A colour or materials scheme for your new build or renovation project can include anything from paint, furniture and joinery colours, to tiles, tapware finishes and timber flooring. Selecting and putting together all the colours and materials is an important step which will determine not only the look of the space, but also how it makes you feel and how easy it is to clean. It is one of the most exciting parts of our job, but can also be very overwhelming if you don't know what goes with what. In this blog post we are revealing 5 mistakes to avoid to help you put your dream colour and material scheme together:
1 | Selecting different undertones
Colours and materials all have different undertones - they can be warmer, cooler, more green, more red, etc. It's important when putting different colours and materials together, to ensure that they all share the same undertone. This will make the home feel cohesive and put together. You can generally tell if they share the same undertones by comparing the different colours/materials together in a well lit space.
2 | Not seeing them together in person - and on site if possible
Selecting colours based on a photo on a screen is a huge mistake as each screen will display the colour differently. Another issue comes when you see all the colours and materials in person but not together. You may not remember colours exactly as they are so you may think they all go together when they really don't. It is important that you get as many samples as possible so you can see all your colours and materials together. If you are renovating, we recommend looking at these colours in the spaces they will be in. Different light levels can make the colours feel lighter or darker, so viewing them in the space in the correct light will help you make your selections.
3 | Making selections based on trends only
Our homes are meant to be reflections of our lives and the things we love, so you should be selecting colours and materials that make you happy. Often, we see people get overwhelmed with the selection process and this can lead to selecting what they currently see everywhere instead - the current trend. While that is okay if you genuinely love the trend, we don't recommend doing this for a home that you plan to spend a lot of time in!
4 | Not selecting different finishes/textures
Colour is only one layer, another layer is the finish or texture of this colour. A mistake we see people make is selecting everything in the exact same finish. This can make the space feel monotone and less interesting. We recommend selecting at least 2-3 different finishes/textures per space.
5 | Selecting materials that are not fit for purpose
When selecting materials and colours, you need to consider a few things. This includes the purpose of the room, the size of the room, the amount of natural light in it, and the level of maintenance you are prepared to do in this space. All of these considerations will allow you put together a full image of what colours and materials to avoid and which would work best.
I hope these ideas have been helpful! If you want to find out more about how we can help you with your project, get in contact with us below:
Have a wonderful week!
Nina xx
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