Colour’s off the chart
IF you’ve ever tried to decide what to paint on your walls you’ll know the futility of scanning colour cards or trying samples. But with more home-working, colour is becoming an important way to lift our mood and help distinguish areas where we work, rest and play. Now interior designers are coming to our rescue, notably Linda Barker from television’s Changing Rooms.
Her newly launched Linda Barker Paints has replaced colour cards with a colour compass that has dark tones in the middle graduating outwards to lighter shades to show contrasting or complementary choices.
“It will also help you to choose fabric and soft furnishing colours to complete your room,” says Linda.
“I liken it to a designer putting together a mood board, only I’ve made it simpler for everyone to do using the compass.”
Online homewear site Cox & Cox also has a new paint range of 16 neutrals, greys and blues, which it launched after enquiries about wall colours in its lifestyle photography.
“We spend a lot of time choosing the perfect paint colours to use on our photoshoots and understand how overwhelming it can be to choose the perfect shade for your home,” says director of buying Dani Taylor.
Also new to the UK market is American paint company Benjamin Moore, whose Timeless Neutrals and Fresh Pales are a useful alternative to white.
They add character to a space while maintaining an airy feel, says UK director Helen Shaw, especially in colder months.