It is YOUR home. YOU can decorate it any way YOU like because YOU are the one living there!
How you style and decorate your home should reflect your lifestyle and what you hold dear and important. Your home should be your sanctuary. A place to escape from the crazy world we live in. Surrounding yourself with the things you love, the colours, smells and textures that bring you comfort is rewarding, relaxing and fulfilling. It will also bring you confidence through the freedom of expression.
And if you paint your walls and decide after a week or so of living with the colour that you don’t like it, the worst thing that will happen is that you will have to paint it again. The sky will not fall in and the world will not come to an end. And, just on what others may think… you may find that your friends are ‘blown away’ by your choice and love it. They also may admire your confidence because they too may be too scared to take the steps towards colour!
Now I understand that there may be other family members to consider and paint colours choices may need to be a combined affair but this to, can be exciting and rewarding. Look at it as an opportunity to bond as a family and create an fabulous shared environment that benefits everyone. You may need to spend some time on this one to work it out.
So, now that we have established that you and/or your family are going to choose colours you all like, the next step is to do a bit of research. There is no instant way around this one…you have to ‘do the time’ as I say. Very few people just ‘instantly’ develop the perfect colour scheme. It takes some time to narrow down the exact colour even if its just for one wall.
First, think of all the things you love. Perhaps it is holidays by the beach, Moroccan architecture, the green of an English countryside,the colour of your favourite dress, the colours of the desert or the rich terracotta of a brick wall. This isn’t a new approach but a tried and tested process to reduce the overwhelming feeling of too much choice!
Looking for stuff that inspires you is one of the greatest tools you have. It can be very exciting discovering amazing things along the way even if you get a little diverted. Don’t forget to look around your home too. You may have a cushion or favourite lounge that has the perfect colour already there.
You can create a ‘mood board’ if you like by adding pictures from magazines, photos you have taken, drawings or paint colour swatches. It’s totally up to you…you may just want to keep notes or save inspirational photos from Pinterest or Instagram! Whatever works for you?
As you expand your collection of inspiring stuff you will probably see a pattern starting to emerge. It may be a particular colour or style that you keep adding perhaps even subconsciously. In fact, this is the key….try not to overthink it. Sometimes our brains actually get in the way of creativity!
The next very important step is to make a nice cup of tea or coffee, perhaps even have a little ‘treat’ (a yummy biscuit or cake) and sit down, relax and ponder your handy work. You are now well on the way to making the right paint colour choice for you.
To be continued….
For more inspiration visit my.. Instagram Pinterest
Kaye xx
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