Classic room designs are often done in neutral colour palettes. This is because, chosen well, neutrals are formal, relaxing to live with, tend to work on some level with most accent colours, and, generally being light in hue, comply with the myth that light colours make a room look larger. It is when the undertones in a neutral shade are not quite right for the overall look that we begin to feel less comfortable with that neutral room design, but perhaps cannot quite put our finger on what is “off” about the room. Pink, purple, green or yellow undertones can be very off-putting, and in quite a subtle way. The room, or often the entire home, just may not quite sit right with you for many years, but because the situation is not dramatic, you just live with it, but never enjoy it. When you first move into a new home, often you are faced with a sea of beige to start with. A pink or yellow under-toned beige is truly awful to live with, but moving is stressful so you just leave it. Besides, you likely do not realize what is wrong. A point of inspiration is required to achieve the home of your dreams. It is much more interesting to deviate from the idea of neutrals always being a safe choice, which is not the case at all, and to venture forth into the world of colour choice that is available to us. This does not mean wild colour. It also may still involve neutrals, but better chosen neutrals. blade of grass with shining drops of varied colourYour designer at Mulberry Interiors can be of great assistance to start your design plans on the right foot. Whether your interior design project is in Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington, Milton, Georgetown, Etobicoke, or western Toronto. The design consultants at Mulberry Interiors can assist you to achieve a masterful interior design plan. Furniture sourcing, flooring sourcing and custom draperies are some of the first jobs at hand. One important element of a room will be used to inspire a flow to the rest of the home. Continuity of a theme lends elegance and cohesion. Some clients prefer traditional room design with more curving lines on furnishings. upscale traditional living room in neutral colour palette with custom furniture and draperies and ceiling molding detailSome clients prefer more of a blend of the traditional with modern. Neutrals can still be part of this approach. This is a transitional style. Even in a smaller home dark colours can be used to great effect. Sometimes a little; sometimes a lot. A balance of lighter and darker colours are used to create a room design. Some clients prefer a higher percentage of light colours, and many find they do not, even if they originally thought they did! Dark neutrals are very easy to live with for many clients.transitional style living room with classic fireplace with added moldings, mid brown wall colour, leather and white wood armchair, area rug, and floral toss cushionsWindow coverings are necessary to control light for comfort and privacy, as well as to protect furnishings. Custom window coverings can be the crowning glory of a room. When we enter a room, our eyes are often drawn to the windows. The way that windows are dressed or neglected, as the case may be, make an immediate impact. There is a huge range of choice for drapes and shades. Window coverings are expensive but excellent value as they have such great impact on the total picture. Custom window coverings create drama and focus in a room, significantly contributing to the style and mood that is achieved in the room. Draperies soften the hard lines of windows, as well as providing privacy, protecting furnishings, and providing light control. Draperies can also conceal features that are less attractive such as pipes and electrical outlets. Custom draperies are lined and often interlined. A top quality lining can greatly improve the way a drape hangs on the window. Floor length draperies, being large, make a strong colour statement in the room. The colour palette in the room below is quite soft and understated. Even so, it is not a sea of beige. All of the elements are interesting and have design details that add to the overall tapestry of the room. The use of adjacent dark neutral wall colour can truly enhance all f the design elements in a room design.great room with tall windows with camel custom draperies, paired nail studded chairs, leather ottoman, stone mantel with television above, and lantern style lightWindow shades come in an astounding array of forms and colours nowadays. They may be a simple, flat surface, or more three dimensional as in ruched styles, such as the Austrian and festoon shades. Shades can also be slatted, pleated or cellular in many fabrics, colours, and materials. Several types contribute significantly to preventing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. Drapery valances and headings, though purely decorative, lend a more formal, finished look. They can also serve to hide basic, utilitarian drapery hardware. They come in many forms, from very simple to extremely elaborate. Custom drapery valances can be a simple, soft accent at the top of a drapery treatment. They can also be in the form of a rigid, shaped upholstered piece.upscale bedroom with built-in cabinetry around window with custon draperies and shaped upholstered valanceThe tones present in the furniture, flooring, and window coverings start to establish the colour scheme. Area carpets add a further level of interest to the theme being created. Once the main elements of furniture, flooring, and custom draperies have been decided, we can likely proceed to the paint colour consultation. The walls are the largest surface in the room so are an extremely important element in the design. Kitchens and bathrooms are areas which once were neglected or were simply neutral in colour. Tiles now come in a wonderful array of dynamic colouration and are applied to a wider variety of surfaces than in the past. We can also choose to wallpaper one wall or all four walls. These choices are ideally made after the furniture sourcing, flooring sourcing and custom window draperies are established.relaxed and charming loft style condo kitchen with colourful hexagonal floor tiles and exposed brick wallsThe colour relationships among the rooms of your home determine whether the net result of the décor scheme feels harmoniously flowing or jagged and jarring. Colours in adjoining spaces should relate to each other in order to create a pleasing flow.Those of us who love colour are still able to indulge our choices by using a unifying thread of key colour which runs from room to room. We may make use of a recurring theme in furniture sourcing, custom window treatments and interesting accessories. Even with gentle shades of colour we can add some drama to the room design through the use of exceptional furniture pieces, fabric choices, wall coverings, flooring and accessories. There’s still no need for beige unless we really want it. elegant contemporary living room with textured wall treatment, blush sofa, and a painted tree stump as an end tableArchitectural features such as trim work, baseboards, door and window frames and ceiling mouldings don’t necessarily have to be white, but except in specific room designs, they should be the same throughout the home. You can also achieve a wide range of effects using a limited colour palette in varying intensities. Open floor plans maximize a feeling of space without increasing square footage. This does not mean that you must have the whole space only one colour. There is usually an architectural break at which point we can consider a colour change.upscale living room in pale neutral colour palette with cream leather furniture, and contemporary fireplace with paired accent niches in dark neutral painted woodThere’s just no need to wonder why your home’s colour scheme feels “off”. Call Mulberry Interiors now at (905) 849-6423 to book a paint colour consultation. We look forward to working with you to increase your enjoyment of your home.

Full Décor Service
Furniture and Accessories
Colour Consultations a Specialty
Flooringand Area Carpets
Window Coverings including Draperies, Shutters and Blinds
Space Planning, Lighting and Wall Art