Planning a colour scheme for every room of your apartment may seem rather overwhelming but in fact it is not that different from planning a colour scheme for an individual room because the same basic techniques apply with just a few additional thing to consider.
Make an assessment of your whole apartment, even if you have been living there for some time. Make notes of your immediate impressions for each room: is there any architectural features that you could bring out, see how the light changes during the day and what effect this may have on colours or are there any features you would like to hide etc..
Think about your existing décor, such as colourful furniture and carpets and consider building your new décor around these items. If your furniture and carpets are neutrals you will find it easier to choose a new colour scheme for your apartment.
Your first decision should be on how adventures you want your colour scheme to be – you have several choices:
A Tonal/Monochromatic scheme which consist of one colour but in many shades and different hues from dark to light, and is harmonious and flows well.
A Harmonious scheme which uses the adjacent colour on the colour wheel, giving your the opportunity for more exciting highlights/features.
A Complementary scheme which uses colours opposite each other on the colour wheel allowing more flexibility for accent and highlight colours but these colours must be managed carefully so the final overall colour scheme isn't jarring.
Start with the largest and most visible room in your apartment (usually this would be your living room) and decide on a colour scheme for this room.
Next step would be to look at the visible areas from that room such as halls etc. and decide on how you want to treat them. Choose your wall colours first, then select the trim and accent colours. Keep working from room to room like this until you have planned the whole apartment.
Let the mood and use of the rooms drive the colours you select, not the other way around. In closed rooms such as the bathroom, you can plan a more adventures colour scheme.
Neutral colour schemes have been a feature of decorating for many years. These timeless hues which were used by the earliest artists, create colours that are restful, soothing and livable.
The true neutrals are colours such as black, white and grey. Sometimes better known as 'non-colours' as they don't appear on the colour wheel. They are a combination of all the colours in the spectrum.
Sometimes they are described as 'the diplomats of decorating'. Neutral colours go with everything and clash with none. Neutral colours are essential in décor as they can be used to create a feeling of relief when used in a strong colour scheme, or used alone to create a subtle calming monochromatic palette.
When used together back and white can create a stunning visual contract without a drop of colour. For a sophisticated modern look, paint the walls white and fill the room with contemporary black furniture. If you want to soften the look, add accents like pillows and other accessories in varying shades of grey.
In recent years the true neutral definition has been re-classified. These 'new' neutrals are very low intensity colours: the most muted versions of colour on the colour wheel.
All colours are created from the three primary colours:- red, yellow and blue (see article). So even though the new neutrals only have a hint of colour in them they are still a tone of the three primary colours.
Red-tones neutrals from light beige to deep browns, red-toned neutrals are comfortable and traditional.
Yellow-toned neutrals from subtle creams to deep golden browns, yellow-toned neutrals are fresh and uplifting.
Blue-toned neutrals from a hint of grey to deep blue-blacks, blue-toned neutrals offer quiet unrestrained elegance.
If you aim to create a pleasing neutral scheme, try not to mix different tones. Don't pair red-toned with yellow-toned or blue-toned neutrals but try to stick with several shades of the same tone as this will create a tranquil, elegant and refined look.
Neutrals are a great choice for interiors because they are comfortable, understated and elegant. Their subtlety makes them versatile and easy to use. Allowing you freedom to add other colours and patterns to your apartment.
By decorating a small room with light neutral shades will make it appear more spacious and airy. Using deeper neutrals for a main wall or adding more contrast, can make a large room appear more intimate and cosy.
Make sure to use a variety of different neutrals, textures and patterns in order to prevent your apartment to looking bland. This will give your room a visual interest.
Remember just as neutrals can calm a colourful scheme, colour can enliven a neutral scheme. Using colourful accents can bring unexpected 'punches' of colour to a neutral room, or by using colour to highlight an interesting architectural feature such as a fireplace or alcoves.
Bookmark or blog this page: