Let’s start with why colour theory is important in interior design? Understanding colour theory helps with colour harmonisation - how colours work together. This can influence mood, create atmosphere and add ambiance which all affect how a person feels in a space.
Colour plays a role in human psychology and emotions. Warm colours like red, yellow and orange are often associated with love, passion, and happiness. Cool colours like blues and whites are associated with peace and tranquility and tend to have a calming effect. Lighter colours generally create a calm and open feeling while darker colours make a bold statement.
So, my advice when designing a space?
1 – Pick a colour. Perhaps your favourite or one that evokes a mood or a memory. Consult the colour wheel – what are its complimentary colours? Is there a combination that you are drawn to? Look at your chroma reduced options – if you love olive green how intense a hue can you live in?
2 – Reference a painting or a fabric, take inspiration from it. You were probably drawn to it for a reason and it’s likely that it’s also evoking a mood that you are drawn to and one that you would like to create in your space.
3 – Follow the 60-30-10 rule. Not an exact science, but a great way to help you decide how much of a colour to use in a single space and still maintain balance. 60 forms the dominant colour of the walls, 30 is the secondary colour typically for upholstery and 10 is an accent colour used for accessories.
My general guidance is not to overthink it. Go with what you love and what makes you feel good. However, I say this with one caveat, and that is to always consider the aspect of a room and how much light it will have throughout the day. If it's south facing with little natural daylight, it will likely benefit from warmer undertones to add brightness and life to the space.
This brings me to perhaps the most important rule of all. When it comes to choosing a wall colour, always, and I do mean always test paint colours on the walls in the actual room they will go in. Paint up samples as large as possible. Live with them. View them at different times of the day. This is not a step to skip.
Dopamine Design
Taken from the concept of dopamine dressing, which is in essence dressing to boost your mood, this theory suggests that we can design consciously through choice of colour, texture or style to activate the release of dopamine, the feel-good chemical our bodies make.
More than just following a current trend, dopamine design takes a personal approach and encourages us to stay true to our style and taste. This may include incorporating colours, patterns, images, possessions we love or which make us feel happy, safe, creative, and/or focused – whatever the goal. Actually, it’s a simple and innate concept really - our homes are an extension of ourselves and should help us feel our very best, and thereby live our best life.
Colour Trends
Each year, Pantone announces a ‘colour of the year’, predicting the next big trend in design. Importantly, this is not just limited to interiors. The hue selected has become increasingly influential in fashion, marketing, and consumer product development. So, what does this mean for our homes and 'Viva Magenta' – the 2023 Pantone Colour of the Year?
While it is most likely to impact paint trends, you will see it pop up in décor and soft furnishings – vases, cushions, and homewares. Viva Magenta brings instant warmth and drama to a space and certainty follows current interior trends favouring warmer tones and bold colours. Importantly, as demonstrated in the schemes I shared in the first part of this series, you can adjust the intensity to suit your personal taste.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave me a comment below and let me know if you intend to incorporate 'Viva Magenta' in your home.
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