Trend Watch Paint Colours

Date Published:

20/06/2008

You might like the idea of a New York warehouse apartment but if you're a spring personality, you'll end up feeling claustrophobic in this environment. Similarly French windows and a million pot plants might sound idyllic, but will drive the winter personality to distraction without even realising why.

Mostly As - The Spring Colour Palette

Your colours: The palette that works best in your home is warm and light, more tints than solid colours. Scarlet, coral, watermelon, peach, sunshine yellow, turquoise, cobalt blue and violet work well when supported by neutrals like cream, camel and light grey. Used in a sitting room this palette creates a lively, sparkly and simple impression.

The finishing touches: Your ideal sitting room brings the outdoors indoors, with plenty of big windows and lots of pot plants (particularly ferns). Fresh smooth textures and plenty of light appeals (spring people are the most likely to suffer from SAD), as do modern, cane or wick furnishings over dark, heavy antiques. The sentimental type, you'll need a certain amount of space to display personal mementos. In the kitchen you'd benefit from light floors and laminate rather than solid wood fittings. Cut flowers are a must.

Mostly B's - The Summer Colour Palette

Your colours: There are very few primary colours in the summer palette. Subtle tones might include maroon, shell pink, powder blue, bottle green, mauve and lavender, while supportive neutrals include taupe, cool navy and oyster. Used in a sitting room this palette creates a cool, calm, elegant and understated impression.

The finishing touches: Your ideal sitting room would be well proportioned and orderly. Soft curves and delicate fabrics appeal, marble columns and a spiral staircase are your ideal. When seeking out a home you're drawn towards period buildings with high ceilings. Satin finish paintwork will work best for you. A rounded breakfast bar would be ideal in your kitchen.

Mostly C's - The Autumn Colour Palette

Your colours: Like spring the colours are warm and lively but there is far more intensity in the autumn palette. Shades include burnt orange, olive green, poppy, flame, vermillion, teal blue, peacock, aubergine and burgundy. Neutrals include warm browns - from stone through chocolate. Used in a sitting room this palette creates a rich and abundant impression.

The finishing touches: Your ideal sitting room would fuse a hundred textures and fabrics, and be abundantly decorated. Matt finish walls are for you, especially when complimented with a room full of mish-mashing grainy textures - Chinese rugs, anaglypta wallpaper, silk and tweed cushion covers. The New York warehouse style apartment is your ideal.

Mostly D's - The Winter Colour Palette

Your colours: The only palette containing pure white and black, the winter palette also combines strong primaries. Magenta, crimson, pillar box red, shocking pink, lemon, jade, midnight blue and indigo work well when set off by black, white, charcoal or silver (avoid creams and beiges). Used in a sitting room this palette creates a dramatic and sophisticated impression.

The finishing touches: You like chrome, hate clutter and your ideal sitting room would fuse avant-garde with spacious minimalism. Shiny surfaces, mirrors and sharp metallic angles give you your all-important sense of space. Leather upholstery and matt walls add to the effect. Solid colours work over patterns, but you don't mind geometric prints or clean stripes. The black and white eighties 'Athena' look still appeals, but you're seeking to update the look.