Step away from the grey
It just takes a little colour confidence to have you feeling bright at home, so follow our expert guide
... And let the bold brights in, plus details on Red ’s Smart Session, How To Be Colour Confident
Strong colours are rarely relaxing, but they can be uplifting,” so says Joa Studholme, Farrow & Ball’s international colour consultant. And she’s right – think of a bold peony pink or a shot of sunset orange and notice your spirits soar. Then imagine magnolia. For style consultant Erica Davies of The Edited, who moved into a modern house covered in the stuff, “I was totally depressed. The colour – or lack of it – made me pretty low.” Having vibrancy around the house is like serotonin for the soul – who wouldn’t want to be enlivened by their surroundings? Here’s a six-step guide to using it at home – swatches at the ready.
CHOOSE COLOURS THAT HAVE THE SAME ‘WEIGHT’
“Too many different bright colours and your home becomes a roller-coaster ride as you move through the house,” Studholme says. “Choose colours that have the same weight so that they fit together.” Weight here means depth – two dark colours go together and two pale ones do, but don’t put a dark red next to a pale blue.
THINK OF YOUR HOME LIKE IT’S AN OUTFIT
“I love the way J Crew clash clothes together, and I mix tones in the same way,” says Davies. Her living room is painted in Little Greene’s Juniper Ash, a blue that forms “around 70% of my decor. Emerald green takes 20%, and mustard yellow 10%”. She layers her look like she’s adding fashion accessories, using one colour with just two accents running through – the green from her stair carpet in the hall matches the chair in the living room, creating a feeling of cohesive fluidity between rooms.
LET PATTERN BE YOUR NEUTRAL
Interior designer Eva Sonaike’s range of homeware is inspired by the patterns of west Africa, and although riotous, don’t have to overpower a room. “Soft patterns, like stripes, are actually very calming,” she says. “It’s the geometric shapes that are louder.” She suggests mixing patterns but sticking to one style, such as a collection of cushions in circular prints, or a group of lampshades in zigzags. “Pattern is what gives a room character,” she adds, “and like bold colours, make a space feel alive.”
DARE TO CONTRAST
“Emerald green and sunshine yellow are both vibrant in their own way, and contrast beautifully,” Davies says (or, they have the same “weight”). “I wouldn’t pair citrus tones though – lime greens and lemon yellow are too similar, there’s nowhere near as much drama.”
GO BIG AND MODERN
You don’t need to paint a whole room in a bold colour – in fact, it’s more modern not to. “Paint most of a wall your chosen shade but leave a 15cm border around the edge in white,” Studholme suggests. “Brighter colours can make rooms feel smaller, but this won’t change the proportions and will really define your space.” She also recommends leaving the ceiling a bright white but painting the skirting the same as the wall, which will add a feeling of height.
COME TO RED’S COLOUR CONFIDENCE EVENT
Hearing our three experts talk will really bring colours to life – they know far more than can be included here. Bring a notepad and a paint chart, and prepare to be inspired. Find further details below.