Creating a decorating scheme - how to refine
with EDWARD BULMER
Lesson 18 of 24
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Edward leads you through the second half of his scheming process, explaining how to balance light and dark and how to bring fabric into your scheme.
From the Lesson Workbook
How to Refine
The next step is to apply the palette you've created to a room.
01 - Work out what type of room it is
Connecting spaces or rooms that you travel through are best served with a neutral palette, whereas it's worth going bolder with colour in rooms that you spend time in. Imagining that this is the scheme for an entrance hall, I have disregarded the options with too much colour.
02 - Decide if you want a scheme that is on the cooler or warmer side
If your starting point is particularly cold, colours with a touch of heat can help to warm up the space. Equally, if your starting point is hot, choose cooler tones to pare the overall look back a bit.
03 - Resolve which aspect you want to be the strongest
Colour schemes are a play between light and dark, and the contrast between the two. Consider which element you want to stand out, and balance the other elements to be slightly lighter. Imagining that this is the scheme for an entrance hall, I have disregarded the options with too much colour.
04 - If your room contains upholstery, you can start weaving fabric into the scheme
Using the same logic and continuing to think about tonality, experiment with bringing different fabrics to join your paint colours. Here, you can use the colour wheel to introduce an element of complementary contrast with your fabrics. For example, a kitchen painted blue may suit a yellow fabric blind.
05 - Throughout the process, continue to refer back to your starting point
As you build up, you can start to incorporate stronger pops of colour across different elements of the room. However, to achieve balance, you must always be conscious of the tonal palette you've established. By constantly supporting the tonality of your starting point, you will create a family of materials that will all be in dialogue.
06 - After playing around with variations, it's time to commit to a final scheme
With final colours and fabrics chosen, you can begin to decide exactly where each element will go. I personally think it's wise to keep an off-white within your palette, as this may be necessary for trims and woodwork. If you bring in other materials, keep referring back to the tonal palette you have created.
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Your Instructor
Edward Bulmer
Award-winning interior designer, architectural historian, paint expert. House & Garden Top 100.
Edward Bulmer is one of the UK’s leading interior designers and architectural historians, specialising in the restoration and decoration of historic buildings. After studying History of Art at university, Edward trained under legendary designer David Mlinaric CBE, as well as working for Alec Cobbe, and Gervase Jackson-Stops OBE, who was architectural advisor to the National Trust. Alongside running his own paint company, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, Edward has led a highly successful design team for over 30 years, working on some of England’s greatest country houses as well as a range of private and commercial projects including Goodwood, the Tower of London, Chequers and the Arts Club.
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