Splashing your home with unique style
The BVI summer months present the perfect opportunity to reinvigorate the colour palette in your home.
With longer days and the public holidays, this is the ideal time to tackle those decorating projects which have been planned all year. The hotter temperatures may motivate you to choose cooler hues, or you may take inspiration from the vibrant costumes in the BVI Festival this month.
Here’s a few guidelines on how to transform any space with a splash of colour!
Where to use Colour
Before picking up a paintbrush, consider the following suggestions as these could dictate the best shades and tones to select.
For your family home and personal spaces, the sky’s the limit. There are no rules and your unique style should shine through. Want a vermillion kitchen or a cobalt bathroom? Why not? The only limitation to which colours go where, is your imagination.
However, if your house is a long-term rental, consider a more subdued pallet. Whites and lighter shades are always recommended when appealing to prospective tenants. Renters will want to add their own personal touches, and a neutral pallet will allow them to imagine this when viewing your property.
For a short-term vacation villa or guest house, there is the option to go bolder. Visitors will expect to see splashes of Caribbean inspired shades, which can be popped with fun, colourful accessories. Keep the palette sophisticated and mix in neutrals to avoid too much colour, which can be overwhelming.
The key is to create a comfortable environment for your guests to feel relaxed and at ease.
Colour and Spaces
Colour is a fabulous way to define different spaces in your home. If you have an open plan design, which is prevalent in island homes, you may want to use furniture and accessories in different shades to individualise each area.
Different hues can also play a huge part in the ‘feel’ of a room. As the temperatures soar, your home can be a soothing oasis by decorating with cool shades such as white, greys, soft greens, and aqua blues.
A light ceiling can create an open, airy space, especially if it contrasts a dark floor. Although nothing is set in stone, it’s a popular model to choose relaxing, subtle hues for interiors while using pops of fun, vibrant colours for outdoor spaces.
We are fortunate here in the BVI to be surrounded by exceptional views, showcasing the very best of nature’s colour palette. To create a seamless flow from the outside in, echo these same shades around your home, from the aqua oceans and lush greenery to the brightest fuchsia bougainvillea flowers.
Ease in Gently
Not ready to commit to the permanence of painted walls? Or maybe you’re renting a space where painting is prohibited. Colour can be introduced in so many ways, and can be easily changed to suit your mood.
You don’t need to be an expert seamstress to whip up some vibrant cushion covers which can transform any bland piece of furniture. The options for fabrics in fun designs are endless, and a professional can help with more detailed projects like slipcovers, upholstery, and curtains. Re-purpose accent furniture by repainting in a bold chalk paint, creating a surprising feature in an otherwise neutral room. Even the smallest additions can make the biggest difference. Colourful glasses or mugs, attractive coffee table books, vases with silk or real flowers, and multi-coloured plant pots can all be purchased easily and inexpensively.
Whether you are looking for a complete transformation or a small update, colour can play a pivotal part in changing the look and feel of your home. Enjoy the unlimited options and ideas that colour can offer!
Photography courtesy of Smiths Gore
Smiths Gore
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