Painting your home this summer?Here's some colour advice
Farrow & Ball - French Gray.
Do you feel like you would enjoy a nature- inspired summer? Perhaps your own little bit of sunshine, or a sanctuary you could escape to?
Our summers do not guarantee us the weather where we could go out and enjoy these outdoor spaces, so let us counteract this by bringing in these feelings we get into our homes.
Colour can significantly affect how a space looks and will most definitely affect how a space can feel. It can change our mood, affect our concentration and can make (or break!) the ambience in a space. Being aware of how these colours impact on us, and the feelings they create, will help you to choose the colour that suits you and your home.
Earthy neutrals, such as beige, browns and taupe, are all the rage for 2024. They create a calming environment and provide harmony in our homes, one of timelessness. An earthy neutral can provide the perfect setting to create a sense of relaxation while letting other colours or textures stand out. They often relate to feelings of safety and familiarity and have strong associations with the outdoors.
Neutral colours are extremely versatile and can work in any room as a base colour, suiting a variety of styles. Use them on walls, ceilings, and furniture, and introduce accessories to provide a balanced and soothing environment.
Yellow is a bright, energising colour that evokes positive emotions such as feelings of happiness, excitement, optimism, hope and creativity. The uplifting properties of this vibrant hue can make any space feel inviting.
If you love the idea of sunshine all year round in your home, but fear the intensity of a vibrant yellow, then consider a honey golden tone that oozes warmth but brings the intensity of yellow down a notch.
Yellow is great for offices where it can bring good energy and promote creativity, or use it in open plan areas to create a vibrant, warm and cosy space.
Blue, the colour of the sea and sky, evokes calm and soothing feelings of tranquillity and peacefulness. The cooling effect of it can create a refreshing atmosphere and it is thought to be the most calming of all colours so is ideal for anyone who may feel anxious. From light and airy to deep and moody, depending on the shade, Blue makes us feel relaxed, comfortable and less stressed, and is great choice for bedrooms or relaxing bathrooms.
Terracotta is a light, bright shade of orange, which can be peachy or a more robust brown red. It is a grounding colour that emphasises a sense of stability and promotes comfort.
A beautiful warm cosy colour, with terracotta, you could almost feel the glow of that summer. It will work beautifully in bedrooms or living rooms as it radiates warmth and happiness and rejuvenates our spirits.
Green embodies nature and growth as it holds a strong connection to our outside world. Known for its soothing qualities, it can reduce stress and create a peaceful atmosphere. Ideal for any room where you wish for a calm and relaxing space, green is very versatile.
A lush dark green in a bedroom where you will feel its grounding effects will provide you with a place of escapism.
A lighter shade, in a living room or kitchen, will create a nature-inspired sanctuary and a cosy room. Its connection to biophilia, the design principle that seeks to bring the outside world in, enhances its calming effect. Use plants to promote biophilia and your love of green in your home.
Assess the direction of your room and the light that enters the space: for example, a south-facing room will have warm lighting in the evening, a north- facing room will have cool morning sun, and will affect how the colours are perceived.
Always try a sample in your home and look at it in daylight, in the evening, and at night when you use artificial lighting.
The most important part of decorating is that it reflects your style and personality, so whatever colour you love and whichever feeling you wish to have in your home this summer, there are always ways to incorporate them.
Michelle Fox, Interior Designer, working in the Cork and Munster area, loves to create the home you love to live in. Together with your personality and Michelle’s eye for design, she will create a home for you that reflects who you are and what your style is, bringing function and form, making your home beautiful, while keeping your wishes and budget in mind.
Whether it’s a new build or existing room(s) you need help with, contact Michelle at michellefoxinteriors@gmail.com.
You will also find Michelle on Facebook and Instagram @michellefoxinteriors.
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