The third and final installment in my colour series, today I’m looking at trends. If you haven’t seen my first two colour-themed posts, you can check them out here and here.
You may not realise it, but interior design and fashion are closely linked, with colour especially being very much a trend thing. Over the years, a huge range of colour combinations have gained, and subsequently lost, popularity. Pink and grey, blue and yellow, sage green and peach, forest green and terracotta, terracotta and strong blue, and the neutral tone on tone have all been embraced at one time or another, with home owners opting to have walls painted or kitchens fitted in these colour pairings. I’m sure I’m not the only one who wonders what on earth people were thinking when they came up with some of those combos!
These days the trend is to stick to white, or black and white interiors, which can be a real advantage for those who like to keep up with the latest fashion. Opting for white and black means that colour trends can be followed and embraced, simply by changing up the decor and small soft furnishings like cushions (though you may like to consider whether or not you want be a part of the throwaway society by continually updating the pieces in your home). At the moment the trend is strong greens, jewel tones and denim/indigo blues, which obviously appeal to the masses. If, however, you choose to be a bit more unique with your colour accents it will take a concerted effort to find exactly what you are looking for (interior designers can help with that).
Black and white rooms can look extremely smart and have considerable impact, though things can get tricky when it comes to accessories. I always advise either sticking with the chosen palette, and adding textures and natural elements, or introducing only three areas of an accent colour (or colours), preferably in reducing amounts. Red is often a popular choice when it comes to accents, but I find this predictable and somewhat boring. If you love red, however, you could do variations on the colour in the same room, such as hot pink tones, oranges or purples. For a change your accent colour could be teal or a strong green, or you could use a pastel tone such as a pale pink or mint green.
Although colour trends come and go, people tend to stick to primary colours when it comes to children’s rooms. Though this is a rather traditional option, I question this tendency as I believe it’s the fact that children’s products, such as crayons and toys, are often produced in primary colours (surely a more cost effective marketing ploy) that has created this colour association. I love seeing a child’s room done in a soft tone of colours, which can give a calming effect when it comes time for sleep, with punches of colour added for contrast, stimulation, and fun.
It is well known that colour influences moods and can create or eliminate feelings of general well being. Red is meant to stimulate appetite, greens and pinks are thought to be calming, while light blues can look and feel somewhat icy. It is for this reason that using accent colours, even just in cushions, can give a different mood to a room. With this in mind, it is worth noting that in some cases white rooms can end up feeling impersonal or unfriendly, particularly if halogen or white lights are used at night. It is also worth considering whether a room is sunny or on the colder side of the house before choosing a paint colour – if you add a cold colour to a cold room, you would always feel chilly going into this room.
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Interior Designer, Tauranga
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