Get on trend this season with colours that reflect the personality and style of your home - and the people that live in it!
Whether youre painting just one room or your entire interior, colour has the potential to become one of the most fundamental elements in your home. You can use it to brighten your mood, make a living space look larger or smaller, or even reflect more light.
Get inspired
Get inspired for your new looks by flicking through brochures, palette cards, home and garden magazines and books. Have a look in your own home, too, where you can draw on colours from your favourite cushions, lamp or sofa.
Signature style
The style of home that you want contemporary, traditional or modern will help you to define the colour palettes you should begin with. Not only do you have choices in colour, you now also have options with textured or metallic products, so you can be as conservative or adventurous as you like!
Colour me happy
Colour expert Andrea Lucena-Orr says colour forecasts are inspired by international trends, encompassing culture, fashion, food and lifestyle. "Kiwis have a more muted, earthy palate than Europeans, but we do love the boldness of the colour blue. This season, deep, inky blues and aqua have are very popular, along with oranges and purples, she says.
So, what can different colours do for you?
Yellows
Yellows can create a happy, sunny feel and will make the room appear brighter. Yellow radiates warmth and is a reflective colour, inspiring nostalgia from childhood years and keeping old traditions alive from one generation to the next.
Blues
Blues can give a tranquil, serene feeling and sense of spaciousness. Blues are calming and help us think of our environment and be at one with ourselves, providing a sanctuary from the pace of our daily lives. "Blending the inside with the outside world has become standard practice architecturally, adding dimension and creating a harmonious essence in our fast-pace and cluttered existence, says Orr.
Reds
Reds can create a wonderfully warm, passionate feeling with a hint of excitement, and are renowned as a colour of strength and power to really get you out of your comfort zone. Try red for a dramatic entrance colour, or in a formal or contemporary dining or living area for a bold, warming look.
Neutrals
"Whites and neutrals are ideal for creating a clean, classical backdrop and will allow you to add a splash of your favourite colour to any space, says Orr. Play around with cooler or warmer whites and neutrals, such as greys, beiges, tans, creams and coffees.
Greens
Relaxing and restful to the eye, greens create a cool, fresh and calm atmosphere, reflecting a fresh mindset and renewed outlook on life. Greens come in many shades, pick out what you like depending on your mood or inspiration lime, mint, citrus, or teal are all great options.
Purples
"Decorating with purple can create an illusion of grandeur, says Orr. "Lavender is lovely in a baby's nursery, or why not try a rich eggplant for a feature wall in your living area.
Top tip
The amount of natural light a room receives will dramatically affect the density of a colour. Rooms facing south or rooms that receive little light will appear lighter with lighter shades of colour, such as whites or neutrals. Rooms facing north that receive a greater amount of light (and may therefore feel very warm) will suit a cooler colour palette.
For more information on trends and colours that might work for you, visit dulux.co.nz
