A Crash Course in Colour-Blocking
Think outside the paint box by decorating your rooms with strong, distinct blocks of colour
Amanda Pollard
31 July 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Painting every wall in one shade isn’t the only way to decorate a room. If you fancy something a little more interesting, think about adding contrasting colours in solid blocks. Check out these striking interiors for inspiration on how to use colour-blocking in your home.
Put your floors to work
For something altogether different, how about this beautiful herringbone floor? Each block of wood has been dyed a shade of green, yellow or red and laid out to create a gradated display that draws the eye from the front to the back of the room.
The designers have kept the rest of the space neutral in order to show off the parquet, with just a couple of bright red areas in the kitchen that tie the two elements together.
For something altogether different, how about this beautiful herringbone floor? Each block of wood has been dyed a shade of green, yellow or red and laid out to create a gradated display that draws the eye from the front to the back of the room.
The designers have kept the rest of the space neutral in order to show off the parquet, with just a couple of bright red areas in the kitchen that tie the two elements together.
Go for gloss in the kitchen
These wall-hung cabinets have been covered in a high-gloss lacquer that highlights the bright colour. They might look random, but they’re actually carefully positioned (the top of the blue cabinet aligns with the top of the burgundy one, and the bottom of the blue one aligns with the base of the red one) to ensure they feel balanced, rather than chaotic.
The rest of the space is jet black, which looks striking against the vivid shades on the wall cabinets and gives the whole design a cool edge.
Here’s why lacquer is a popular finish
These wall-hung cabinets have been covered in a high-gloss lacquer that highlights the bright colour. They might look random, but they’re actually carefully positioned (the top of the blue cabinet aligns with the top of the burgundy one, and the bottom of the blue one aligns with the base of the red one) to ensure they feel balanced, rather than chaotic.
The rest of the space is jet black, which looks striking against the vivid shades on the wall cabinets and gives the whole design a cool edge.
Here’s why lacquer is a popular finish
Dabble in abstract expressionism
Use colour-blocking to turn your room into a work of art, as the designers have done in this Mondrian-inspired kitchen. Rectangles of blue, yellow and dark green are interspersed with expanses of white to give the room a colourful yet fresh feel.
The island unit is pretty clever, too – it breaks up the yellow floor with a white base and some ‘floating’ coloured rectangles above the transparent pedestal.
Use colour-blocking to turn your room into a work of art, as the designers have done in this Mondrian-inspired kitchen. Rectangles of blue, yellow and dark green are interspersed with expanses of white to give the room a colourful yet fresh feel.
The island unit is pretty clever, too – it breaks up the yellow floor with a white base and some ‘floating’ coloured rectangles above the transparent pedestal.
Block with furniture…
Consider using your furniture as a way to play with colour in a room. This kitchen area does it brilliantly with four distinct shades. The blue backdrop is broken up with a rectangle of yellow, as well as a block of red framed by green dining chairs. The tones are warm and complementary, which makes the space feel cosy.
Check out these 11 ways to energise your home with colour
Consider using your furniture as a way to play with colour in a room. This kitchen area does it brilliantly with four distinct shades. The blue backdrop is broken up with a rectangle of yellow, as well as a block of red framed by green dining chairs. The tones are warm and complementary, which makes the space feel cosy.
Check out these 11 ways to energise your home with colour
…or with fabric
You could also use textiles to introduce colour blocks into a scheme. This living room, for example, would have been completely neutral if it weren’t for the bright cushions around the perimeter of the space. The palette is restricted to three strong shades, so the look is playful rather than overwhelming.
You could also use textiles to introduce colour blocks into a scheme. This living room, for example, would have been completely neutral if it weren’t for the bright cushions around the perimeter of the space. The palette is restricted to three strong shades, so the look is playful rather than overwhelming.
Work a muted take in the bedroom
Colour-blocking can be restful in a bedroom, as long as it’s done right. In this sleep space, the designers have opted for muted shades and soft textures to make the colour zones feel more gentle. The scheme is interesting without being too bright or jarring.
See these vastu- recommended bedroom colours
Colour-blocking can be restful in a bedroom, as long as it’s done right. In this sleep space, the designers have opted for muted shades and soft textures to make the colour zones feel more gentle. The scheme is interesting without being too bright or jarring.
See these vastu- recommended bedroom colours
Perk up with pastels
An easy way to achieve the look in a kitchen is to use the cabinet doors as blocks. Here, the designers have chosen pastel shades to create squares and rectangles of colour that tone well with each other. The yellow wall is a good choice, as it gives the space even more of a lift.
An easy way to achieve the look in a kitchen is to use the cabinet doors as blocks. Here, the designers have chosen pastel shades to create squares and rectangles of colour that tone well with each other. The yellow wall is a good choice, as it gives the space even more of a lift.
Frame a picture
Break up the colour of a wall by simply painting an area in a different shade. Here, a block of blue has been used to highlight an artwork. The blue wardrobe ties in with it to give the scheme balance.
Read more:
A Guide to Using Colour in Your Home
Tell us:
Have you played around with colour-blocking in your own home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
Break up the colour of a wall by simply painting an area in a different shade. Here, a block of blue has been used to highlight an artwork. The blue wardrobe ties in with it to give the scheme balance.
Read more:
A Guide to Using Colour in Your Home
Tell us:
Have you played around with colour-blocking in your own home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
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I guess Michelle P that depends on whether you are committed to your choice as something you love rather than part of a trend. I love colour blocking and always will.
That wonderful yellow blue and white colour blocked kitchen while modern has little to do with trend - only someone deeply passionate about colour would choose to make that commitment. It is so beautifully proportioned and counterbalanced against the black stove and edge of painted broken bricks.
I used color blocking in my kitchen very successfully to relieve the cream walls with cream cabinets. Not only does it play nicely with the timbered ceilings and window frames, but it also creates a colorful "heart" to the house. In the evenings, when I start dinner, I feel as though the color is uplifting me.
Love the colour blocking, it's a great way to add vibrant colour to a room without looking like a Childs bedroom.