Now Spring is upon us we
often feel the desire to give our homes a Spring clean, a splash of new colour
and perhaps decide to even go as far as to create a whole new look for the
home. Last year, I qualified as a colour
consultant and I am often asked what does this really mean?
Well, if you
wanted a new bathroom you would call a plumber. If you wanted a new kitchen
you would call a kitchen designer, carpenter, electrician, tiler and so
on. Basically, you need a large number of professional trades to complete the job to a
high standard and to achieve a look you desire. So when choosing a colour
scheme for your home, why not call a colour consultant?
Your home reflects how
you live your life. Before choosing paint, wallpaper, curtains and carpets you
need to consider a number of things. The style of the house, the age of the
property, the design and mood you want to achieve, whether it be a contemporary,
minimalist, cosy, or of an old character look. Your personality and your home reflect
how you are as a person.
Colour consultants are
vital in making your home personal to your life style, they can advise on what
suits each room taking into consideration its functionality whilst maintaining a
natural flow and the feeling of space and light throughout the house.
Many homeowners already
know what colours they like and the colours that repel them, but what many people
struggle with is getting the tone or shade right.
Our perceptions of colour
with everyday items often affect our view of things, for example we may
dismiss food, clothing, choice of car and art work purely by their colour; colour
is a powerful communication tool.
Colour says a lot about our
personalities and this often can be illustrated in our homes. In the study of colour
psychology there are four main seasons and each has its own distinctive
personality. Below are a few key words to describe the type of personality
someone may have and their preference to colour and style in their home.
Spring: Warmth,
optimistic, animated, friendly, impulsive.
Home-style: Plenty of
light, contemporary, open plan.
Colour: Light, bright,
warm.
Summer: Elegant, calm,
perfectionist, sensitive, practical.
Home-style: High
ceilings, formal, elegance.
Colour: Cool, delicate,
muted
Autumn: Reliable,
intense, enthusiastic, passionate
Home-style: Comfort, less
formal, quirky.
Colour: Warm, intense,
earthy.
Winter: Strong, motivated
intelligent, dramatic.
Home-style: Theatrical,
minimalist, uncluttered.
Colour: Bright, intense,
opulent.
For your first meeting with a
colour consultant, what should you expect?
You already have an
idea of what colours you like and don’t like which will help you decide on colours for your home and may also illustrate your personality type. This is important information for your first meeting with a colour consultant.
A good exercise to complete before you meet is to browse through a number of home-style magazines and cut out a dozen pictures you like; you will often be drawn by the colours in the pictures regardless of the image.
A colour consultant will want to meet you in your home, take a guided tour looking at furniture,
flooring, windows, floor plan and focal points like fireplaces, these can all
influence your colour choices and provide ideas about you and others that may
live at the house. The next step will be to understand your objective and desires; from
here your colour consultant will create a mood board illustrating a suitable colour
palette and furnishings for your home that will make you happy and create those "Gorgeous Rooms" you have always wanted.
