The Best Way to Decorate

Paint and Paper Library - Beetlenut and Heath

You are probably at home, and you are probably being affected by your decoration choices more than ever. There is not a right or wrong way to design or experience design, instead it is the art of curating what you like, and everyone’s likes are different. However, when it comes to paint colours there are tried and tested rules - hallelujah. This is everything you need to know or to ask yourself…

Which direction does the room face? It is mandatory that you consider this, colours will appear a lot brighter and lighter in south facing rooms, and north outlooks tend to bring out the green in colours. When a room is east or west facing the colour can change dramatically throughout the day. This is why you must always get tester pots and do a large patch on more than one area of the room, live with it and see how it changes.  

Flow and traffic are important. Which rooms do you spend most of your time in, and how do you get there? The hallway helps explain why one should do this and is often relevant whether you have fiddly flat or a huge house. It is the first impression so must be welcoming and reflect your personality. If your home is in London you probably don’t have natural light in the hallway, which does not necessarily mean that it needs to be painted an off white to counteract this. I would personally suggest the opposite so not to risk it looking dull if there isn’t the light to be reflected off it (assuming you are urban living). This is a place you move through and being darker will impact the larger rooms, making them lighter in contrast.

It is fake news that light colours make a space bigger, and dark small. In fact, light colours could highlight the rooms boundaries, potentially enclosing it more whilst a strong colour can have magical qualities. A darker colour will give an already small room luxury and depth. That is not to say that one should not use light colours, just that this is not the only option.

Paint and Paper Library - Sea Nor Sky, Slate II, Steel III, Seapod (wallpaper)

If you are planning the scheme for the whole home, list the rooms and their qualities. Which of these rooms are south facing, which have the most traffic/time spent in? If you would like to try a bold colour, where will this work most convincingly, and which rooms can afford to be more intimate. There should be a style intention, if not an obvious harmony between all of the colours chosen. To achieve the cohesion you may also like to consider doing the woodwork throughout one colour, or maybe focus on one wall colour throughout and enjoy how it will appear different in the different rooms. 

The trim/skirting/woodwork is not to be overlooked; this is a wonderful way to achieve a certain style. A lighter trim than wall is a timeless, uncomplicated and fresh look and works well in classic rooms. Whereas a darker colour will add a simple decorative twist whilst making the room feel lighter; this can work in any style of property. The third option is of course to have the same coloured walls and woodwork, this will make the room seem bigger where it is difficult to read the confines of the room. If the woodwork detail is not particularly pretty, then it hides it and looks oh so elegant.

Once you have taken the time to analyse your rooms and know whether you want to make them longer, higher, lower, squarer – it can be hard to commit to the colour when there are so many out there. Fairly neutral colours will win if you plan to sell in the near future because they will appeal to the biggest demographic. Some bold colour will however make the house memorable and give it some vitality, and of course scratch the colour itch (if you have). Therefore the cloakroom (if you have one) is a perfect spot to express yourself.

Paint is Farrow and Ball, Duck Green

Lastly if you are stuck on what it is that you are expressing – which colours do you like to wear? Save images on Instagram and Pinterest, these forums work a treat for decorating your own home when you notice patterns. Should you save or pin 5 versions of coral rooms – guess what, it’s a sign that you should do a room coral.