Ask a Designer: How Can I Play With Colour?
Done well, colour can look amazing. Here’s how to plunder the paint chart and arrive at a scheme that’s both gorgeous and grown-up
I’m feeling a little bit rebellious. The art student in me is creeping out of the woodwork from the days when I thought pink hair looked cool and a nose piercing was a good idea. So I am paying homage to colourful interiors and to those that boldly go to the end of the paint chart and are simply fearless. I tend to lean towards neutrals, but when I see colour done properly, it makes me want to come along for the ride. Check out these inventive schemes to see how colour can be both fun and stylish.
Choose one star of the show
I’ve never been a great fan of royal blue, yet this makes me want to use it everywhere! I think it’s all down to Mickey Mouse, who really is the showstopper in this room. I love the accessories that give a nod to him and really bring this room together.
I’ve never been a great fan of royal blue, yet this makes me want to use it everywhere! I think it’s all down to Mickey Mouse, who really is the showstopper in this room. I love the accessories that give a nod to him and really bring this room together.
Go for colourful lighting
These colourful pendant lights, cleverly hung to create a cluster light, create a cheerful focal point in this contemporary living room. The bold primary shades are picked up and reflected in the bold artwork.
These colourful pendant lights, cleverly hung to create a cluster light, create a cheerful focal point in this contemporary living room. The bold primary shades are picked up and reflected in the bold artwork.
Use fabulous curtains in a neutral room
This really does remind me of my old piano teacher’s house. The floor-to-ceiling curtains are simply fabulous – it really is like looking at music jumping across the window. There’s a feeling that this is a very special room with many memories and pieces of history.
This really does remind me of my old piano teacher’s house. The floor-to-ceiling curtains are simply fabulous – it really is like looking at music jumping across the window. There’s a feeling that this is a very special room with many memories and pieces of history.
Ground with grey and white
Although these are fairly soft colours, looking into this room is like gazing inside a sweet shop, so it gets my vote as a great colourful interior. That candy pink looks good enough to eat, while the use of grey and white stops the whole scheme looking sickly.
Learn how to work grey in every room or check out these great purple living spaces.
Although these are fairly soft colours, looking into this room is like gazing inside a sweet shop, so it gets my vote as a great colourful interior. That candy pink looks good enough to eat, while the use of grey and white stops the whole scheme looking sickly.
Learn how to work grey in every room or check out these great purple living spaces.
Break a few rules
The scale of this room and the furniture within it seems so haphazard and out of proportion that I think it’s done a full circle and come round to looking brilliant! I just love that orange bouncing off the powder blue. This to me is a colour and size rebellion and I love it.
The scale of this room and the furniture within it seems so haphazard and out of proportion that I think it’s done a full circle and come round to looking brilliant! I just love that orange bouncing off the powder blue. This to me is a colour and size rebellion and I love it.
Don’t be afraid to clash
This is great example of accessorising with colour successfully. I’ve always been a huge fan of coloured glass and I love the way this collection draws your eye to the walnut TV wall. The burnt orange and magenta work so well together, too – juxtaposing the clashing brights brings them both up to date.
This is great example of accessorising with colour successfully. I’ve always been a huge fan of coloured glass and I love the way this collection draws your eye to the walnut TV wall. The burnt orange and magenta work so well together, too – juxtaposing the clashing brights brings them both up to date.
Get quirky with your furniture
Roche Bobois’s Mah Jong modular sofa is such a playful design, it’s just asking for you to go a bit mad on the fabric choices. Setting it against pure white brings the colours and patterns alive. I love the single cheeky artwork, too, which is enough to unify the space. This is the kind of room where a family could all be together and have a giggle.
Discover more fun and quirky sofas.
TELL US…
Liked this? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Roche Bobois’s Mah Jong modular sofa is such a playful design, it’s just asking for you to go a bit mad on the fabric choices. Setting it against pure white brings the colours and patterns alive. I love the single cheeky artwork, too, which is enough to unify the space. This is the kind of room where a family could all be together and have a giggle.
Discover more fun and quirky sofas.
TELL US…
Liked this? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Upholstery fabric is a great way to bring some life and colour into a room and it works really well in this space. I know which sofa I would be drawn to when I entered the room. The pink one definitely looks like the place where all the fun happens, preferably over a big G&T with your best friend.
See why you don’t have to have a matching three-piece suite