SOURCEBOOK

Inspired by Zoe and James’s serene bathroom? Here’s how to create a balanced colour palette…

COLOUR CONFIDENT

Zoe has used soft, complementary shades to create a harmonious look. Sallie explains how the ‘colour rules’ can help you achieve the perfect mix of hues in your home

Although often small in size, bathrooms are important areas as they get lots of use and can be expensive to renovate. A good place to start when introducing several colours into the space is to select shades from the same family. This will ensure that whatever scheme you choose, the room will feel cohesive and the hues will complement each other. Deciding how you want your space to feel is the first step in selecting your palette. Warm and dark colours tend to advance, which means they look as though they’re closer and will therefore make the room feel cosy and more intimate. If you’re lucky enough to have a large bathroom, this can be an excellent choice. Cool and light shades, however, are said to recede, which means they’ll make everything look bright and airy – perfect for a smaller space.

Once you’ve picked your colour scheme, a simple way to introduce more than two shades is to follow the 60/30/10 rule. This means that 60 per cent of the room should be painted in your principal choice, while 30 per cent should be in a deeper tone to create depth. In a bathroom, this is likely to include tiled areas. If you pick a soft or neutral shade as your main colour, it will give your space greater longevity as it will be easier to update. Finally, introduce your 10 per cent accent colour. Go for an intensely pigmented shade to create contrast and impact. This tone can be used to highlight a key area such as a feature wall or woodwork details, or you could even use it for artwork and accessories. This approach will ensure your room feels balanced and restful, and will help you avoid making mistakes.