Going Bold With Just Enough Color

If I could write this ideabook in color, I probably would. Color almost always captures the mood, the personality and the energy of the space you are creating, and even more that of the creator. You can tell a lot about people from the way they dress, the color of their shoes or the print on their shirt. A house is no different — color both inside and outside the home will provide you with a glimpse of the type of person who lives there. After all, what we wear is a reflection of who we are, and how we use color in our homes most certainly reflects what we want our houses to be.

So what do you want to tell the world? And how much color should be used? Well, the amount of color depends on what mood you are trying to set or what personality you are trying to convey. Did you know that red raises the energy in a room, while green and blue are restful, serene and relaxing colors? Or that purple is associated with sophistication, drama and luxury, while black is the color of authority and power and, at the same time, stylish and timeless? Color is an individual preference and will not always be universally liked, and too much of a color can have the opposite effect of what you are trying to achieve. The tips below will show you how to use color with restraint to create a beautiful home.

Color in anticipation. If you were walking down this hallway toward these double doors that are open, there is no doubt you would be drawn into the room. The interior designers at Destination Living very cleverly showed restraint with their color palette. The soft blue of the walls, in contrast with the white color scheme, beckons you inside in anticipation of what lies beyond. Choosing only one color can be so difficult; however, I have no doubt that the mood the designers wanted to create by using only blue was one of peace and tranquility.


Colors that are opposites. They say that blue and green should never be seen next to each other. Someone forgot to tell Greg Natale! This color scheme shows the sophistication and skill not only of Natale but also of the homeowner, who showed great faith in the designer to capture a particular mood.

From the soft blues of the dining room walls to the soft greens of the kitchen cabinets that sit on a black and white checkerboard floor, this look transports me back to my childhood in the ’70s, when this color scheme adorned my own home, but not in such a dramatic manner. You just want to walk through those doors to see what else is happening.


Color to make a statement. Hand in the air if you would ever dare paint a room a single color — not only the walls and ceiling but also the architraves, trim, door, cornices and ceiling medallion. Oh, and that color is black. Even the hydronic heater and marble fireplace are black.

The interior designers at Mr. Mitchell not only showed remarkable restraint in their use of color, but they have told us a lot about the homeowners. The color black provides a backdrop for all of their worldly possessions and makes a statement about who they are.

Remember in my opening paragraph when I mentioned that black is a color of authority and power? The interior styling of this room helps reinforce the use of the color black to tell a story, from the bold timber period desk and leather chair to the world globe and horse racing prints on the wall, to the prized winner’s cup on the fireplace mantel. Finally, far from using a period pendant, the designers have chosen what looks like a contemporary design: a light fitting made of antlers.


Zero color. There are times when no color is the appropriate solution. (Even though white is actually a color.) Horton & Co. Designers not only has created a tranquil mood in this room, but has provided us a glimpse of the personality of the homeowners. There is no doubt that this is a reading room, because the books take center stage and provide all the color. The soft fabrics and the print on the wall add additional highlight colors, taking their cue from the vast book collection.

If a room is going to be filled with objects that contain a lot of color, it is important not to add additional colors on the walls, or all of the objects will recede into the background and any impact will be lost.


Colors from the same palette. I could almost tell you the color of the exterior of this house without seeing an exterior photo. Colors from the same palette allow you to create a mood. So how much color did the designers at Darren Palmer Interiors use? Well, at the outset you would say two: black and a dark taupe. However, there are other colors that also come into play, white on the ceiling and gray in the carpet. Shadows also add color by changing the shade of one wall to another. Remember that when you choose the number of colors you want to use in a space, some other colors will naturally come into play, so try not to highlight too many colors, or your message will be lost.


Color that reflects. As in the previous photo, there appear to be only a couple of colors in this bathroom design. However, the architects at Smart Design Studio realized that reflective glass and mirrored surfaces would create depth and color by their inherent characteristics. Even the tiles have a few shades of taupe, and there are also a couple of whites — the white of the porcelain fixtures and the white of the ceiling. You think there are only two colors chosen, but look how many actually appear.


Color to highlight. In this kitchen design, the cabinetry specialists at KTC Design wanted to highlight the unusual countertop color. To draw attention to the countertop and make it the focal point, the designers kept the palette of the cabinets, other features and walls neutral. Had they chosen to use other highlight colors in this room, then the focal point of the countertop would have been lost.


Color for personality. I love this space, because the architects at Scott Weston Architecture Design obviously had a strong brief from their clients on how the space should reflect who they are. There are so many colors in this room, in the furnishings, cabinetry, curtains and even the potted plant. There was no need for a color selection for the walls except for a not-so-subtle black print that provides further evidence of the homeowners’ personality. You just want to know what all the other rooms in this house look like.

Remember, though, that this color palette is not for everyone. Some would argue that no restraint was shown, but that is far from the truth. Considerable thought was given to coordinating the color of the chairs to match the curtains, and the color of the tabletop to match that of the overhead cupboards. Color is an individual preference and a reflection of you.

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Color to create drama. There are times as an architect when you want to highlight the architectural forms of a space in a dramatic fashion. This contemporary kitchen, which is sculptural in form, was designed by Smart Design Studio, and the drama of the space was created through careful restraint in the color selection. To highlight the individual architectural elements, color contrasts were created. For example, the white recessed cabinets clearly stand out against the dark paneled wall. The sweeping white curved mezzanine above is also highlighted against this same dark wall.

The designers also realized that to limit the color selection, they would also need to limit the material selection for the tiles and countertop, as those could introduce yet more colors. Therefore, the same stone material was used for the floor and the kitchen countertop. The only hint of a foreign color is the green of the grass following the same line down the side of the building, but that, too, is contrasted against the white wall.


Color to highlight form. If you want to hide an architectural form, you simply paint it the same color as the rest of the house. However, if you want to show off the form, you paint it a different color altogether. The team at Design Unity wanted to express the bold, angled form on this house that sits proud on the facade, so what better way to do it than give it a strong color that contrasts with the white adjacent walls? Had they introduced just one other color, the message would have been lost. Even the landscape design supports the architectural form.


Color to highlight architectural elements. External architectural elements that homeowners want to highlight, such as fretwork, are often painted a contrasting color to the rest of the facade. This is seen in many period homes.

So how many colors do you highlight? Many homeowners go for authenticity in the restoration process. Some Victorian and Edwardian homes, for example, display many colors to highlight the roof, gutters, fretwork, corbels, fencing and so on. There is usually a vast amount of literature on these types of homes to help you restore them to the original color scheme and allow you to identify the architectural style.

Even in this contemporary timber home, the interior designers at The Space Within highlighted the craftsmanship of the woodwork against the boldness of the facade by choosing one color only to help express the difference. The introduction of a third color on the outside of this home would have disrupted the purity of the design.


Color for luxury. I have always believed as an architect that if you want to make a house look expensive, choose one color or two at an absolute maximum, with the second color used sparingly. So, for example, paint the facade, fence, windows, even the downpipes, all the one color. Don’t differentiate.

You should also choose a color that exemplifies sophistication, luxury and style. If you take a drive around the most affluent suburbs in Australia, you will notice that many of these homes wear a single color. Their fences, walls, fenestration etc. are all one color. As an analogy, it’s like wearing a timeless black suit or dress — it’s all one color and looks sophisticated. As you can see, the builders at To the Mil have made this home look luxurious with the use of one main color, and a second color is used only to highlight.


Color as identity. There are times when you have to show the world where to go. Michelle Walker used color successfully to identify not only this entrance door but also the garage in this nondescript facade that sits flush on the street boundary. Sometimes you just have to be bold and direct.


Color by day and night. Choosing the right color and the amount of color to use both inside and outside a house is not easy, and that’s why professionals are the go-to people — they have the experience to showcase not only your house but your personality as well, and create just the right mood.

Here the experts at Interiors By Darren James used not only color but light to create the right mood for this amazing poolside setting. Did you know that individual colors look completely different under a different light? The contrast can be amazing. Taubmans has a color lighting tool on its website — you can select a color and instantly see how it changes under the influence of different lighting.

More:
The Case for In-Between Colors
Pick-a-Paint Help: How to Quit Procrastinating on Color Choice

Tell us: If you have used colors with restraint — or no restraint — in your home design, please share a photo or your thoughts in the Comments section.

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