A COLOUR story is the idea of repeating one colour in every room to create a subtle connection that brings your home together. You might have heard of the ‘red thread’ theory? Well, this is a similar concept, but a colour story goes much deeper.
Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean painting every room in the same colour – it’s about creating a sense of connection by introducing a colour (or finish) into every space, but in different ways.
Play with tone
Before we dive into tone, it might be handy to define what the word ‘tone’ really means. ‘Tone’ refers to when grey is added to create a variation of a colour. It can also be used to describe the lightness or darkness of a colour. While the ‘colour’ or ‘hue’ is blue, a blue tone could be a light blue, a mid-blue or a dark blue.
Consider placement and proportion
Repeat your colour in different places and proportions in every room, making your connection subtle. So let’s say your colour story is green. Your front door facing into the hallway is painted green; perhaps your downstairs loo is colour-drenched in green paint, and then you have a couple of green accents in the living room, such as a footstool, artwork or even a picture frame.
Your colour story can manifest in anything – rugs, cushions, curtains, tiles, paint, furniture – you name it, you can do it.
They might even manifest in undertones. You could have a different wall colour for every room, but they all share the same undertone. For example, a warm, yellow-based pink in the living room, a yellow-based white in the kitchen and a yellow-based green in the hallway will naturally harmonise.
Think of it like little connectors that run throughout your home to pull it all together, without having to use the same wall colour in each space or feel restricted to a single colour palette.
Transitional spaces, such as hallways, landings, and entryways, are also great places to reinforce your colour story without overwhelming the eye.
Flow isn’t just about colour. It’s about creating consistency through textures, materials, lighting, and decor. Your colour story might not even be a colour at all. It could be a type of wood or metal finish, or consistent flooring that guides you from room to room, creating a quiet sense of continuity.
Think of colour story like little connectors that run throughout your home to pull it all together, without having to use the same wall colour in each space or feel restricted to a single colour palette. Picture: charlottecropperdesign.substack.com
Your colour story can manifest in anything – rugs, cushions, curtains, tiles, paint, furniture – you name it, you can do it.
Picture: charlottecropperdesign.substack.com
