Calming hues to create serene spaces
More so than ever before our homes are our sanctuaries. The most common question from my clients has been “How to create a sense of calm in a bedroom or living space?” to assist relaxation in these uncertain times. In this blog I will suggest wall colours from white to navy to create serene spaces.
Many consider white to be a calm colour however brilliant white tends to be too bright to be relaxing. You are best to opt for a white with a hint of yellow, red or green. A great warm white is Farrow and Ball’s ‘Pointing’. It looks white until you contrast it with a brilliant white and then you can see the subtle underlying yellow tone. If you want to avoid any yellow tones try ‘Slaked Lime’ from Little Greene paint which is a slightly grey white. Lots of paint brands have videos on their websites showing how the colour will look in situ.
With soft whites you can layer luxurious white bed linen with off white colours like taupes in curtains, rugs and throws.
Green is a very calming colour for any room. Green helps us to feel grounded and calm due to our association of green with nature. If you like bright greens it is best to use these colours as accent colours and choose more muted grey greens for walls to create a restful space. Colours that have moss related names are usually these muted greens for example ‘Moss’ from Neptune Paints, ‘Lichen’ from Farrow and Ball or ‘Soft Fern’ from Benjamin Moore.
Blue greens are also very calming. Blue greens remind us of the calm of the sea. Many people find blues cold but if the blue has a green mixed in the colour becomes more aqua and warm. Farrow and Ball’s Teresa’s Green is very popular in a bedrooms as is Colourtrends ‘Pantry Blue’ from their historic collection.
Many people like to use deep wall colours to create a calm and cocooning space. Currently navy is very popular. How you accessorise the room changes how the room feels. The image below shows a bedroom with a large amount of dark wall to be seen which can make the room feel smaller. The second image below has a higher headboard breaking up the space. A similar effect can be created with pictures or mirrors above the bed to break up the wall space.
Popular navy paints are Royal Navy by Little Greene or Stiffkey Blue by Farrow and Ball.
When choosing paints it is best to opt for a water based paint as it is more eco-kind and better for you. Little Greene and Farrow and Ball are brands that are committed to minimising their ecological impact and offer water based paint for walls, floors and woodwork. These paints are virtually VOC (volatile organic compound) free meaning they are odour free and safe for use in children’s bedrooms & cots. VOCs cause the strong smell from traditional paints as the pollutants are released into the atmosphere.
Blog by Amanda Bailey Design.
Amanda is an interior designer with more than twenty years of experience including thirteen years as a Colour Consultant with Farrow & Ball. Amanda is passionate about colour and how it can change our lives.
Visit www.amandabaileydesign.ie or follow on instagram @amandabaileydesign for more inspiration.