If you are thinking about redecorating or renovating your home, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to interior design styles. In fact, there may even be so many choices that it becomes overwhelming! Anyone who has been through this process will know just how many decisions need to be made. Will you choose one style for your whole home, or will the style slightly differ depending on the room? Will your interior design reflect your geographical location, or will you bring in international elements? How will your design elements fit into your daily life? Once you select a style that reflects your personality and suits your space, you will then need to choose a paint colour to match your design.
If the idea of all of these choices overwhelms you, here is some help from certified house painters! Read on to find out how you can narrow down the interior design style and paint colours for your home.
First, you will need to decide on a style. Are you looking for a traditional look, a modern aesthetic, or a mix of both? When choosing a style, think about how it will work in your home and how it will function in your life. Here are a couple of style options to think about:
Traditional Style
Traditional styles have been around for a long time, and that is what makes them so recognizable. This style takes inspiration from the 18th and 19th century England and France, and has regal and ornate elements. If you are looking for a more reserved and understated look, a traditional style could be for you.
A traditional style features rich textiles like linen, silk, and velvet; dark wood features with scrolling or ornate carvings; floral, striped, and plaid patterns; crystal light fixtures; and neutral tones.
Scandinavian Style
With it’s simple and functional look, it’s easy to see why the Scandanavian style is rising in popularity. This style features bright spaces with light wood colours and textiles, and sometimes focuses on the use of sustainable materials. Scandanavian styled spaces provide a refreshing and calm feeling to any home.
The main elements of this style are: light wood furniture and flooring; lots of natural light and mirrors; rugs, throws, and natural textures; small hints of colour through art and decor; and white and grey colour schemes.
Industrial Style
This style features a warehouse or urban feel, and incorporates many unfinished elements into the design. It’s common to see exposed brickwork or pipes; high ceilings; abstract art or urban photography; pops of bold colours; metal light fixtures; and solid functional furniture.
Modern Style
Modern styles take influence from scandanavian and mid-century styles to create a blended design. The most prominent elements in the modern style are clean lines and minimal clutter. Modern designs incorporate: sleek materials such as metal and glass; bright open concept spaces; neutral tones; a purposeful lack of decor except for a few statement pieces; clean lines; and simple fixtures.
Modern Farmhouse Style
The modern farmhouse style takes both rustic and modern elements and turns them into one seamless look. A classic blend of old and new creates this cozy style.
You can expect to see wood beams and barn doors; open concept spaces; industrial metal fixtures; simple lighting; and warm neutral colours with pops of brighter natural tones.
Transitional Style
Transitional designs take multiple styles and blend them together in one space. This style takes unique elements from other designs and creates one harmonious look. You will likely see minimal accessories; accent furniture and textiles; traditional elements mixed with contemporary pieces; and off whites paired with neutral colours.
Now that you have a style in mind, it is time to choose a paint colour for your home. Take a look at some of this year’s most popular colours and which style they match best with:
Deep green: Bring nature into your home with a bold and grounding deep green. This is a perfect colour to use for a feature wall with scandanavian or modern farmhouse styles.
Brown-grey: This colour is the perfect blend of cool neutrals and warmer tones, and is best for a modern, industrial, or transitional style.
Antique brown: A classic choice for an understated yet esteemed feel, this colour is perfect for more traditional styles. Antique brown provides the perfect subtle backdrop for more ornate decor pieces.
Earthy red: An earthy reddish colour pairs perfectly with beige and light brown, which makes it the perfect accent in a scandanavian or modern farmhouse design.
Golden yellow: This golden yellow will remind you of the sun’s rays, and will compliment the bright and airy spaces of Scandanavian styles best.
Classic navy: Navy never goes out of style, and will look great with transitional styles and seaside homes.
Choosing the perfect colour scheme for your home can take a lot of thought, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Start by choosing a colour that matches your style, and build your colour palette from there. Choose a selection of complimentary hues to match that initial colour and style, and you will have your colour scheme! Don’t be afraid to use tools such as colour wheels, online colour pickers, and swatches, and be sure to look at colours under both natural and artificial light.
If you are still unsure about which paint colours will be right for your home, let the experts take care of it for you!
