Design Tips
In order to bring out the best from your interior, we'll need to use colours that work harmoniously with your existing decor. Mood, and the impression a colour will leave on house occupants and guests are also important factors to consider.
Resene offers an extensive catalogue of colour choices and here at Aurora Painting, we just love their colourshop!
Here's a few things we recommend our clients consider prior to commencement of their decorating project:
Natural Light
Daylight has a major impact on the appearance of a colour scheme in a room. If a room receives a generous amount of natural light and is frequently occupied throughout the daytime, consider adjusting your colour choice a tone or two darker than it's original form. This can help avoid an overexposed look to the finished paintwork.
Colour Psychology
Interior designers have longtime suggested that every colour has a unique psychological value. When choosing your colour palette, take the time to ask yourself what mood you're trying to create in the room, remembering that each individual colour connects with certain feelings and characteristics, usually at an unconscious level.
Lets look at some active, passive and neutral colour choices:
Reds
Reds are associated with energy and intensity. In your lounge or dining area, this bold hue can stimulate interaction and create excitement. At night, by adopting a low level of lighting, Reds are also known for subtly projecting warmth and elegance. When choosing this bold colour for all walls in a room, Aurora recommends the rest of the decor should remain neutral. Reds are also a popular choice for creating striking feature walls.
Resene Havoc, Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Bulgarian Rose
Resene Broome, Resene Kournikova, Resene Lemon Twist
Yellows
Yellow is an active hue which communicates optimism, happiness and emotional stimulation. We would advise against decorating large areas with this colour though, as an overwhelming amount of yellow has the ability to cause negative emotions. Aurora Painting suggests Yellow works best as a secondary colour scheme, most suitable for smaller areas of your home such as wet areas (kitchens, bathrooms and laundries).
Resene Pattens Blue, Resene Half Robbin Egg Blue, Resene Half Dusted Blue
Blues
Blue is said to be a colour of the mind and is commonly known for its calming properties. As a cool colour by nature, avoid this passive hue in areas lacking natural light as it can often produce cold, unwelcoming results. We recommend softer shades with warm undertones as a great choice for your bedrooms and bathrooms.
Resene Groovy, Resene Paradise, Resene Hippy
Greens
Green is another passive colour known for it's representation of balance and assurance. Due to it's strong association with nature, Greens are said to encourage calm, secure feelings and are suitable for every room in your home. Aurora advises that dark, accent colours contrast perfectly with softer shades, whereas whites are an ideal companion with lighter greens.
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, Resene Black
Neutrals
The benefit of a neutral colour scheme is flexibility. Rooms decorated with warm neutrals are inviting and comfortable, and combining dark coloured furnishings and accessories adds rich focal points and depth. When mixing warm and cool neutrals, remember that balance is crucial. Whether your room is a predominantly cool or warm palette is simply down to preference, but be sure to include at least a few items in the opposing colours.