How To Create Colourful Interiors at Home Like an Expert? Here Are 7 Golden Rules To Follow

Deciding on how to create colourful interiors at home – be it with bold, vibrant hues, or soft pastel tones – takes patience, trial-and-error, and above all else, artistry. Here are tips from Minnie Kemp, design director of Firmdale Hotels and Kit Kemp Design Studio. Her latest project, the flamboyant Warren Street hotel in the heart of Tribeca, New York, certainly doesn't go unnoticed with its brassy blue facade with floor-to-ceiling windows extends to the daffodil-yellow rooftop. “We wanted to offer our guests a year-round spring atmosphere,” says Kemp.

In figuring out how to create colourful interiors at home, everything becomes clearer if you keep in mind style, lighting and, of course, personal taste. The room designed by Kit Kemp Design Studio for the latest Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York is a treasure chest room inspired by the Bloomsbury group of artists and intellectuals. “We wanted it to look like the dining room of an eccentric English country house. The focal point is the large mural above the fireplace painted by Tess Newall, an artist who lives near Charleston, England, where many members of the Bloomsbury group spend long, sunny days discussing, debating, creating works and giving themselves over to life's pleasures.”

“A Dining Room of One’s Own” per Kips Bay Decorator Show House, New York.GP & J Baker x Kit Kemp Design Studio - Tessuti e carta da parati, Ciondoli Gili di Julian Chichester, Murale di Tess Newall, Tappeto Kit Kemp x Annie Selke, Sedie da pranzo Susan - Kit Kemp, Sedia ad ala di Kit ricamata - Kit Kemp - Basak Agaoglu, Manifatura - Ricamo su misura, Parafango del club Tom Faulkner, Fiori di Lewis MillerQuentin Bacon

Light plays a key role in the choice of colours

"South-facing windows receive most of the light, so the space can have a combination of strong, rich colours such as terracotta, olive green, and navy blue. It is fascinating to see how these colours transform over the course of the day. North-facing windows receive less light; these rooms tend to be dark. I would recommend cool and light neutral colours, bright and sunny yellows to help lift the space and make it look bigger. East-facing windows receive light only in the morning, so again I would use softer colours, such as sky blue or soft moss tones. West-facing windows receive light in the afternoon: wall patterns, strong colours and bolder patterns can be used in these rooms. Rooms that have no windows or light can be a fun opportunity to indulge by painting the walls and ceiling, applying a mural, and using artwork to create vignettes."

Lobby di Warren street Hotel.Scultura di Tony Cragg, opera d'arte in perline di Sanaa Gateja, scultura di Wendell Castle, “Torri galleggianti” di Christian Mohaded, Christopher Kurtz “Tavola di pietra che salta”, colori per pareti su misura creati da Kit Kemp Design Studio.Simon Brown

To avoid common wall painting mistakes, one must respect balance and scale

"When deciding on how create colourful interiors at home, there are rules to make sure your space doesn't look too crowded. If you are new to colour, keep the walls neutral; plaster colours are a staple. Let the upholstery and furnishings do the talking. Rugs are a great way to bring colourful accents into a room. I prefer abstract patterns when it comes to rugs because you don't have to worry about the verse or whether the coffee table will cover part of it."

Lobby degli uffici Bloomsbury Publishing a Londra situato in una case a schiera georgiana, Murale dipinto da Tess NewallSimon Brown

Mixing patterns and colours is an art, refer to the colour wheel

"It inspires me to go to galleries and look at paintings by Sonia Delaunay or Joe Tilson; we can learn a lot from the masters. It's about that invisible colour that is created in the mind's eye when we play with colour combinations. Michel Eugène Chevreul, a French chemist, began to study in a scientific way the theory of simultaneous contrast, that is, of the mutual influence that two juxtaposed colours have. His 72-colour colour circle, developed in 1861, influenced post-Impressionist artists. On my bulletin board I have a hand-painted colour wheel that helps me a lot, is easy to make and will change your life."

Sala da pranzo di Warren Street hotel.Sedie Susan - Negozio Kit Kemp, tappezzeria in “Hot Line” Christopher Farr X Kit Kemp, Illuminazione di Martha FreudSimon Brown

Feng Shui also plays an important part

"There is a rule I always follow when using lines, make sure they all go in the same direction! If the curtain design shows a vertical line, the line on the pillow should also be vertical, the line on the valance and on the headboard should be in unison. If the lines cross everywhere, you will start to feel dizzy. These are the basic principles of Feng Shui for peaceful living."

Una delle camere da letto multicolor di Warren Street Hotel.Testiera - Kit Kemp, Sgabello da fine letto - Kit Kemp, Cuscini con motivo caffettiera Duo - Kit KempSimon Brown

In the living room, balance bold touches with neutral tones

"To introduce colour subtly, I recommend painting the paneling in a contrasting colour. The main wall can be oat-hued, but a few touches of colour will brighten up the whole space. If you have bookshelves, why not paint the front of the shelf in a bright colour? It's easy and looks great. Lampshades are often overlooked, but they are a great way to introduce colour into a room. In all the rooms at Warren Street hotel we have our Bobbin lamps in bright green and deep blue, with shades from the Andre Derain colour palette. They are bold, bright and fun."

Colour can make a room bigger

"If your ceilings are low, add a line to the walls to elongate them and make the space look bigger. I worked with the wallpaper brand MIND THE GAP on a great selection of textured lines in bright, bold colours called Pin Up, which I used on the walls of a country kitchen in a basement with very low ceilings. On the ceiling we applied another wallpaper design; a large repeat in soft blue inspired by a batik fabric I found in Papua New Guinea. Obviously there is a lot going on, so be sure to combine it with a flat curtain and colourful upholstery, but first the pattern should be balanced and not too busy."

Follow the common thread among the interiors of a home

“Colour schemes should have a common thread, so that the whole house speaks the same language. Keep it simple and don't overdo it: building your own home takes years. Picking up the pieces slowly over time is what gives a residence soul. Unless you absolutely love bold design, which tends to get old and tired, it's best to keep the walls neutral and be daring with curtains, upholstery, accessories and artwork.”