Colour Block like an Expert

Sometimes you want to just add colour to your home and bold cushions just don't cut it anymore. When used correctly, colour blocking your wall is the most effective and economical way to add decorative style to your home. Colour blocking is using a different paint colour from the main colour. It also is the easiest to fix if you mess up. Just paint again.

1. FOLLOW YOUR STYLE
Your interior design style whether it be tailored, Scandinavian or coastal will naturally direct you to colours that would work with your interior palette.

For sophisticated tailored interiors (think boutique hotels), the palette is mostly neutrals so go with a dark neutral colour like dark browns or charcoal.

Scandi interiors lend to nostalgic colours such as orange, browns and greens. The reason why is that the timbers used, mainly American Oak or Teak, just look so good with these colours!

Coastal interiors are typically light and casual. Since the surrounding environment is instrumental to this palette, use this as a springboard to your accent wall. Go light coloured blues, tans and yellow to compliment this style.

2. BRING ON THE LIGHT
Natural lighting plays a big role with accent walls. The same colour in a dark room versus one that has lots of natural light will not look the same. Make sure you test out the colour in natural light before you paint. An accent colour in a dark room does not have the same impact as a room with lots of natural light. I recommend focusing on lighting instead of colour blocking in a dark room.


3. ASK MOTHER NATURE
If you can't decide on a colour, just look to mother nature for inspiration. Nothing is more calming than earthy greens, blues, browns and greys.

4. BEING SUBTLE
Doing colour blocking doesn't necessarily mean bright bold colours. You can achieve sophistication be using light colour blocking. If you are sticking to the same paint colour strip, just make sure you go a couple chips apart so that there is enough contrast.


5. LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
The whole point of colour blocking is to achieve a focal point and bring together a room. Try walking into a room and identify which wall you see first. I find this helpful in finding that focal point because that is where your eye is naturally drawn. Other considerations come into play such as furniture placement.


6. BEING ARTFUL
If you are colour blocking phobic or renting, try bold artwork as a portable committment to bringing some colour into your home. I suggest larger scale pieces of artwork to achieve the same effect as painting a wall.