03 Magazine: February 08, 2023

44 Magazine | Interiors
“Mother Nature is the ultimate colour
expert, so start to notice the colour values
of the outside world in your everyday life
– consider it free colour training!"
Three tips for using colour
1. Use a colour wheel
It helps to understand how colours work together, the
effect they have on a room and mood, and how to
use them to achieve the style you want. One of the
principles of interior design is harmony, and colour plays
a big part in this.
If you walk into a room and the colour scheme is
made up of colours that don’t have a relationship to
each other, the result will be less harmonious and more
chaotic. This is great if you want an enlivening and unique
look – there are some incredible designers who mix
clashing bright and bold patterns to wow effect. But if
you want the room to feel calming, the room reveal is
not going to go well for you!
To learn about colour, play around with a colour
wheel. A colour wheel shows one colour’s relationship
to another and helps us observe the effect colours have
on one another. You can pick one of these up from your
local Resene ColorShop.
2. Use the 60, 30, 10 trick
If you’re struggling to work out how to distribute your
colour palette around the house or room, try this trick.
Use the hue that you want to dominate for 60 percent
of the room; the secondary colour for 30 percent of the
room, to provide visual interest; and the final colour for
10 percent, to sprinkle on some wow factor.
Let’s say your colour palette is white, blue and brass.
That could translate to 60 percent white (all of the
walls plus a chair and duvet cover), 30 percent blue
(headboard, cushions, quilt, artwork, accessories) and 10
percent brass (furniture legs, light fittings, candlesticks).
This way the colours are applied in a nice rhythm around
the room.
RESENE
MANHATTAN
RESENE
PIONEER RED
3. Use nature as inspiration
Mother Nature is the ultimate colour expert, so start
to notice the colour values of the outside world in your
everyday life – consider it free colour training! Think of
the four seasons as examples – mustards, terracotta and
the earthy tones of autumn make a warm and restful
theme. Soft pinks, saffron yellow and warm white are
uplifting and inspired by spring. Blue, white and sandy
tones are a summer classic and why ‘coastal’ is a popular
interior style. Winter colours are intense blacks, greys,
white and cool blues.
Extracted from Live Luxe by Shelley
Ferguson. Photography by Helen
Bankers. Allen & Unwin NZ RRP$45.