It’s pretty obvious that the way we decorate our homes has seen a lot of changes over the last century. The way that we have used, and are now using, paint and colour in our homes is definitely an important part of this story.
Paint and colour in days gone by
Hand painted home design and style could be seen as essentially having completed a full circle over the past 150 years, and now has started going around again, but perhaps on a slightly different axis. From the ornate detailing and neutral colours of the Victorian era and the streamlined design of the industrial era, to the bold colours of the mid-late 20th century and the all-white trend at the turn of the current century. We now see colour being used in more unique and varied ways than ever before to create yet another approach to colour and hand painted home design to be enjoyed.
A closer look at how colour use has changed
The industrial and technological revolutions saw the production and manufacturing industries highly driven by cost and efficiency. It was not long before home design began to mimic this approach. This saw the inefficient intricacies and embellishments of the Victorian style become replaced with fuss-free and streamlined design.
Interestingly, although the ornate detailing disappeared, the use of colour did not for quite some time. Seemingly blank, but bold, coloured walls, either hand painted or wallpapered, were a common feature of most homes of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Fast-forward to the late 90s and early 00s, where we see that the use of colour had all but disappeared and the trend of hand painted homes and rooms that were all-white was in full swing.
Those in the design and painting industries say that we are now seeing the last of the all-white style trend and homeowners are now moving back towards the use of colour, although in slightly different way to the trends of 50 years ago.
Colour in our homes today
Colour inspiration in homes today is as varied as the homeowners themselves. The tendency for efficiency and a de-cluttered and streamlined aesthetic continues to be a widespread choice. However, in order to create a home of true comfort, it is becoming increasingly popular to inject elements of unique personality with the creative use of colour combinations and applications throughout our hand painted homes.
So which colour should you choose?
As you might expect, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. It really all depends on each individual person, or persons, within the home and the overall feeling or mood that you are trying to create.
It is common for paint companies release inspiration ranges to help with navigating the seemingly never-ending rainbow of colour choices. Often these ranges are not just a collection of colours, but rather accompanied by overall design inspiration and tips that further help you to identify with a particular style or way of life. Once you have narrowed in on your best fit, then you can further manipulate the colour choices and design tips to create your own unique hand painted home style.
Something to start with
Leading paint producer, Dulux, has compiled their colour inspiration guides for 2019 which provide a great starting point for considering your new paint colour choices. Based on the premise that today’s world is so busy with lots of outside influences, they have titled this year’s collections “Filter” with the view to filtering out the noise and focusing on what really matters to create your happy place and live your best life.
Repair – The Repair range centres on reviving our relationship with nature and renewing an appreciation for the intrinsic beauty in faults and flaws. It suggests combining antique flea market and hand-me-down furniture with new and modern pieces for a space that is full of cosy character and flawed charm. As you might expect, colour tones are earthy and inspired by nature but that doesn’t mean washed out and boring. Neutral tones such as Cinnamon Sand and Ohai Half are perfect backdrops and stronger colours such as Auburn Flair, Plasticine and Sea Creature can be used to highlight and contrast features in your hand painted home.
Wholeself – Perhaps you are looking to create a calming space where you can escape the constant overload of technology, stimulation and “mental clutter”. The Wholeself range is exactly that. Turn off your phone, shut out the distractions and enjoy the tranquillity and simplicity of being in the moment. Dulux recommend using soft, plush surfaces combined with subtle layers and textures to create your relaxing haven. Choose a soft and soothing tonal colour palette and use accent colours to create interest, but be careful that they compliment your colour scheme and do not overpower it.
Legacy – Legacy is exactly that. It’s about honouring the very best of elegant and classic home design from days gone by and giving them a fresh face with a contemporary influence. To introduce this legacy style in your hand painted home, take inspiration from the colours in your favourite piece of furniture, fabric or artwork and call on colours from the same colour family to really extend the visual impact. Don’t be afraid to use rich, bold colours as well as the subtle shades as was so popular in days gone by.
Identity – If your innate design style is a little more outside the box, then the Identity range might be for you. It’s all about non-conformance and expressing the true and wildly creative you. Essentially, there are no rules here (not that there really are rules in home design at all anymore, but particularly so in this case). Choose what you love. Be bold and individual, spontaneous and optimistic. You might choose to combine a collection of modern multi-cultural and pop-culture influences for example. Don’t get carried away though. Being bold doesn’t mean painting every wall and filling every space. Experiment with the effect of adding and manipulating the colour of smaller features and details too.
These are just some examples of the endless options available to transform your home, into whatever you want it to be. A professionally hand painted home can transform the space from mundane to magnificent, creating a unique and special home that you will truly treasure spending time in.
The creative and highly experienced team at Highlands Hand Painting can guide you along the way to creating your dream hand painted home. Contact us on 1300 662 112, submit an online enquiry, or visit us at 12 Graham Hill Road Narellan NSW to discuss how we can make your hand painted project a reality.