Creating a decorating scheme - where to begin
with EDWARD BULMER
Lesson 17 of 24
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Scheming should be a fun part of your project, but it can be extremely daunting. Here Edward demystifies the process by walking you through his own scheming process, and revealing how he builds a well-balanced room. For further inspiration, order a free colour chart here: https://bit.ly/free-paint-chart
From the Lesson Workbook
Where to Begin
Scheming should be a fun part of your project, but it can be extremely daunting for a beginner. I've broken it down into easy steps to demystify the process and give you the confidence to build your own well-balanced decorating schemes.
01 - Decide on your starting point
Choose an element that is either a certainty, or exists in the space already. For many projects, flooring will be the starting point.
02 - Determine its tone and colour
Use a palette of subtly pigmented off-whites to see if you can work out where your starting point sits in terms of colour and tone.
03 - Match an off-white to your starting point
After a process of trial and error, you will be able to decide on a few shades of off-white that sit harmoniously with the starting point. You may find one matches particularly well, whereas a couple of others offer a little contrast while still feeling balanced.
04 - Focus on that group of pigments
Establish what pigments are in the off-white that sits perfectly with the starting point. In the case of my example, I will focus on yellow ochre, black and red ochre.
05 - Move through other colours with those pigments
Eliminating colours that don't contain the correct tonality, you are left with a palette of colours to try that contain the harmonious pigments. Experiment with different shades and build up a selection.
06 - Consider the weight of colour
You will find some colours, although tonally balanced, will feel too heavy, and vice versa. These can be disregarded.
07 - Whittle down the colours based on preference and suitability
Once you have done the first cut that determines which colours will work in terms of tonality, you can edit your selection in accordance with personal preference. If you have already decided you want a blue scheme for example, then you can continue with these shades.
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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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