Add vibrant colour schemes to jaded interiors

BY changing your colour scheme now you’ll reap the benefits once autumn sets in by which time your home will have retained all the effervescence of summer light. Maintaining your home’s vibrancy through carefully selected colour schemes is a great way of reinventing a property. This will not only look well but will also lift your home’s interior through the drab autumn and winter months that lie just around the corner.

But there’s more to giving your room a facelift than opening a paint tin as choosing the right paints should be a conceptual process as much as an inspirational process: it’s your home and you alone will determine how best it suits your mood. When selecting a favourite colour, be sure to consider the type of product as paint needs to be practical as well as decorative.

Kitchens are usually the focal point of a home and endure a lot of wear and tear, so choose paint that is durable. High gloss paints have the highest sheen and are best for your kitchen because not only are they robust, they’re also easy to clean.

On the flip side, ‘ matte’ or ‘flat’ paints have zero sheen but are subtle for absorbing natural light (unlike the high-gloss variety which reflects light). This paint is suitable for low traffic areas like bedrooms, guest lounges, or sitting rooms. The matte finish is also more decorative and sets a much warmer tone when exposed to natural or artificial light.

Never underestimate the impact a colour has on furnishings and home décor, particularly in those comfortable living spaces. Studies have shown that colour influences our mood and the positive atmosphere of a home.

The living room is primarily a place to relax and unwind. For this reason you should avoid dark colours as soothing colours will make a small room seem larger and more comfortable. You can also vary the schemes by painting one wall in a rich colour such as red or dark purple as this will give a nice contrast and won’t compromise the fresh and open feel.