Colour Schemes for Colour Shy Kiwis

Lately, in the design world, there’s been a lot of talk about the power of colour. “These conversations have been less about what's 'on trend' and more about anticipating human needs” our Interior Designer, Zia says, adding “if we recognise that colour has the power to shift our mood, we can use it better in our homes ”.

The focus has been on colours that reinforce our connection to nature; fresh greens, serene blues, warm corals and earthy neutrals. The aim is to ensure our living environments are places of respite - which, as our lives become increasingly dominated by technology, is more important than ever.

Injecting colour into our homes is one of the simplest ways to improve our well-being - but unfortunately, Kiwis are notoriously colour shy! We’d love to see Kiwis get a little more adventurous with colour, but we respect that 99% of them aren't going to love the idea of tangerine tiles or floor-to-ceiling cobalt blue. So we've recruited Zia to take some key trends, and make them a bit more livable... showing you that colour is worth embracing!

Blue Base + Wink of Pink

We're starting off with a blue-based palette because we've never met anyone who hates blue! Being near the centre of the colour spectrum, blue is soothing to the eye - creating a calm, reflective environment.

A blue-based palette is a great choice for interiors but can have a tendency to feel a little cold. Traditionally designers have used orange to warm up blue-based schemes - but Zia has opted for a (more subtle) earthy pink. It only takes a teeny pop… and for the pink-averse, terracotta, or warm-toned timber will have a similar effect.

True Neutrals

Warm neutrals are back in a big way... but when Kiwis talk about “keeping everything really neutral” - they’re often referring to a black & white colour palette. Because of the intense contrast, a black & white interior is much less neutral than might be expected; it’s a very bold statement which can look great, but is difficult to pull off.

A ‘true’ neutral colour-scheme uses different tones of the same colour to create a blank canvas, allowing your art and architectural features to shine. Here Zia has used rich, earthy browns and light beiges to create a welcoming palette; there's a balance of light and dark and enough texture to keep things interesting.

Soothing Sage

Scientifically speaking, green is the easiest colour for the eye to read, and it has strong associations with nature, so it has a very balancing effect. Sage, is a particularly versatile shade, which can be used as an alternative neutral if beige or grey don’t appeal.

Sage pairs beautifully with all types of stone, timber and metal - making it very easy to work with. In this palette, different depths of sage have been layered with light oak timber and pale greys. The result is a truly restful colour scheme… the kind that turns a home into a sanctuary.

Refreshing Greens

Lots of people plan on going totally neutral with their main palette and then bringing in life and colour with lots of lush greenery. We’re in full support of this idea, but if you're a serial plant killer, take a leap and inject the green directly into your walls or furniture.

Brighter greens like the ones in this palette bring life and energy into a space. Several shades of green have been thrown together in this palette, along with crisp, clean whites and soft neutrals. This is a fail-proof recipe for a sophisticated interior - and also helps warm and cool shades (i.e brown and grey) work together.

Soft Grey + Peachy Pop

If you just can’t get on board with beige being back, then it may be worth dipping your toes into ‘Living Coral' - a playful orangey-pink, named by Global Colour Expert Pantone as the big colour of 2019.

We’re unlikely to recommend that anyone saturate their house in this shade - but we do like the idea of a cool palette of greys softened with muted peach, and a playful pop of coral. Plenty of texture is included here too; linen wallpaper, chunky wool carpet, brushed timber and veined marble.

Deep, Dependable Blue

Blue, from a psychological standpoint, has always represented a certain amount of calm and dependability. Deeper tones make us feel grounded and secure by closing in our space visually. There seems to be an obsession with 'openness and brightness’, but it pays to consider whether dark tones may serve us better in specific zones (i.e bedroom or formal lounge). Navy or muted blue can simply be used where you might otherwise use a neutral; our favourite places are joinery, furniture and walls. In this palette, muted blues blend in with charcoal and grey, and are offset with walnut timber and a bright coppery accent.

‘Architecture is really about well-being. I think that people want to feel good in a space … On the one hand it's about shelter, but it's also about pleasure.’ - Zaha Hadid

The more thought we put into our living environments, the more they can serve our needs - and because colour is such a significant factor, it really pays to give it some serious thought.

We love seeing our clients pull together colour schemes through our consultation process. The result is different with each and every home because the solutions completely depends on people’s personalities, lifestyles and needs. If you’d like to hear more about our wider design & build process, or you’re interested in a one-off consultation then get in touch using the form below - we’d love to help.