How to add colour to your home

So many homeowners shy away from introducing bold, bright hues into their homes. They often have the desire to, but tend to be afraid of taking the next step.

You can use colour blocking to add small doses of high impact colour to architectural features, to detailing and trim, to a feature wall, or limit it to just a small block of colour.

But, with a few clever ideas they can overcome that fear. Here’s how...

Colour blocking

Colour blocking allows you to experiment with different shades without being overwhelmed. You can use colour blocking to add small doses of high impact colour to architectural features, to detailing and trim, to a feature wall, or limit it to just a small block of colour.

You can also use it to create solid blocks of contrasting palettes using fabrics, accessories or paint.

Vibrant accessories

Colourful accessories are a great way to add a splash of colour blocking to a room.

Look for bargain buys or second hand saves that you can paint or make over in lively shades.

Paint dipping is a fun and trendy way to add colour to everyday pieces. Plus this allows you to add your own colours.

Throw pillows and textured cushions are an affordable way to add interest to a space and can instantly update a boring room.

Just add a combination of exciting shades to your sofa and you’ll witness the results immediately.

Use paint on your walls, art, floors and even appliances to make a huge impact on a boring space.

Art is a great way to incorporate colour blocking if you don't want to use paint. But this is a more expensive option.

Even making your own large-format art can be costly if you add up the cost of materials.

Tips for colour blocking

Don't go overboard with bold colours, but if you do, be sure to balance the look with neutral colours.

Try to limit your use of colours to no more than three colours, unless you’re aiming for a look that screams Rubik Cube.

When decorating your home, use the 60-30-10 principle. The numbers refer to the ideal distribution of colours in a room, by percentage.

Keep it simple and don't try to incorporate too many busy elements into your colour block setting. If you want to introduce patterns, throw in one pattern.

Bigger is better and a big block of solid colour, or a grouping of smaller blocks to make up a big block, will have a big impact.

Apply the 60-30-10 principle

When it comes to decorating a large room or open plan space, large areas of unbroken colour can be monotonous.

Too much colour, on the other hand, can be busy and distracting. We asked leading paint experts, Plascon to tell us how to achieve a balance between the two?

When decorating your home, use the 60-30-10 principle. The numbers refer to the ideal distribution of colours in a room, by percentage.

Apply your main colour to approximately 60 percent of the room, and introduce a secondary colour to about 30 percent of the remaining surfaces to add contrast and interest (think feature walls and furnishings).

For a monochromatic colour scheme select a single paint swatch and then choose an adjacent colour to lift up and add even more interest.

An accent colour should make up the final 10 percent, which can be introduced through cushions, rugs, and accessories for example.

This deceptively simple formula will help you create a unified palette wherever a splash or three of colour is required.

If you still feel that the colour is overwhelming, simply concentrate on using the main colour and then add a few small accent colours.

While a neutral colour scheme can be modern and contemporary, a small dose of colour can make a big difference to a room.

For a monochromatic colour scheme, or a single colour in different hues and shades, select a single paint swatch and then choose an adjacent colour (colours on either side) to lift up and add even more interest. This not only works for paint but for accessories as well.

Add colour using lights

And finally, the latest trend for adding colour to a room is to use LED lighting strips. LED lighting is becoming more popular for accent lighting as people realise that LED lighting uses far less electricity and last longer than either CFL (fluorescent) or halogen lighting.

Article courtesy of www.home-dzine.co.za