A guide to creating a colour story for your home

Cream, grey and chartreuse create a modern colour story. Photos: Scott Gabriel Morris/TNS

Ideally, your home should reflect your style, taste and sense of design. The launchpad for such inspiration often begins with colour.

Creating a colour story can help provide inspiration for a successful design.

Often a successful story begins with an inspirational piece, which can be anything from a graphic, colourful area rug to a one-of-a-kind art piece or a side chair that has an interesting pattern.

Colour blocking, also often called colour mapping, is a popular design technique in which a colour is repeated or mapped throughout a space. The technique allows a colour scheme to feel cohesive. Add to your story with complementary fabrics, furniture and even finishes.

Here are more do’s and don’ts to keep in mind as you design your space.

Warm tones are repeated in this family room through the use of artwork, toss pillows and ottoman. Photo: Handout/TNS

Do’s

•Do choose an inspirational piece that helps you make a bold colour statement.

•Do repeat a colour in ways that are both subtle, such as accents and accessories, and bold, such as upholstery or area rugs.

•Do build colour from a neutral palette.

Great foundational colours include white, cream/tan, black, navy blue and brown.

A black-and-white colour scheme serves as a bold and powerful colour story. Photo: Handout/TNS

Don’ts

•Don’t have a colour stand alone. If you introduce a colour into a space, repeat the colour elsewhere at least once in the same room.

•Don’t overlook interesting ways to incorporate colour such as metals and finishes.

•Don’t use more than three colours in the same space. Typically a mix of a primary, secondary and pop of colour works well.

•Don’t choose trendy colours. Choose ones that will stand the test of time and can remain in your colour story for years to come. – Tribune News Service