So many colours to choose from....where do you start?

Ok, so you’ve decided, after all this time, it’s time to paint your place.  Start the New Year with a new look, update and refresh your place.  One problem, what colour do you use?  How can you tie things together – do you want to tie things together, where do you start?

If you’re looking for inspiration, then here are a few pointers to hopefully set you on the right track.

• Have a look at your wardrobe? Sounds funny I know, but I’m guessing that a fair few of your clothes will be in the same tones and shades.  If you really like those colours, then could you transfer those colours into your home?   My advice is to use colours that you love, not what is trendy.  Remember, colour really does affect the way we feel so go with what feels right for you.
• If you have beautiful views from your windows, then why not use these colours inside your place.  You could expand your rooms by bringing the colours outside to the inside.  This can have the perception of more space as the eye will extend what you see inside to the outside. 
• Look at something you own and which you love, and take inspiration from it for the colour palette.  For example, you might adore a picture, a vase, a rug or a particular cushion.  You can take a colour from that particular piece to form the basis of your colour scheme such as a feature wall or the main wall colour.
• If you have rooms leading off from other rooms, then consider how the house flows.  There is nothing to stop you from having completely different colours in each room; however, I prefer to have some sort of flow between the rooms.  Consider having some type of continuity between the feature walls, such as how the colours complement each other or the tones and shades of particular colour.  This can be tied together with the one main wall colour being the same throughout.
• It is important that you consider your lighting, both natural light and artificial light, as colour does change according the amount of light in the room.  It’s always a good idea to paint a sample area (1m x 1m, and use 2 coats) and review the colour at different times of the day.

Whatever you decide on for your place, just have a go.  Be creative and try something different – you can always paint over it…..