Choosing a colour scheme is where many people get stuck. There are thousands of paint colours and endless fabrics, and no obvious place to begin.
My answer is always the same. There has to be a hero piece in the room, one thing that starts the conversation about colour. That piece then guides your choices of fabric and furniture.
What is a hero piece?
It’s the one thing in the room you love and would hate to lose. It might be a rug, a painting, a pair of curtains, a piece of china or a family heirloom. It doesn’t have to be expensive. It only has to have colours that matter to you and, most importantly, that you like.
Take your colours from it
Look closely at the hero piece and pick out two or three colours. One is usually the main colour, one is a softer partner, and one is a small accent. These become your colour scheme.
Let it guide fabrics and furniture
Once you know the colours, the other choices become easier. A cushion or curtain that picks up one of them will look as if it belongs. This thread of colour can run through the rest of the room’s décor, and is known as “the red thread”. Often people carry it through the wall colours across a large area. Ideally one room’s colour tones in with the next, but they can also be dramatically different, depending on your style.
A sofa or chair in a quiet shade will let the hero piece do the work. You can also look at what you already own, and move it if it doesn’t fit.
Think about the wall behind it
The colour of the wall alters how everything in front of it looks. A deep colour can make a picture glow, and a pale one can let a bold rug stand out. Paint a large sample on lining paper, tape it on all four walls and look at it throughout the day, because the light at different times of day changes the colour.
However, it is much easier to swap cushions or rugs than to repaint a room. So as always, I would recommend the less expensive route: choose a paint that doesn’t take over, unless it’s for a small cosy room or a guest loo.
For paint colours to browse, see Farrow & Ball’s paint range.
Use what you already have
Often the hero piece is already in the room. Start there before you buy anything.
If you’d like help finding the hero piece in your home and building a scheme from it, check out the services I offer here.
