 How to make the best use of interior colour palette trends Colour trends are a significant thing to consider when talking about interior design. Each year, painting companies come up with a colour and a colour palette of the year. Before we dive into how to make the best usage of colour trends, it is important to understand what they are, and where they come from. Let’s get into it, shall we? What is a colour palette? A colour palette is a range of colours that are carefully curated and designed to complement each other without an undesirable “clashing” effect. In other words, they are a harmonious combination of colours. Where do colour trends come from? Where do colour trends come from? Who gets to pick these palettes, and how do they do so? Well, one quick answer to these questions is: fashion. And what influences fashion, you may ask? Simply put: cultures, environment, art, technology, and so on. Colours are an integral part of all industries.  Photo by Hector J Rivas, Unsplash
We could dig deeper into this conversation and mention the CMG (The Colour Marketing Group). The CMG is a non-profit organization with thousands of members such as designers, marketers, colour scientists, consultants, educators, and artists. These members are forecasters of colour directions across all industries. Because the main focus of this blog post is to find ways to use these colour trends to our advantage, I won’t get into more details about their origins. It is however a very interesting topic, in my opinion. This year’s colour trends As an interior designer, I choose to use Benjamin Moore’s paint colours. It’s pretty much just a matter of personal preference. There are several other great painting companies out there. Sherwin Williams, Behr, and Dulux, to name only a few.  Photo benjaminmoore.com The 2022 colour palette from Benjamin Moore has been released and is now available to the public. This year’s palette is a beautiful combination of calming and replenishing colours. It is very botanical, reminding us of nature. Benjamin Moore’s colour of the year is October Mist 1495; a soothing, pleasing light green. If you’re familiar with colour psychology, then you already know how colours can affect our moods and emotions. The green colour represents relaxation, healing, and growth. It doesn’t surprise me that such a light green has been selected as the colour of the year. In fact, a bit of calm and serenity is quite welcome these days!
Photos benjaminmoore.com Should I follow colour trends? As discussed earlier, colour trends play a significant role in the interior design world. They’re a great source of inspiration, and an excellent starting point when choosing paint colours for your space. Some say trends aren’t worth following, as they change rapidly and consistently. I sometimes joke about how by the time I receive the sweater I bought online 4 days ago, it will already be out of style. Now, that’s a bit of an extreme commentary on how quickly fashion evolves… There is however some truth in such a statement. When committed to keeping up with trends and making bold decisions on colour selections, you must be willing to make changes more often. It’s the name of the (fashion) game.
I like to view colour trends as a basic anchor point. It’s a good place to start when brainstorming and playing around with mood boards and paint swatches. You don’t need to follow trends if you don’t want to. There are a few tricks I like to use, and I’m just about to share them with you. My colour trends strategies Here is what I do. First, I look and study the colour palette, and I ask myself: what are the colours that resonate with me the most? Are there colours I don’t like in there? And I go on with eliminating those disliked colours. Because here is the thing. Colour preferences are subjective, and even though Paula likes that pretty orange on that accent chair doesn’t mean George and Tania are going to like it too. It’s quite a basic example, but nonetheless valid. Once I have established which colours I prefer the most, I proceed to group them and play around with my favourite combinations. For each combination, I include at least one or two neutrals. This is very important, as skipping this step could result in overwhelming colour schemes. There’s nothing wrong with a bright and colourful room. That said, the human eye does need to rest somewhere at some point. Including neutral colours such as white, grey, black or brown allow for a more pleasant visual experience.  Another possibility is to simply pick one colour from the entire palette. Why not? From there, you can go on and pair this one hue with your other go-to colours. Colour trends aren’t just for walls Remember that colours can be used for all sorts of purposes. Use them on furniture, accessories, art, rugs and so on. You could have a room that is painted in gray and white but add punch to it by including a yellow sofa or a colourful Turkish area rug. The basic rule of thumb is to always try to achieve balance. If you keep this in mind, you can have a lot of fun creating trendy and timely spaces.
You’re the one in charge At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide which trends you want to follow or dismiss. I generally like keeping up to date with trends, partly because I’m a curious human being by nature, but also because I do enjoy fashion. Some people like to stick to what they know they like, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. As long as open-mindedness is still lingering around, any classical stylistic approach can be timelessly compelling. Final thoughts I believe colour trends allow us to embrace change. They somewhat force us to evolve and keep the forever-changing interior design world interesting. So, whether you consider yourself a trend follower or not, they are not going anywhere anytime soon. We may as well use them to our advantage! Have an interior design project you’d like some help with? Don’t hesitate to reach out!
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Finding a good throw pillow for your home can be hard. Finding a good combination of them is even harder. That's why I have decided to gather some of my favourite throw pillows in this blog post and pair them into combos. That being said, the great news is, this selection of pillows can be mixed and matched to fit your own personal taste. How convenient is that? Throw pillows are an amazing and fun way to update the look of a room, without having to break the bank. I strongly believe anyone should be able to make their space the way they truly want it to be. Hence why the price range of these cushions is between $9.00 and $89.95. You can also swap them around seasonally, or simply get new ones when it's time for a little refresh. When shopping for throw pillows, make sure to select the desired size to fit your space. Another thing to bear in mind; some pillow covers come with an insert, but not all. It's an important detail. If sold separately, ensure to get both the pillow cover and an insert for it. And remember, if you ever have concerns or questions, you can always reach out to me. Happy shopping! Kiki
Have an interior design project you’d like some help with? Don’t hesitate to reach out!
*Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you. For more details, you can read my Terms and Conditions page. Feeling inspired doesn’t come easy to everyone. To some (a few), knowing where to look for interior design ideas and inspiration may seem like a no-brainer. But to a vast majority of people, getting the creative spark going can be a strenuous task.  Siora Photography - Unsplash If you’ve made it to this page, it may be because deep down there’s a part of you that is craving design inspiration, but you’re not quite sure where to get it from. The good news is, I’ve gathered 5 easy and successful methods to help you get your “inspo-mojo” going. So let’s dive right in, shall we?  1. Paint swatches and colour wheels All right... This one may seem obvious, but it is a very simple, effective way to get some colour inspiration. Most paint stores offer free swatches and inspirational brochures. They sometimes even recommend colour and shade pairing. If you can’t access a paint store in person, you can always turn to the net and try to find your preferred paint company’s website for inspiration.  A great example is Benjamin Moore’s website, where they even have an “Ideas” page for your interior or exterior DIY paint projects: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/project-ideas-inspiration. That said, it is important to bear in mind that a physical colour sample will always look slightly different than what you see on a screen. 2. Go for a walk! While we may not all have access to picturesque forest trails and beaches, you’d be amazed at just how stepping outside and getting some fresh air can be beneficial for your inspiration conquest.
Try and practice mindful walking; pay close attention to your surroundings. What textures do you see? What are the colours that jump out at you the most? Are there patterns you are noticing more than others? Take it all in and make mental notes of your most memorable sensorial experiences. As soon as you’re back inside, take notes right away, while the memories are still fresh in your mind. 3. Use online tools. There are so many amazing online tools these days, it can almost be overwhelming. My advice to not get lost in the rabbit hole of the world wide web is to start with one item you know you like. For example, there’s that beautiful coffee table you saw on your favourite furniture store’s website, and you’d like to try and find a nice area rug to pair it with. Notice the style or colour of the table, and then do a quick search on Pinterest or Google. This could look like this: “Midcentury wood coffee table and area rug”, or “Round glass coffee table and area rug”. You’ll be amazed at all the options available out there.  Nick Morrison - Unplash It goes without saying that Instagram can also be a significant source of inspiration. Try and find artists and designers whose style resonates with you, and simply follow them. A more classic way to get your inspiration vibes going online it by simply visiting your favourite furniture/decorator’s online stores. You can browse for their latest arrivals for new trends or simply look up a specific item from their search toolbar. 4. Read magazines Call me old-fashioned, but I find flipping the pages of a good ol’ design magazine very satisfying. And trust me, there are LOTS of good quality, high-value content trendy magazines to choose from.  Here are a few that I’d recommend: Eye Magazine, Wallpaper* Magazine, Disegno, House and Home, and, last but not least, Architectural Digest. These are all magazines rich in content to help make your inspiration feel more tangible. What’s not to like about that? 5. Visit museums and art galleries While this might sound out of reach or maybe a tad pricey, this is undeniably a great way to get unique design inspiration. By admiring artists’ creations in such an exceptional context, you might discover styles and concepts that would have been unimaginable otherwise. Most cities offer a multitude of free expositions available to the public. Do a quick search to find where such events take place in your community and go for it! You won’t regret it.  Gilber Franco - Unsplash So there it is folks. I hope this will help you get your creative juice flowing. Try to be gentle with yourself throughout the process. And remember: “there’s no such thing as bad ideas (or maybe your “bad” ideas aren’t that bad after all”)! Keep these 5 precious tips in mind, and ideas will start pouring down in no time. Have an interior design project you’d like some help with? Don’t hesitate to reach out!  Photo by Philipp Berndt, Unsplash *Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward me a small commission – at no extra cost for you. For more details, you can read my Terms and Conditions page. First things first: Is white the right paint colour for your space? Ok. So before we get started on this (to me very interesting) topic, I want to share something with you: choosing any paint colour for any room is not always an easy task. Whether you're looking for a bold colour for the accent wall in your powder room or wanting to repaint your entire kitchen, selecting the right hue can be quite the challenge. There are several reasons for this. When looking into paint colour options, many factors come into play. Here are 5 key questions you should ask yourself: 1. What is the current lighting situation of the room? 2. Are there any windows? If so, what direction are they facing? (This one is crucial, because the wall colours will be affected in very different ways, depending on if the light comes from the North, South, East or West). 3. Is there any other existing wall covering that cannot be changed or removed? 4. How big is the room? 5. What atmosphere/ambiance do I want to create?  A few of Benjamin Moore's selection of shades of white Painting an entire room in white: is it a good idea? I’m going to be completely transparent (ok… pun intended) with you here. I like white walls. There, I said it. Do I like a nice, rich, bold dark blue every now and then? Yes, I do. But here’s the thing. There are many good reasons to paint your walls white. And guess what? There are MANY different shades of white. In fact, there are literally hundreds to pick from. I can see how you might be tempted to just go with any white paint colour, after all, what difference would it make, right? Well my friend... don’t do that. Choosing the right shade of white for your walls is crucial, since it will greatly impact the look of your space. Depending on your room, pick too cold of a white, and you’ll end up with a very drab, uninspiring, gloomy, and sterile ambiance. Pick too warm of a white, and you’ll end up with yellow undertones and a “glowy” (pretty sure I just made up that word, but you know what I mean) room that will make you wonder: “something feels wrong here, but what is it?” And trust me, that is not a good place to be. Cool or warm? A great place to start, is to differentiate a cool white from a warm white. Almost any paint colour has undertones in it. It is no different with white paint colours. Simply put, a warm colour usually means it contains yellow undertones. A cool colour means it contains blue undertones.  Photo from www.greenefficientliving.com.au  Living room painted in White Dove OC-17, a warmer white, from Benjamin Moore.  Same living room painted in Pure White OC-64, a cooler white, from Benjamin Moore. Pros of painting your wall surfaces white It goes without saying that white walls come with quite a few perks. One of the major pros of a the colour white is that it's highly reflective. Which means that it will make your room appear bigger, more open and spacious. Secondly, this may sound a tad cliché, but think of a white room as a blank canvas. When you have a room that is completely painted in the right shade of white, styling and décor opportunities are limitless. You can really play around with your accessories and furniture selection. You can create different types of design styles only by changing your throw pillows, your linens or your blinds. It is much easier and cost effective to update a space this way, rather than dealing with the involved (and not-so-fun) task of repainting all your walls.  Photo by Philipp Berndt, Unsplash redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fruggable.com&key=e5dc1c719e1d338454b5dd9401c60f05Another important perk of having white walls: it allows for the eye to rest. You'll also notice that a nice view will really “pop” against a white backdrop. The green from the tree leaves out your window will become more vibrant. The blue of the sky more radiant. Heck, you might even notice those beautiful birds flying by some more! The contrast effect created by a white wall can be quite stunning. Lastly, when done properly, an all-white room will highlight focal points such as art pieces, area rugs, chandeliers or statement pendant lights. In other words, the most important elements of design in your room become the star features, and finally get the attention they truly deserve!
Conclusion I sometimes hear: “But Kiki, I'm nervous my space will look dull if I paint it all in white”. To this I say: “White walls are only dull if you make them”. Select the right shade of white, add interesting textures and patterns here and there, some plants (I'm a big fan of plants), and voila! You now have a room that is relaxing, inviting and beautiful. Next time you wonder about if a white out room is a good idea, remember these valuable tips. If you’re not feeling too confident about picking the right shade of white paint, don’t hesitate to reach out to a pro. After all, that’s what we’re here for! Have an interior design project you’d like some help with? Don’t hesitate to reach out! |
AuthorKiki Lalancette Design Archives
January 2022
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