Myth 1: You have to paint your ceiling white to open up the room
While it is true that white reflects light better than any other colour in the colour spectrum, it doesn't mean that you have to only use white on your ceilings. In fact, adding colour to your ceiling can draw the eye upward and make your room feel and appear larger.
Remember many colour rules are based on lighting and how much natural light is sourced into your interiors. Dark colours when used in small rooms, with very little natural light can cause a “cave effect.” To correct this consider using darker colours in rooms with plenty of windows and bring in lighter colour trim, furniture, and flooring materials to balance out the dark colours.
Myth 3: Using pastel colours in your interiors appears feminine
Since the beginning of time colours have always evoked different emotions and connotations and lighter colours are thought of as feminine while darker colours are appeared to feel masculine. This doesn't mean you can’t pair pastel colours with tones of darker colours to create a fabulous space. Choose a pastel colour you love for a few key pieces of furniture and use a colour fan deck to choose darker saturations of this colour to create a room that fits both genders beautifully.
Myth 4: All white kitchens are stark and uninviting
White seems like it would be the most favouring colour in the spectrum, but it can often feel cold and uninviting if you don’t layer white with creams, off-whites or other warm finishes. Instead of shying away from white in your kitchen use it freely in your counter tops, tile, and cabinet selections and pair with stainless steel, warm wood floors, and textiles that bring warmth to your white kitchen.
Myth 5: Every room should be a different colour to show individuality
Have you ever walked through a home that every room showcases a new colour and by the time you walk through the entire home you feel like you've gone to the circus? Individuality in rooms doesn't have to be as dramatic as finding an entirely different colour, in fact choosing a coordinating palette of colours for the entire home at one time will help rooms flow together visually and won’t feel so jarring.
Myth 6: Monochromatic colours can’t feel warm and welcoming
Black and white when used together can create a high contrast interior that can often be jarring and uncomfortable. If trying to use monochromatic colours ensure you use them with subtle patterns and without creating a colour blocked room of dark walls with dark furniture and only a few hints of white. Consider bringing in subtle neutrals such as tan and gray in small proportions to balance the monochromatic scheme. This will help keep your room complimenting and relaxing.
Myth 7: Before you choose colours you have to follow design rules
Trends and designers have conflicting views on following design “rules” when choosing colours in your home. Decide for yourself as to whether the colours you choose make the room feel welcoming and enjoyable to stay in or if it makes guests run the other way! Let your gut and emotions steer your design cues. If you don’t feel you can decide, then consider bringing in a design professional to help find colours that work together and speak to your home lifestyle.
Myth 8: Neutral colour palettes are for the unadventurous
Home owners often get the misconception that if they can’t choose the right colour scheme than settling for neutral colours is unadventurous and lifeless. On the contrary! Neutrals don’t have to just stem from the beige and tan colour family! Start with warm gold, rich camel browns, buttery cream colours and greige are a few neutrals that are anything but boring! Use them in conjunction with black, heather gray, and chocolate brown to put a new twist on boring neutral colours.
Myth 9: Choosing colours by daylight is more important than evening
Have you ever noticed many of us go to the home improvement store to buy paint in the daytime? We test out the colours in the day, and we have design consultations only by day? Depending on the layout of your room, daylight and artificial lighting can play a big role in how colours feel to you at different times of the day. Consider painting small paint samples on a wall and observe how the colour looks at different times of day before you commit to an entire room.
Myth 10: Children’s bedrooms should only be primary kids’ colour schemes
Kids’ bedrooms are that one space in the house that the sky is the limit when choosing colours. Primary colours of red, yellow and blue are used in many children’s rooms but we forget that there are hundreds of other colours to choose from! Consider using a colour palette of complimenting saturations of their favourite colours throughout the bedding, wall treatments and décor to liven up the usual youth room.
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