Shaping spaces – How the interplay of colour with your room’s nuances can inject personality
Colour can have a huge impact on the nuances of a space and Benjamin Moore’s premium quality paints are the perfect place to start your transformative decorating journey
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Enass Mahmoud
“The ways in which you use colour matters as much as the colour itself”
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n the surface, painting a space is as simple as choosing a fresh colour and taking your roller to the wall, but the design-minded know there’s a lot more to a beautifully decorated room than that. Each area within our home is a dynamic, living breathing space with subtle nuances, and decorating with shades that work in tandem with these is the secret to a refined design.
Whether it be sun-drenched windows, low ceilings, or ornate cornicing, the unique architectural features of your space play a huge part in its personality. Combine these with a thoughtful colour palette and you can shape a truly personalised space that’s bursting with character. As interior designer Enass Mahmoud neatly summarises: ‘The ways in which you use colour matters as much as the colour itself.’
Before you begin thinking about the creative application, however, you have to choose a shade. With a collection that spans 3,500 colours, Benjamin Moore has plenty to offer. Not only is there a plethora of hues to choose from and expert-curated palettes for creating the perfect mood, but the brand promises quality paint for a professional finish that will last for years to come.
Here, designer Enass Mahmoud explains how to decorate with Benjamin Moore’s beautiful paint range to shape your space and tailor it to your taste.
While it’s tempting to opt for the most on-trend colour for your walls, you’ll need to consider your room’s lighting - both natural and artificial - before you make any decisions. The undertone of your chosen shade should always complement the natural brightness of your room, something that largely depends on the size of your room and which direction your windows face.
‘While colour choice is very personal, the shade you choose can look completely different in a darker room compared to a light one, or a smaller room compared to a bigger one,’ explains Enass. ‘Look for colours with warm undertones for north-facing rooms to counteract the cool natural light, whether you decide to go bright and airy or embrace a more cocooning, intimate feeling with a darker hue.’
The same goes for artificial light sources, too. While easily interchanged, they should still play into your final decision on a perfect shade. As Enass points out, the way light plays with paint is so important, and the simple addition of a table lamp can cast beautiful shadows that add entirely new dimensions to your walls.
INTERIOR DESIGNER
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Start by assessing your room’s natural and artificial lighting
Not all of us are lucky enough to have charming period details such as panelling, cornicing or picture rails, but the closer you look - or, rather, the further you stand back - the more details you notice within your home.
Trim, ceiling height, and archways may be simple details, but they all have a huge impact when highlighted with colour. ‘I also love the idea of using an accent colour to highlight a window reveal or the inside of an arched doorway instead,’ suggests Enass.
Sometimes you don’t even need to play into an existing detail at all. According to Enass, clever yet simple paint applications can have illusory effects that completely transform a space. ‘For example, you can trick the eye into perceiving a room to be more spacious than it is by focusing colour on the lower half of a wall, drawing the gaze down and making the ceiling feel higher,’ she say
Highlight architectural features to draw the eye
It’s easy to be swept up by the latest colour craze that reflects the mood of the moment, but don’t let your creativity end there. The best way to embrace ever-changing trends or adapt your space to suit the season is to use versatile base shades that can be complemented by changing accents.
Enass points out that no shade needs to feel like it’s forever. ‘Once you understand the way the light in your room changes, know how to determine a colour’s undertones, and are set on how you want a space to feel – more expansive, more welcoming, more intimate – you can change the palette, but the purpose will still shine through,’ she says.
Whether that translates to earthy warm tones, fresh bright pastels, or a simple scheme of harmonious neutrals, you can now ensure your chosen colours interplay with the nuances of your space to convey your personal style. And with the help of Benjamin Moore’s extensive catalogue of paints, the creative opportunities are endless.
Design a versatile space that’s easily adaptable
ENASS'S COLOUR PALETTE
Mediterranean Olive
2142-10
Mediterranean Olive
2142-10
Leather Saddle Brown
2100-20
Leather Saddle Brown
2100-20
Desert Camel
2162-20
Desert Camel
2162-20
Arroyo Red
2085-10
Arroyo Red
2085-10
Caponata
AF-650
Caponata
AF-650
* ALL PRODUCTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGES & AVAILABILITY.
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Outrageous Orange
2013-10
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Smoky Green
CC-700
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Kennebunkport Green
HC-123
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Unspoken Love
1269
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Apples and Pears
395
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White Heron
OC-57
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Wenge
AF-180
Shop Benjamin Moore paints and see more colour palette inspiration at www.benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk
