How to decide on a colour scheme for your new home
- Written by Jess McDonald
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When faced with deciding on a colour scheme for your new home, you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities. Rather than visualising each room in isolation, try to think about your house as a whole. Consider your overall aesthetic and budget to ensure you’re getting the most value for your money. While it’s worth looking at current trends, you’ll want to make sure your choices won’t feel dated in a few years time.
Flooring
The best place to start establishing a colour theme for your home is with flooring. The right flooring will set the tone for the rest of your decor. Flooring and carpet colours will form the foundation for your home, influencing other interior choices.
Choosing a floor colour comes down to personal preference, there’s no firm rule about which floor colours go with which paint schemes. Consider the look you’re trying to achieve and remember to choose something that won’t easily date. It’s important to select flooring that strikes a balance between practicality, comfort, style and personal preference. Our favourite flooring colours are light woods and wood-like textures, soft botanical and pastel shades and shades of grey.
Cabinets & Countertops
The right cabinetry is essential to make sure your kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms are functional and fit with your overall aesthetic.
In a kitchen or bathroom setting, lighting directs the room’s focal point. Light-coloured countertops and cabinets work best in rooms where there is no direct overhead light. As far as contrasting or matching cabinets go, the choice depends on where you want the eye to be drawn. The more things match, the less the eye is drawn to a specific point, which means contrasting materials are ideal if you want to pull the eye to either the countertop or the cabinets.
Sheet metals such as stainless and copper are popular and work well with natural stone floors and wood cabinets. Natural materials such as stone and wood look best in their raw, natural state, with only stain used on the wood. Composites, on the other hand, can be painted or covered to display a large variety of custom finishes and colour schemes.
Cannes by Nettex in Pearl
Walls
Choosing wall colours is a personal decision, but ultimately you’ll want your walls to work consistently with other room features. If you’re working with a smaller room, match your walls with curtains and blinds, to make your room feel bigger. You can also try going a shade or two lighter/darker for a bit of variety.
While neutral walls can feel a bit lacklustre, they work well with almost every colour; offering you more flexibility with other furnishings. They also help tone down other strong colours. If you don’t have a specific palette in mind, take a look at our blog post on coordinating your walls with your curtains.
Curtains/blinds
Choosing the right colour curtains or blinds for your home will transform your room. But where to begin? First, decide on shade and tone. The colour you choose should be guided by the decor of the room they’re designed for. You’ll also want to consider the size of the room, its windows and how much light comes through. Take a look at article on Dark Curtains vs. Light Curtains to get started.
When deciding on a colour, look into fabric type as well. Cotton is more versatile whereas silk is luxurious but not as functional. You’ll want to consider where the curtains or blinds will be located; ask yourself what it is you need from your curtains? Is it privacy, noise reduction, light blocking or insulation? Check out our article on selecting curtain fabric for more information.
Deciding on a colour palette for your home is a great way to showcase your personal style and transform your space. While these are general guidelines, the final decision is up to you. Whether you opt for bright or neutral, you’ll want to create a cohesive flow from room-to-room. You’ll be spending a lot of time in your new home, so you’ll to feel relaxed and comfortable with your choices for years to come!
Matrix by James Dunlop in Ice
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