COLOUR SCHEMES
Creating a colour scheme may seem difficult, but many
manufacturers of paints and wallcoverings carefully co-
ordinate their colour cards and design collections so that
most of the hard work is already done for you
You may need to climb a ladder to paint a ceiling or hang
wallpaper. Make sure the ladder is stable, and take care not
to over-reach.
Colour is the first thing you notice when you enter a room. It
creates mood and atmosphere, and allows you to transform
your home quickly and cheaply with stunning results.
When we come to choose colours, most of us are aware that
dark colours will make a room look smaller, and pale ones
make a room seem more spacious, but colour, together with
pattern and texture, are far more versatile than this. Paints,
wallcoverings and fabrics can be used to create a variety of
impressions and, armed with just a few basic facts, you will
be able to make them work for you in many different ways.
2
- Choosing colour
Red or pink tones look deeper and richer in artificial light,
but blues and greens can look washed out. Keep this in mind
when choosing colours for a room that will be used primarily
in the evenings.
Colours have characteristics that can affect our mood and
make the same room appear completely different, simply by
the way it is decorated. So before you begin to think about
colours, take a good look around the room and make a note
of how much natural light it gets and what you like or dislike
about it.
Warm colours such as red, orange and yellow are
'advancing' colours which appear to draw surfaces closer,
and create a sense of cosy comfort. These are lively colours,
which make them a good choice for gloomy rooms facing
north or east which receive little natural light, basements,
and rooms heavily shaded by trees.
Cool colours such as green, blue and violet are 'receding'
colours which maximise space, and make a room feel fresh
and airy. These are relaxing colou