By Julie Wishart, this blog first appeared on the Cambridge Evening News website
Choosing a paint colour when decorating, can often be the most difficult decision. Going for neutrals may seem like a safe bet, but even then, there is a world of options to choose from.
However, as the following beautiful pictures show, with a little courage, colour can be used carefully and thoughtfully throughout your house, and if you get it right, good paint colours are always a winner.
The walls in this dining room are painted in Farrow & Ball Blue Gray No.91 Modern Emulsion. The most gorgeous soft blue which contrasts beautifully with white woodwork and the bright pink and red floral fabric covering the dining chairs.
Walls Fired Earth Storm from The Paint Collection
A darker shade, of blue/green tempered with pale coloured shutters and warm wooden furniture creates a wonderful atmosphere of calm in a more casual dining room.
Fired Earth Flow Bath painted in paint colour Mercury
If you aren’t brave enough to paint your whole bathroom in a strong colour, then opt to paint the side of the bath and you can create a striking focal point in a safely neutral/muted room.
Walls Farrow and Ball Pavilion Blue No.252 Estate Emulsion
Soft blues, greens and greys are the gentle colours most prevalent in nature and used in a bedroom they can create a lovely peaceful atmosphere which will induce calm and restful sleep.
Walls: Farrow and Ball Shaded White No.201 Modern Emulsion
Woodwork: Farrow and Ball London Stone No.6 Estate Eggshell
Ceiling: Farrow and Ball Strong White No.2001 Modern Emulsion
The kitchen is nowadays often the busiest room in the house, used for cooking, eating, working and entertaining and so it is important when choosing colours to think about the mood you would most like to create. This kitchen is painted using several neutrals from the same colour group and it has a lovely sense of cohesion.
Walls painted in Fired Earth Pier Point
Grey neutrals are incredibly popular at the moment – I love this colour from Fired Earth, which is inspired by the colour of sand on a Dorset beach, as it is warm as well as sophisticated. The daring use of strong purple on the skirting boards works beautifully with the quirky accessories in the room.
There is a myth in decorating that blue is a cool colour but as you can see from these glorious walls, it doesn’t have to be! This colour is on the warm part of the spectrum and coupled with fresh white woodwork, it look fabulous and inviting in this Victorian property.
Wall: Farrow and Ball Stone Blue No.86 Estate Emulsion
Woodwork: Farrow and Ball All White No.2005 Estate Eggshell
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