Ask a Designer: How Can I Add Colour in a Stylish Way?
A touch of colour can wake up a white interior and boost your mood. Here’s how to introduce your favourite shades in small but potent ways
When it comes to colour in the home, most Brits tend to shy away. White, cream, grey, green and dark blue were the key hues Houzzers confessed to using in a recent survey. Reactions to colour are individual, but, as brand gurus know well, they can have a profound effect on our mood and choices. Whether you prefer clashing or complementary hues, colour can liven up your interior no end. Even the smallest of touches can make all the difference, as these schemes demonstrate.
Unite styles
Contemporary with Victorian, wood with chrome… A bold, bright colour can help to pull together different design eras and materials in a purposeful clash of styles.
Contemporary with Victorian, wood with chrome… A bold, bright colour can help to pull together different design eras and materials in a purposeful clash of styles.
Accessorise with colour
Unless you want to live swathed in colour, adding touches through your lighting and furniture brings an elegant white room room to life.
Unless you want to live swathed in colour, adding touches through your lighting and furniture brings an elegant white room room to life.
Compare and contrast
Long, heavy curtains bring elegance and gravitas to a room. To keep the scheme a little more light-hearted, try different colours for each window. These drapes tone with each other and pick up colours used elsewhere in the room.
Long, heavy curtains bring elegance and gravitas to a room. To keep the scheme a little more light-hearted, try different colours for each window. These drapes tone with each other and pick up colours used elsewhere in the room.
Add an element of surprise
A simple touch, like painting these ceiling beams red, catches the eye and lifts the space. This red streak draws the eye up and along, opening out the room.
Find out why white isn’t always right for your ceiling
A simple touch, like painting these ceiling beams red, catches the eye and lifts the space. This red streak draws the eye up and along, opening out the room.
Find out why white isn’t always right for your ceiling
Don’t forget the furniture
One of your biggest expenses (other than structural work) is likely to be your furniture. Don’t be afraid to pick a colour, especially if your walls and floor are kept quite plain. Just as with the accessories you wear, it’s the furniture and quirky pieces that will make or break your design.
One of your biggest expenses (other than structural work) is likely to be your furniture. Don’t be afraid to pick a colour, especially if your walls and floor are kept quite plain. Just as with the accessories you wear, it’s the furniture and quirky pieces that will make or break your design.
Bring your holiday home
Moroccan tiles have been paving the way for centuries. Here, the random mix of colours and patterns adds excitement to the elegance of the bathroom fittings and furniture.
See other ways to add vibrance to your bathroom floor
Moroccan tiles have been paving the way for centuries. Here, the random mix of colours and patterns adds excitement to the elegance of the bathroom fittings and furniture.
See other ways to add vibrance to your bathroom floor
Add a splash
Not keen on going all out? Hints of colour makes for a stylish, restrained interior. The hot pink pendant cord and chair legs give this kitchen a playful, contemporary edge.
Not keen on going all out? Hints of colour makes for a stylish, restrained interior. The hot pink pendant cord and chair legs give this kitchen a playful, contemporary edge.
Go for a clash
Forget matching and go bright and bold for a room with sunny energy. Here, the chandelier adds to the furniture colour injection, while the charcoal sofas counterbalance to keep it cosy.
Forget matching and go bright and bold for a room with sunny energy. Here, the chandelier adds to the furniture colour injection, while the charcoal sofas counterbalance to keep it cosy.
Be brave
Ditch the traditional white and rev up your bathroom fittings with colour. This fantastic red bath, made from recycled plastic, will brighten up your morning no end. Luxury and colour combined!
Inspired to add some colour? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Ditch the traditional white and rev up your bathroom fittings with colour. This fantastic red bath, made from recycled plastic, will brighten up your morning no end. Luxury and colour combined!
Inspired to add some colour? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
There are no rules when it comes to using colour, other than choose hues you like and make sure they create the look you want. Here, the soft tones of the pastel blue kitchen work beautifully with the bolder kitchen light fittings and chair.