The Art of Colour: Creating Spaces That Speak

Colour isn’t just about visual appeal—it’s about the emotions and stories it can convey. In this blog, we’ll explore how colour can transform a space, shaping its mood and atmosphere. Join us as we dive into the world of design with our designers Sarah and Hollie, uncovering how their creative use of colour brings both beauty and meaning to their projects.

onAs someone originally trained in fashion and textiles, colour and pattern have always been at the core of Sarah's creative journey. Her background in oil painting has given her a deep understanding of how colours interact, and it fascinates her to see how secondary colours can pop against one another, creating striking combinations that tell a story. "In my 30s I studied fine art so I was able to indulge further in the use of colour, and I personally enjoy now being able to translate all of that knowledge into interior design." Whether it's a monochromatic tonal scheme or a contrasting scheme that capture the eye and imagination, the choice of colours can significantly change and affect the mood or help to highlight or de-emphasize areas.

According to Sarah, the most important part of putting together schemes for clients is tailoring the design process to their unique preferences. "When I meet new clients, I often try and grasp from them what colour palettes they prefer," Sarah explains. "If it's not a personal choice of theirs then it's what feeling they want to create in the room, and colour is a key way of helping to reflect that." The range of choices is endless, and both Sarah and Hollie get particularly excited when they can create bespoke fabrics for customers based on brand colouring or a unique colourway that doesn't yet exist. The duo enjoys working together, feeding off each other's creativity to deliver unique designs.

Hollie brings a special focus on colour selection when designing for dementia care. She emphasizes that the right contrast in colours is essential for aiding recognition and orientation, making the environment not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and supportive for residents.

One of our recent projects involved collaborating with a care home group, where we reimagined their corporate colours into bedroom schemes. The design meeting resulted in four distinct schemes, each drawn from their branding. Our designers often draw inspiration from various sources, such as the heritage of the building, the location of the home, or even the name of the room. For instance, in the recent design of the Olive Grove suite for RCH Brentwood, Hollie leaned towards an Italian theme, incorporating orange trees in the wallpaper and abundant use of oranges and greens.

Our designers recently visited WOW House 2024, an event full of colour and inspiration. This experience sparked new ideas for future projects and designs. "When I go to exhibitions like that, I do look at colour and the different use of colour because I can then translate that back into our customers here," Sarah shares. She notes as an example how the use of colour in a displayed painting could inspire an entire room scheme, seamlessly blending art with interior design.

Colour is more than just a visual element; it's a tool for communication and expression. Whether harmonising colours within a palette or using contrasting shades to add a pop, the choices we make in colour can profoundly impact the atmosphere of a space. It's all about creating harmony and balance, or sometimes, a bold statement that stands out. Sarah and Hollie’s designs are a celebration of how colour can transform and enhance spaces and their work shows how thoughtful use of colour can create atmospheres that truly resonate.