How to use colour to make the most of a small space

Claire Bond, colour trainer and Plascon brand ambassador, shares some expert decorating tips

16 July 2017 - 00:00 By Roberta Thatcher

Do small spaces need conservative colours?
Not at all. Selecting colour has everything to do with proportion, and in the Plascon Spaces Showroom we always use the 60%-30%-10% principle.
It's a simple solution in which you apply one single paint colour, which can include different shades and tints of that colour, to 60% of the room.
30% can be divided between floor colour and ceiling colour. Your floor colour will determine what colour your walls need to be, while the easiest ceiling choice is white or a few shades lighter than your natural wall colour.
Finally, 10% can be divided into coloured accessories, an accent wall or furniture painted in a contrasting colour to the rest of the walls in the room.Are there any no-nos for an accent wall?
The more colours you paint in one space the less restful the room will become as the eye does not know where to rest. Rather add the extra colours to accessories.
Would you paint a simple accent wall?
Trend forecasters think accent walls will soon be a thing of the past, but I love them as they add energy to your space. You can't compare the impact of a small beige room to that of a room where a stripe of colour has been used.
Colours you'd choose for a small space?
I love a peach hue with a pink undertone as it's warm and inviting. It is a great colour to come home to as it helps us cope with stress.
Whichever colour you opt for, layer varying shades of the same hue in your trim, floors, rugs and window treatments...

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