By Kathleen from Sunday Interiors Studio
Getting the right white for your walls can be overwhelming, there are so many options out there, how do you choose the right one for you?
It’s not as daunting as it seems, I promise! There are a few things to consider;
Lighting
Lighting is the key element for all interior spaces and the most important to consider. Is there a lot of natural light coming in or is the home somewhat overshadowed by bigger homes either side? A lot of natural light will allow you to select a colour which has more of a tinted base than that of a home which faces south or has little light coming into the main living areas. Because we can’t all have perfectly positioned homes with an abundance of natural light, you should also consider the type of lights being installed. LED downlights for example can be set to three different light colours and can throw varying warm and cool colours depending on your selection which can alter the appearance of your wall colour depending on the colour it is set to.
Recommendation: Taubmans Crisp White
Finish
I find that most people automatically jump to a matt finish on their walls. Just like a gloss finish reflects light and therefore appears brighter, a matt finish will have the opposite effect; absorbing the light coming into a space and making it feel darker. Of course, this again will depend on the source and availability of light into an area. I encourage you to consider other wall paint finishes such as a low sheen which will still appear ‘matt’ but will give your space more energy.
Recommendation: Taubmans Winter Ice
Style
A positive of working in this industry is seeing all of the varying styles people love and how differently it can all come together for them. Warmer tones are great for country and modern style homes while cooler tones are great from hamptons and contemporary homes. That’s not to say that they can’t mix of course; just like the styles often do. A client of mine recently wanted a “hamptons in the country” feel and we were able to come up with a scheme which mixed rich timbers with brighter coastal living finishes.
Recommendation: Taubmans Gemini Silver
Application
I like to use one colour on all the walls throughout a home, it creates cohesion and a natural sense of flow when going between rooms. Depending on the project, it is advantageous to create a different feel in each room while still continuing with the same wall colour throughout. To do this effectively I like to use a colour on the walls which will lend itself to the colours and light in that specific room bringing out its varying underlying tones, while ensuring the entire home is consistent. Not all colours can do this of course and therefore it’s important to do your research and really play with the colour in varying rooms, types of lights and playing with other colours around it.
Recommendation: Taubmans Phantom Dream
And there you have it, this is how a designer works with the right colour for an overall home.
When planning your new home, Vogue-Homes has designs to suit all lifestyles and design/colour experts to help you choose the right colours and paint type for your new home. Contact us to talk to one of our Design/Colour experts today.
