52 FREE Interior Design Tips: # TIP 5: 10 STEPS FOR CREATING A COLOUR SCHEME

Today we will look at the basic process of colour scheming for a basic house. It’s key when planning the scheme of a new house to look at the positioning on the site:

A. Work out which rooms will have a lot of sunlight and which will not. If a room is on the cool side of the house use warmer colors, and vice versa

B. Select 1 thing that will be constant throughout the entire scheme so that it will flow through the house e.g. the same paint color for all the doors and skirting boards

C. Visualize from the plans the spaces in 3 dimensions and work out what you will be able to see from each room, and then ensure the colors that you select are pleasing on the eye when viewed simultaneously

SELECTING THE COLOUR SCHEME
Here is a methodical way of selecting a color schemes once you have the Client Brief:

1. Make a cup of coffee/ tea and sit in the space that you are going to undertake the changes…..relax

2. Familiarize yourself with the existing surroundings and how they are currently used

3. Note the things that work in the room and those that don’t - highlighting any eyesores

4. Review the natural and artificial lighting. Take photographs of the room for later reference

5. Make a list of all the items, areas, surfaces that there are - from the ceiling and work down

6. Use your inspirational piece or client’s suggestion as a starting point for putting things together

7. Select samples of paint, carpet, wall vinyl, fabric, trims, artwork and lay them all out together

8. Have a look at the samples in the new environment, checking that they work with the current light

9. Collate them all – write up your schedule – assemble a color/mood board and present to the client

10. There are often minor alterations / fine tuning to be done at this stage – don’t worry about that

You have now completed a color scheme - overall, don’t be afraid to make decisions as long as you can justify what you have selected