Creating a decorating scheme - how to refine

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.