Colours Speak A Thousand Words!
Undoubtedly one of the most important parts of any design process is selecting the right colours, and this definitely applies to interior and exterior design. Colours can immediately set the tone before you even walk through the front door of a property, for better or for worse.
Some people naturally have an eye for colour and can whip up a cohesive palette in their sleep, but if that’s not the case, the idea of committing to a palette for your living room, let alone the exterior of your house can be intimidating. With a world of knowledge about colour theory and every shade imaginable at our finger tips through the internet, this choice can feel daunting, especially when it comes to more permanent and costly decisions.
If you’re about to embark on a full renovation, speaking to a professional designer for some tips around this can of course be helpful. But, in most cases, getting your home to an Open Home Ready standard (whether that’s to sell or simply enjoy) is a slow process and often involves working with existing colours and features in your property. So, today I wanted to share some of my (unprofessional) advice on working with unique and sometimes polarizing colours in the home and hopefully help you feel inspired or a little more confident to bring some colour into your space!
Starting Is The Hardest Part…
When it comes to splashing paint on walls or even choosing an upholstery colour for your couch, the hardest part is always getting started. Whether you’re working with a blank canvas of white walls or some existing colours, creating a moodboard is the best way to start narrowing down your options.
In the past, I’ve tended to create moodboards for different spaces within the house, as well as a main Pinterest board for the overall vibe. Start small, what colours are you most drawn to? Then start saving images where those colours have been used in combination with others and you’ll start to build your dream palette. Heading to Resene and picking up some paint swatches is also a great way to start visualizing your chosen palette in the space, whether you plan to use paint or not.
Working With Existing Colours…
We have a listing on the market currently at 5 Dawson Street that is home to one of the funkiest retro kitchens, with bright red countertops. Bright and dominant colours can immediately set the tone in a space and if it’s used on a surface like countertops, you might need to work with them until you’re ready to make more permanent changes.
Luckily, there is always a way to make a bold colour work. With red, pale pinks and shades of blue can bring a more retro look, where neutrals and organic materials like wood and stone pair with red to create a more modern, refined feel. If you’re decorating around a trickier existing colour, start researching how others have used it in their own spaces and you might just find you’re working with a hidden gem!
The trick is to make it feel intentional, rather than avoiding it altogether. I’ve seen homestagers work absolute magic with some of the most polarizing colours by simply leaning into them. Funky coloured bathtub? Incorporate that colour through hand towels and bathmats. Bright wallpaper? Play around with soft furnishings like cushions and bed linen to tie it into the space.
Tricks Of The Trade…
With all that said, there are some occasions where you’re faced with a colour that simply has to go. If that happens to be in a more permanent place like kitchen counters/cupboards or tiles, there are several tricks that can come in handy.
Reglazing or regrouting tiles is something that can make a world of difference in a kitchen or bathroom, especially if the tiles are older and bring a more dated feel to the space. Getting tiles or even a bathtub/sink reglazed professionally is infinitely more cost effective than ripping everything out and updating it and the impact this can have on a space is immediate.
When it comes to cupboards, in the kitchen or bathroom, getting them wrapped in a new colour of your choice is also a much more cost effective alternative to a full renovation and gives you a much cleaner and more long-lasting finish than simply DIY painting them. You can also get kitchen appliances like stoves and fridges rewrapped to add pops of fresh colour, without breaking the bank on brand new appliances. Whilst both of these hacks will still take money and time, the overall impact they can make is well worth it.
Make It Fun…
Lastly, my best piece of advice is to have fun with colour, especially in less permanent ways. Cushion covers, rugs, artwork, window finishings and bed linens are all great aspects to play with different colour palettes that can be updated and switched out over time. Getting creative with paint on your front door and mailbox can also be a relatively easy DIY project to bring a fresh look to the exterior of your house, without committing to a full exterior re-paint.
Bringing fresh flowers and plenty of indoor plants into your space is also an excellent way to instantly make existing colours pop and feel more cohesive. The possibilities are endless and although it’s important to be intentional with your colour choices, it should also be fun and bring some joy and unique personality into your home!