How to Use Primary Colours in your Home
Primary colours are making a comeback in 2023 - and we’re not mad about it!
Now more than ever, our interior surroundings are becoming extensions of our personalities - a space to express yourself and feel safe in doing so.
It’s also a rebellion against traditional ‘adult’ colour schemes and a chance to relive the joy you felt in your childhood. Colour psychology plays a huge part in how we feel, so read our designer’s expert tips on how you can incorporate primary colours in your home…
Image Credit: Claybrook Studio
What is colour psychology?
Every colour can evoke a different feeling or emotion. The three primary colours (red, yellow and blue) all offer completely different properties.
Red attracts attention - which is often why it’s used for purposes such as warning signs or traffic lights. Blue is mentally stimulating - helping us to focus whilst also offering a calming feel. Yellow offers a feeling of energy and optimising. All three are bold and demand to be noticed.
How to style primary colours in your interior
Because of their intensity, there is a careful balance that needs to be achieved when using primary colours. The key is ensuring that are only used as accents within a space, rather than the dominant colour.
We always advise using the 60-30-10 rule:
60% of the room should be a dominant colour
30% should be the secondary-dominant colour
10% should be the accent
Primary colours are high in saturation, so work best as a secondary or accent colour - taking up the smallest percentage of the space. This can be introduced in a variety of ways…
Paint an accent wall
Colour-drenching a room with a primary colour could easily overwhelm a space, as well as providing negative psychological effects.
For example, a room fully painted in primary blue would become cold and uninviting; much like a room wrapped in primary red would feel overpowering and aggressive. An accent wall in either of these shades, however, will add the right amount of fun and energy without becoming overstimulating.
Image Credit: Little Greene
Paint your ceiling
The ceiling is a great opportunity to introduce some playfulness to your interior. By keeping walls neutral, adding a splash of colour to the ceiling will create a fun statement without overwhelming the space.
Think about your furniture
A great way to introduce a primary colour to your interior is through your smaller pieces of furniture. Look to items such as side tables, rugs or accent chairs for inspirartion.
Highly saturated pops of colour in these areas add a punchy and contemporary feel to a space - particularly when contrasted against more natural schemes. It adds an element of the unexpected to your interior, which will help modernise your space and keep it feeling fresh.
Paint your doors and window frames
A great way to create a modern interior is through painting your woodwork.
Injecting a pop of colour into an otherwise all-white space will add an element of fun and surprise that you wouldn’t expect.
Paint your doors, skirting or even window frames for a playful border effect that’s sure to put a smile on your face every time you walk through the door!
Soft furnishings and upholstery
Similarly to your smaller pieces of furniture, your soft furnishings and upholstery are another great option to add a pop of colour to your interior.
From a bold armchair to a colour block rug, use these areas as an opportunity to introduce solid blocks of colour that pop against a neutral backdrop. You definitely won’t miss the WOW factor with this!
Accessories
A carefully curated collection of accessories, ornaments and artwork can transform a room - particularly in a playful colour palette.
A vibrant picture frame, bold yellow sculpture or punchy floor lamp are perfect opportunities to go a little wilder than you might usually. They’re also a lot more subtle than a painted wall, so perfect for dipping your toe in the trend if you’re not 100% sure.
Image Credit: @michaeldansk
If you liked these tips, be sure to tag us on social media (@nestinterior.uk) with any pics! We can’t wait to see your playful interiors…
Love what you see but not sure how to recreate the look in your own space? Get in touch with our interior design team today.