Before reaching for the fandeck
5 things to make curating a colour scheme easier.
I’ve had some lovely colour consultations with clients this week, but I noticed a common theme popping up - what started as an enjoyable project had turned stressful, ‘paralysis by analysis’ had set in, followed by real pressure to create something amazing, in some cases before the painter arrived in 2 days!
Curating a colour scheme can be overwhelming especially if you don’t do it on the daily. Before jumping into the fandeck there’s a couple of things I always do. These help give a steer on the direction the palette will take and also save looking through 100s of hues that just aren’t going to work.
5 things I consider before pulling out a fandeck
North or South
Orientation - what direction does the space face? This has a huge impact on the type and intensity of light.
Here in the southern hemisphere our north facing spaces receive warm, abundant light. We tend to maximise windows in these areas, so they can take saturated and cooler colours. Anything too warm, like a yellow or red will only act to intensify the light, making the space feel even brighter, impacting the mood.
In contrast, Southern spaces are going to have a cooler light. Choosing colours with cool undertones will only accentuate this, even a crisp white may still feel dull. Instead, consider warm mid-tone colours to bring balance to the space.
Tip - If you don’t have floorplans to hand, use Google Maps to find the orientation of your space. Just enter your address and check the compass is set to north.
Outlook
Outlook goes hand in hand with orientation. Lush greenery in the backyard will reflect back into the space as will a black fence and the neighbour’s house. Don’t forget if your windows are tinted this is another consideration - it’s like seeing the world through rose (or in this case green) tinted glasses!
Furniture & Fixtures
Take a look around what furniture and hard materials you have (and plan to keep), have you subconsciously gone for similar tones, or is there a particular fabric you really love?
Taking these hues onto the walls can be a great way to introduce a paint colour confidently. For example if you have a warm oak floor, linen curtains and a sofa in moss boucle stick to a colour that also feels natural and earthy, as if it’s part of the family.
Visual flow
Lean into patterns and art you already have in the space. Whilst you don’t want the walls and artwork to blend entirely, selecting a single hue and then weaving it through the space creates a sense of cohesion and visual flow.
In this bedroom by Golden, the artwork sets the palette - the same brown tones, one with a red undertone, the other a classic chocolate are echoed in the throw. Going lighter but staying in the warm neutrals is the bedding and finally a yellow based creamy neutral on the wall. Simply weaving different intensities of a single colour creates a strong sense of harmony and calmness, so good you can almost imagine relaxing here.
Big feelings
I’ve written an entire post on feeling, honestly it’s often an overlooked aspect in colour selection. We should be thinking about how different colours make us feel, what mood we want to create and how we want to react when we walk into a space. Our response to colour is deeply emotive, and each hue can have a unique psychological impact on our reaction.
Linking back to orientation, also consider the time of day you’ll most use the space. Sure a south-west facing bedroom might miss the morning sun but if it turns out you’re mainly there in the evening, then embrace that mood of relaxation and select deep warm tones that instantly feel cozy.
If you’d love to keep the colour conversation going, leave a comment below, headover to amiewhite.nz or my instagram.