If I were a mathematician, I might be able to tell
you how many colourful permutations can be
picked from the 132 colours on Farrow & Ball’s
standard colour card. Unfortunately, I was probably
daydreaming during my maths lessons and even now I
tend to glaze over at the very thought of algebra. What
I do know is that a well-planned colour scheme can do
wonders for your mood and no two colour consultancies
are alike. Whatever size or stage of project you’re taking
on, from stately homes to studio flats, pristine new-builds to well-worn family homes, there are a few key
things to take into consideration.
Firstly – location, location, location. Are you in
the town or countryside? Do you have a view of
a compact courtyard garden or across a dramatic
sweeping landscape? How does the location of your
home influence the way it feels? I have seen so many
neutral interiors which feel completely at odds with
the property and its owners. Often colour can far better
reflect the location and character of a house and can be
the key to making somewhere feel like home. Don’t feel
bound by rules though. An old, characterful cottage can
be decorated in a clean, minimalist style just as a sleek,
concept home can be filled with a riot of pattern and
colour. Your home should be a direct reflection of your
personality and style rather than someone else’s.
Next, consider what natural light there is – which
direction does it come from and at what time of day?
Does your home have a particular architectural style
or any interesting or quirky details? It is always best
to work with, rather than against, what you’ve got.
Used cleverly, colour can be used to enhance lovely
features and disguise less attractive ones. Create a sense
of continuity by framing a view from one room into
another. A picture or a bold splash of colour that draws
the eye can help to link spaces.
Finally, what do you need and what do you love? So
often I get calls from people who love colour and want to use it in their home but are worried about making a
mistake. It just takes a little confidence. Pinterest and
Instagram can be invaluable sources of inspiration,
but the more we scroll and click save and ‘Like’, the
algorithm feeds us more and more of the same, so
it can feel like we are falling down a rabbit hole of
homogenised ideas. Having grown up with the internet,
Generation Z, or Zoomers, are ‘digital natives’, and to
me, they certainly seem to be much more influenced
by the online content they consume. There is more
of a tendency to follow trends or faithfully recreate a
look, whether it is fashion or interior design. I don’t
know if it’s just that our confidence grows with age and
experience, or if it’s that we simply worry less about
what others may think, but often it is my older clients
who surprise and delight with their desire to be bold
and really embrace colour.