Create a Captivating Colour Palette with the Colour Wheel

Today we’re continuing with our mini-lessons on colour and diving into how you can use the colour wheel to transform your home.

Ready to get creative?

First things first, let’s get acquainted with our friend, the colour wheel. See the image below as a reference or order yourself this handy little tool from Amazon. I use it constantly when planning new schemes and clients find it really helpful when sitting down to discuss a colour palette for their project. 

Click the image to purchase.

Here’s the basics:

• It’s organised into warm colours (reds, oranges, yellows) and cool colours (greens, blues, violets). 

• On the outside of the wheel it shows the ‘pure’ colour, then as it works its way inwards it shows lighter tints. 

• Colour theory works in two ways: contrast or harmony. 

  So, let’s talk strategy! See different methods for building colour schemes below. 

Tonal: When you choose one singular colour (e.g. green), but vary its tone around the room (e.g light green on the walls, a deeper green on the sofa etc). This is very popular due to its calming nature and is often seen in more neutral interiors. 

Stunning tonal bedroom in deep auburn and rust by Sarah Solis.

Complimentary: These are colours that sit directly opposite each other on the wheel, creating a contrasting yet dynamic look. Some examples are red and green or blue and orange. This can also be broken down further, such as, violet-red (pink hues) and yellow-green. One of my favourite ways to use a complimentary scheme is navy blue walls or furniture paired with rusty orange soft furnishings (as demonstrated below).

Navy blue walls paired with a rust orange sofa, taken from DigDigs. Perfection.

Analogous: The colours that sit next to each other on the wheel. Pairing these together create a sense of harmony and flow. Let’s take a living room, for example, where we want to maximise feelings of relaxation and cosiness. We could start by using a warm, earthy terracotta hue as our base colour, then pair it with complementary shades like mustard yellow or deep olive green to add depth and interest. This stops the colours from being too similar, which would make the room feel ‘flat’.

The living room of Julia Reed’s home - green walls, yellow curtains, red undertones in the wooden floor and drawers. What a lovely example of an analogous colour scheme!

Triad: You guessed it, this method includes groups of three. This is where you choose three colours that are equidistant on the wheel. Think of placing an equilateral triangle on the wheel - the distance between each colour is the same. One example of a triadic scheme is blue, yellow and red. This is a more bold approach and is a fun way to add personality and charm to a space; I particularly like using this method in a children’s bedroom.

A sophisticated triadic scheme showcased in this study space by Hunted Interior.

The key to creating a successful colour palette is balance. Play around with different shades, tones and textures until you find the perfect combination that speaks to you. Also consider the emotions you want to evoke within a certain room - scroll down to our previous post for more on this!

Have you ever used any of these methods? Let us know!

Happy decorating!

Exploring the art of colour in interior design

The days of everything in grey or beige tones are behind us, thank goodness. 2024 is the year of choosing whatever colours bring you joy in your home. I’m sure you all know the power of a good lick of a paint in a room - it truly is transformative. Colour theory is a fundamental aspect of design in both residential and commercial interiors. 

Colour Vocabulary

We often hear words like shade and tone thrown around - but do we really understand what each one means? Consider us a handy little dictionary:

Shade: A colour that has been darkened by adding varying amounts of black, creating a darker and more subdued version of the original colour.

Tone: A colour that has been altered by adding both black and white. It involves adjusting the intensity or brightness of a colour without changing its underlying hue.

Hue: This represents the pure, basic colour of an object or a pigment that allows us to classify a colour as red, blue, green etc. It’s what enables us to distinguish different colours without other factors such as brightness.

Tint: A colour that has had white added to it, resulting in a lighter and pastel version of the original hue. This reduces the colour’s intensity, creating a softer appearance. 

There are plenty more pieces of vocabulary for our ‘colour dictionary’, but that will do for today!

Emotions evoked by colour

Let’s dive into the emotions involved with each colour. In interior design, when you are picking colours for a room, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions.

What is this space used for?
How do I want to feel in this space?

Your answers to those questions should be considered when choosing the right colour palette for a room. For example, if your answers were; “I’d like this space to be for sleeping” and “I want to feel calm and relaxed”, colours such as blue and green are your friends.

Let’s take a look:

Red
Let’s start with a powerful one! The colour red is known to stimulate energy and evoke a sense of passion. When strategically used, it can add warmth and vibrancy to a space, making it an excellent choice for social areas like living rooms and dining spaces. It can also stimulate feelings of hunger (think of the branding of your favourite fast food chains!). However, excessive use of red can lead to overstimulation, making us feel angry or frustrated, so moderation or lighter tones are key.

Blue
Blue hues, such as tranquil blues and soft aquas, create a calming and serene atmosphere. Ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms, blue promotes relaxation. Deeper blues can add sophistication and depth to a space, ideal for a living room or study. Other feelings associated with blue are loyalty and trust, which is why many businesses opt for this colour in their branding (think of banks or legal firms).

Deep, ink blue walls exude sophistication in this new-build living room. Paint colour is ‘Ink’ by Neptune.

This gorgeous light blue (paired with wallpaper), ‘Celestial Blue’ by Little Greene is Chloe’s choice for her son’s nursery. Perfect for a calming space - hoping for her little one to get a full night’s sleep!

Yellow
I’m sure it’s no surprise that yellow is synonymous with sunshine and happiness. Incorporating this colour into interiors can evoke feelings of joy and optimism, often seen in family kitchen and dining spaces or play rooms. However, if used in excess, yellow can lead to feelings of anxiety or caution, so again, moderation is key!

Green

Symbolising nature and growth, it’s no shock that green is a popular colour choice in our homes. It brings a refreshing and renewing quality to spaces. It’s ideal for bedrooms, living rooms or any area of relaxation. Darker greens exude sophistication (think home office), while lighter shades evoke a sense of openness.

‘Cooking Apple Green’ by Farrow & Ball was the perfect fresh, yet relaxing green shade for our Shaftesbury living room project. We love the fun touches of colour through the artwork here too, which was brought forward into the room on soft furnishings.

Purple
Purple is often associated with luxury, creativity and a touch of mystery. Deep purple, like eggplant or plum, add a sense of opulence to spaces, making them perfect for accent colours or statement pieces. If used in a small room, such as a downstairs toilet with little natural light, deep purple can give a ‘wow factor’, although if used in a larger living space, it could be a little overpowering. Lighter purples, such as lavender, can create a whimsical and romantic atmosphere.

Orange
Combining the warmth of red and the brightness of yellow, orange is an energetic and sociable colour. It’s commonly used in dining rooms or social spaces to foster a lively atmosphere. Tangerine and coral tones are popular for their modern and playful vibe.

Neutrals
Neutral tones like beige, grey and white serve as a timeless canvas, allowing for versatility in design elsewhere. They create a backdrop that lets other colours shine while providing a sense of sophistication and elegance, when used thoughtfully!

Displaying sophistication and simplicity at our Swindon project, this neutral hallway is the perfect canvas for these patterned floor tiles to do the talking.

Black
Black, when used carefully, adds a touch of elegance and drama to interiors. It’s often associated with sophistication and can serve as a powerful contrast in design. Incorporating black elements such as furniture, hardware or decor pieces, can create a chic and modern aesthetic. 

Understanding the emotional impact of colours empowers our clients to curate spaces that align with their desired atmosphere and way of living. At Chloe Roberts Interiors, our expertise lies not just in choosing beautiful colour palettes but in harnessing the emotions they evoke to craft spaces that feel unique to you and your family. In our next post, we’ll be discussing how to put together a cohesive colour scheme, using everything we’ve learnt today about emotions in colour to help us. 

Now Trending: A Glimpse Into the Interior Design Trends of 2024

As we enter a new year, the world of interior design continues to evolve, embracing new concepts and redefining old ones. In the UK, a variety of trends are set to captivate us, with the aim of blending timeless, sophisticated design with modern demands. Let’s explore what we’ve got in store for the year ahead… 

1. Sustainability takes Centre-Stage
I’m sure that a focus on sustainability won’t come as much of a surprise, what with our ever-growing eco-conscious mindsets. A love of vintage items and repurposed furniture will continue to develop, along with searching for eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient lighting solutions. Not only does this trend align with environmental values but also lends itself to include meaningful pieces that tell stories and stand the test of time. 

2. Biophilic Bliss
Bringing the outdoors in will continue to gain momentum as biophilic design flourishes more than ever. Again, this is no surprise - we all know how drawn to nature we can be and how it benefits our mental health. Nature-inspired elements, such as indoor plants, natural textures and earthy colour palettes will infuse living spaces with tranquillity and a sense of connection to the environment. 

Biophilia demonstrated by luxury designers Albion Nord through the use of an earthy colour palette and fresh greenery.

3. Modern, meet Vintage
A welcomed fusion of contemporary aesthetics and vintage charm is at the heart of the modern vintage trend of 2024. Mixing sleek, straight lines with carefully curated antique pieces adds character and personality to interiors. Think statement, contemporary sideboard with intricate, antique artwork above. When done tastefully, this approach creates spaces that are both stylish and homely.

4. Statement Ceilings
This is one I’m excited for - interior designers love a good, well-thought through ceiling. It’s true. We’re over feature walls, why not take the fun up to the ceiling? You could go for bold patterns, fascinating textures or vibrant colours. This trend elevates spaces; giving a higher-end look and improving the overall design aesthetic. If you’re a little unsure, a great place to start is a children’s bedroom or playroom! 

An example of a gorgeous statement ceiling using patterned wallpaper in a children’s bedroom, by Brown Interiors & Co.

5. Tech-Integrated Living
The integration of smart home technology continues to be a driving force in interior design, something that we’re very excited to be learning more about this year at Chloe Roberts Interiors. Think home automation systems, intelligent lighting and state-of-the-art appliances that blend seamlessly with the modern family - enhancing convenience and efficiency.

So, there we have it - the epitome of interior design for 2024. Ultimately, at Chloe Roberts Interiors we believe that the only trends worth investing in are the ones that you truly love and align with your personal style and way of living. After all, it is your home! Will you be embracing any?

Welcome to the blog: Crafting spaces, creating stories

To kick-start 2024, I’m thrilled to launch our design blog, a space where interior design and creativity meets narrative. I’ll be sharing top tips, the stories behind projects, interior news and of course the journey of Chloe Roberts Interiors itself. I hope you’ll enjoy visiting this little area of the internet to get your dose of design goodness. And what better way to begin, than looking at the year ahead in the world of interiors…