Confidently colourful decor

For many of us, making a commitment to colour can seem like an insurmountable task. We long to be adventurous and free spirited, but something gets in the way. Maybe it's a fear of judgment or a painful memory of the last colour gone wrong. Maybe it's the misconception that a colourful decor has to be bold and bright. Well, it's time to build up your confidence. Regardless of whether your taste is for dramatic colour-drenched rooms or a subtle, fresh palette of natural shades, the following tips will help you select the best hues for your home.

DO determine the overall mood you'd like to create before choosing paint colours for a room. To create a bold look, choose high-energy colours like brick, terra-cotta, antique gold or Pompeian red. For a seductive scheme, pick smoky charcoal, mauve or pewter. To play up a room's prettiness, select a palette of blush pink, oyster and icy blue.

DO establish a colour scheme for the whole house (or at least the main floor) at the outset. For example, midtone khaki walls in a living room look fetching when viewed from a putty-colour entranceway. A consistent trim colour throughout further emphasizes the connection between rooms.

DO reinforce a noteworthy design element, such as a fireplace or bay window, by painting it the lightest colour in a room. Light-colour objects appear more prominent than their darker counterparts.

DON'T forget that a colourful decor doesn't have to be bold and bright – it can be subtle, too. For example, you can enhance sunlight in a room with warm, pale colours like ivory, bisque, mushroom and shell pink.

DON'T ignore nature's palette, which encompasses many colours. Be inspired by the multiplicity of tones and textures that gives natural hues their depth.

Read more in Decorating & Design and Live Your Colours