Choosing colors

When people ask me how to choose a new colour palette I usually advice them to make a mood board. A mood board is an atmosphere collage which gives an impression of the colours and textures you want to use for your interior. You can use samples of paint, carpet and casement cloth. As well as pictures from magazines with scenes that are appealing to you.In the mood board above I also used samples of floor covering tiles and wallpaper. It is important that the board represents the actual amount of colours and patterns. When the wall is the largest element in your interior use a larger sample of that. The casement cloth is normally an eye catcher too just like the carpet. Represent them on the board in proportion.
By adding details like sea stars and shelves to the mood board you instantly create a beach house scene. Collect little items that are appealing to you and add them to the board. Later on when you are choosing your accessories the moodboard will come in handy. But what to do when you don't really know what colour palette really fits you? In that case it is helpful to make a few small inspiration collages like the one above. You can create them from a beautiful garment you saw. Or an intriguing interior picture. Anything that inspires you.Make three or four little collages with colours that are appealing to you. Take your time and look at them again after a few days, some colours will still attract you while others seem less appealing. When you do the same again in the following days and in different moods you will find out what colours and patterns fit you. The picture above shows an inspiration collage build up from pictures of wood, leafs and a vase. The wallpaper and casement cloth have the same colour palette. And this is the final mood board created from the inspiration collage. Give yourself the time to discover what belongs to you. When I first started in my house I painted my bedroom blue. After a few years and some personal changes it became terracotta and I still love that colour. It suits me at this point in my life, but who knows which colours I will end up with when I am old and grey :) This week there was the cutest little moon in a purple sky. It looked almost unreal, more like something out of a fairytale book or a cartoon. Maybe you have looked at that same moon at the same time also wondering how beautiful the sky was that evening :) When I see something so colourful like that sky I want to start painting that colour scene. Unfortunately I don't have the patience and the skills to paint. So I use the inspiration on my own way by creating a new mood board. Next time I will make one step by step for you. It is very easy to do and so much fun. Nature provides us with the most stunning colour combinations. It always moves me to see how nature creates the most beautiful colour scenes for decorating without the intention to do so. It just appears and leaves us humans far behind with our paint samples and wall papers ;) Last summer a sat in my garden and a little beetle landed on my chair. I had never seen one like that before. He had the most beautiful mother of pearl colours on his wings I had ever seen! Pure glory...And then he peaceful flew away, not aware of his beauty and his inspiring colour palette. Inspiration truly can be found anywhere :)
Try to collect many different samples as possible. When you can choose from different samples you will be able to create a mood board that really suits your taste and expectations. For samples you can browse the internet, most stores now a day have sample services. Visiting your local stores with paint and fabrics is inspiring and will also help you to increase your sample collection. So far today's entry on choosing colours. If there is anything not clear just let me know.

Next week we will make a mood board step by step so if you are interested you can start in the meanwhile with collecting samples and making little inspiration collages. Who knows were it leads you...good luck :)