In our interior design projects and paint colour consultations we are often asked to produce room designs which do not have much colour. How to create a strong design impact without using strong colour? The desired finished effect desired still needs to be one of impact and drama, as well as comfort and ease. What many people do not realize, as well, is that home lighting gives off subtle colour that can strongly affect what the final hue really looks like when these lights are on. Often this castoff light from overhead is a greenish hue, and a great many people do not like any hint of green in their home. That may because they are still tired of green which was overdone in the past, or that they simply like a pure white. If the coloured light emitted from light bulbs is very strong, any light shade of wall colour will simply be overpowered. It is quite a transition for some clients to realize that this is why they have been struggling to arrive at a pleasing light shade of paint for their walls. Some clients are able to embrace darker colours in some rooms and then balance this with lighter shades where the coloured light effect from the bulbs is not as pronounced. Sometimes there is even reflected green light from shrubs and evergreen trees that are close to windows. This is only a problem if the client insists on only very light paint shades being used.
When draperies obscure in-coming coloured light, and when ambient lighting is not coloured, it is possible in these cases to use a fair amount of white, off white or cream, so that the eye is able to bounce around the room. When the eye encounters darker or more colourful pieces in the room, such as a pair of colourful or dark chairs, a piece of wooden furniture, contrasting toss cushions, quirky accent items, the eye stops and, considers the items, then moves on around the room. The white used in the room maintains a feel of spaciousness, but this type of room design is only successful if the client likes white. Many clients do not, or it is not practical to have everyday furnishings in white. A dramatically dark ceiling as seen here may not be noticed, at first, because the decor is quite interesting. It is not to everyone’s taste. It is to this homeowner’s taste, as it should be. So many clients do not express themselves in their own home’s decor for fear of resale, even when they have no intention of selling for years to come.
Sometimes, décor trends lead us to purchase darker elements such as stainless steel appliances with black sides where formerly we only had white or off-white appliances. In a very light kitchen the colour balance will be off if we don’t introduce some darker coloured elements. These darker elements need not be large. They can even be the metal portion of lighting elements, smaller accessories, or even the window frames. There is a strong trend toward darker window frames. It is such a nice look that many people are left wondering why white or cream and nothing else were chosen automatically in the past. This happened even when the white or cream window frames did absolutely nothing to enhance the very often beautiful brick on the exterior of the home. There simply was no thought put into the choice. Very often the harsh white window frames made the perfectly nice brick look dirty, especially if it had a grey undertone.
Windows allow natural light to enter the home and lend a feeling of uplifting spaciousness. This incoming light allows us to use colour in the room to whatever extent the client may enjoy colour. For a client who is underwhelmed by a white or neutral room design, it is crucial that colour be used in the interior design of the room. Window treatments block the damaging effects of light so are a necessary part of interior design. Draperies, shutters and blinds move over the window allowing more or less light in.Shutters, blinds, and draperies are very often white of off white but can look fabulous in darker colours, while functioning in the same way. It is interesting that black screen shades actually allow a far better view of the outdoor scenery than lighter coloured shades. A touch of black in an otherwise light window covering lends drama and interest. Black shades on lighting adds wonderful impact to a room design. Draperies can be made to be stationary dressing at the edges of the window, or they can be made to pull across the window to block light. If they are lined with blackout lining, they can block light entirely. These blackout draperies can be made of entirely light coloured fabric so that they lend a feeling of lightness but are very effective at blocking light, due to the blackout lining. If a less dense effect is preferred, while still filtering out more light than regular lining does, a dimout lining is used. Full length draperies cause the eye to follow their length up toward the ceiling. This lends an illusion of height and a little formality to the room. The eye rests of the decorative drapery hardware then moves on. In some room designs where we want the overall finished look to remain light but retain dramatic effect, we are able to add in darker coloured elements such as feature walls, darker accessories, dynamic furnishings, striking area carpets, wallpaper or artwork.
Rich wall colours actually draw they eye up, as opposed to shrinking the apparent size of the room. Adjacent furniture basks in the glow of a beautiful, dark wall colour. Even quite pedestrian furniture looks quite good when some thought goes into the choosing of the wall colour. Large mirrors not only look dramatic, but they add sparkle to the room, and their height draws the eye upward toward the ceiling so that the room feels a little taller. There is also the illusion of greater depth in the room because we look into the view that the mirror creates. These dramatic mirrors dare to be large, rather than unassuming and apologetic. A similar effect can be achieved with tall accessories, large artwork, or groupings of artwork that draw the eye upward due to the size of the grouping on the wall. Rooms that actually have tall ceilings and tall windows already have an advantage. In rooms with architectural interest, such as tall ceilings, tall dramatic windows, overhead beams, there is enough going on visually to get away with simple white. It’s a lovely room in any colour. Even white. The same room in a dramatic colour might just be even better.
If these architectural features are not there, we strive to mimic the effect on the eye. Interesting textured tiling or stonework on the face of a fireplace can really add drama and presence to an otherwise unassuming room. In the room above the ceiling is tall and there are architectural beams, as well as second story windows visible from the ground floor. This room starts out with a big advantage. The architectural elements draw our eye upwards, and we are left with a sense of drama as well as comfort, without a lot of clutter. In the room below, once again, the ceiling is tall, allowing for layers and layers of crown molding to draw the eye up. The lantern is simple, yet dramatic, and the thin band of darker trim lends presence and definition to the overall effect. This room is wonderful in simple white. Colour would actually interfere.
Artwork can also draw the eye upward, with a similar effect. Artwork can also lend a grounding effect to a very light colour palette. The framing may also be dark and add to this effect. Similarly, one large piece of art is so much more effective than displaying a lot of too small items. The effect of displaying small items is to lend a feeling of clutter and crowding.Larger, more dramatic accessories result in a more dynamic and richer overall effect.
A tall, upholstered headboard in an upscale bedroom lends comfort as well as decorative impact to the room design. An overall colour palette in light grey and white benefits from sparkle added by an elaborate traditional chandelier. There is a strong trend toward the use of acrylic furnishings these days. The effect is whimsical and fun but the furniture is also hard wearing and practical. The overall effect is one of simplicity and lack of clutter and obstruction. The finished room design may be casual or more formal, depending on the colouration and accessories used in the design.
Tall built-in cabinetry is not only useful, good looking but also has the effect of drawing the eye up and, thus, lending a more open air look to the room design. The cabinetry need not be white to have this effect. Dark or mid toned cabinetry will still work, performing multiple functions, and therefore, making the room design more functional and easier to live in. Even a small storage built-in can help enormously to make the room more livable. Where there is no room or no need for cabinetry, a textured wall treatment in a cabinetry style adds a dramatic and stylish finish. Strong, dark colours lend an air of richness, warmth, and punch to a room. These darker tones need to be balanced with lighter hues to create a successful room design. Using a strong decorative element in a room design such as a wallpaper mural lends presence and often makes the room design much more effective. The room is balanced and clutter is kept at bay. Contrast provided by the use of strong tones in the mural and the dark wall colour entertain the eye and give it places to go. Using a surprisingly large scale in a wallpaper mural can really add impact to a room design, while maintaining a feeling of freshness and fun. The overall room design lends a feeling of comfort and cheer. It is simply not true that you cannot use bold colour and pattern in small spaces. Wainscotting and elaborate moldings in a light shade can keep a room design on the lighter side even while using a dramatic wall colour. As well, a black or navy ceiling colour lends tremendous interest in an otherwise light room. It is a daring and surprising element that looks fabulous.
Call Mulberry Interiors now at (905) 849-6423 to book a consultation. We look forward to working with you to increase your enjoyment of your home.
Full Décor Service Flooring
Colour Consultations a Specialty Space Planning
Window Coverings including Draperies and Blinds Accessories and Wall Art