Depending on your home, you may wish to create a design style which complements or contrasts - for example country, traditional or modern.

A 'country' look usually means an informal look using a mixture of small floral patterns, possibly accompanied by checked designs of small stripes. Colours may be warm natural or earthy, such as russets, olive, wine and plum, or they may be softer and cleaner pastels such as greens pinks, blues or yellows.

When creating a 'traditional' style, the emphasis is usually on larger, more formal patterns with regular repeats of fine detailed florals and broad stripes or heraldic motifs and crests. Colours may vary from deeper richer tones to the more classic pale hues.

Modern rooms are usually less fussy in their styling and have cleaner lines. Patters are often bolder with perhaps stripes and diagonals incorporated into geometric or abstract designs. Colours are usually brighter, cleaner and fresher.



Historic Colour Palettes

If you have a period home and are choosing a colour scheme for your room, you might want it to be appropriate to the era.

Here are three examples, which might give you some ideas.

Georgian (c.1714 - 1837)

Panelled walls were painted in a uniform colour. Later in the period, they were only panelled part way and were often painted white.

Victorian (c.1837 - 1901)

Colour schemes became much more detailed, using more colours on architectural moulding to provide contrast and interest. Colour schemes, on the whole, were muted, strong and rich.

Edwardian and Art Deco (C1901 - 1939)

Decorative schemes returned to a more elegant and uncluttered appearance. Development of a new synthetic pigment meant the introduction of brighter and more vivid colour schemes.