Expert guide
‘We are increasingly drawn to shades with an inherent warmth,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. ‘Choosing rich but gentle tones will create a striking yet soothing scheme.’ Ruth explains how to use them…
1
To create a harmonious space, work within a family of colours and use varying strengths – a paint card is a helpful reference for establishing these groups. A lighter tone on the walls works beautifully with darker woodwork and doors.
2
Consider the aspect of your space. These colours will intensify and appear much more orange in a south-facing room, so be sure to use cooler shades here. In north-facing rooms, the cold light can cause them to fall flat so ensure you choose warm, rich tones in those areas.
3
When pairing with neutrals, avoid bright, blue-toned whites as these will jar. Instead, a warmer white with red or ochre undertones will provide a much more balanced and cohesive feel.
4
It’s important to test dramatic shades such as these in situ in order to understand how they will react to the light in your space. It’s also a good idea to test in more than one location within a room, as well as observing them in both daylight and artificial light, as the difference can be significant.