House Rules: How to Embrace Colour

Why not pick up the colour in your favourite print or artwork and translate it to a wall? There are lots of useful apps and online tools that can identify colours in an image, print or artwork. You can ever look to nature for inspiration: sky, sand, water, leaves, flowers. Then simply match it up to a similar paint colour.

Colour can be the hero of a home, but it shouldn’t steal the show. If in doubt use the 60-30-10 rule. We love Apartment Therapy’s simple breakdown. Essentially you can be as bright and bold as you like when it comes to colour choices, but always ensure the space maintains a sense of calm and cohesion.

If you’re planning to incorporate colour into more permanent structures such as a kitchen or bathroom, always look at the big picture. If it’s an on-trend colour, can it easily be changed if you grow sick of it? Consider not just the room you’re renovating, but also adjacent zones, such as the floor outside a bathroom and how it will look against the tilework you have your heart set on. There’s no reason you need to always default to white (though there are a myriad of white options out there), but remember to consider your entire space. Place tile, wall paint and flooring samples together and ask yourself the question: do the colours flow and complement one another, or are they jarring?

There are many ways to have fun with colour, without over-committing. Take your cues from House Rules’ Katie and Alex with a chunky green wool throw over neutral bedding or swap out a chair in your living room or study for one in your favourite colour. These simple changes can instantly re-energise a space.

Plants never go out of style. They purify the air, add natural colour and texture, and are a relatively inexpensive way to decorate a home. Celebrate the outdoors with groupings of plants to create an indoor oasis, or choose plants with large foliage, that will make a bold statement on their own, such as a fiddle-leaf fig or a Monstera deliciosa. House it in a large colourful pot for extra impact.

If you love colour, be confident! Remember: a wall can always be re-painted. Have fun with bold wallpaper, chairs, cushions, textiles or rugs and make your home your own.

Want to create your own bright, beachy home? Shop this House Rules renovation.