Colour blocking can help define activity zones in home while maintaining open concept flow.
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It doesn’t have to be a stumbling block.
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If you’re unsure on how to brighten up your home and embrace some colour, here’s something from Benjamin Moore that might just help to remove that mental block: colour blocking.
Now, colour blocking has been around for ages. But of late it’s trending, so Postmedia spoke to the folks at Benjamin Moore to find out more, and why you might want to dip your paintbrush into this somewhat splashier design style.
“The concept of pairing bold colour blocks and strict geometry originated with early 20th century art before moving into the fashion world and then architecture and design,” said Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore’s design expert and spokesperson. “The trend has resurfaced and gained popularity for interiors over the past several years as we are looking for creative ways to personalize our spaces regardless of budget.”
So what exactly is colour blocking and how should you go about incorporating it into your home? Well, the concept is relatively straightforward. Colour blocking is essentially a fun, decorative application of paint that adds a pop of colour (or sometimes multiple colours painted in a pattern) to liven up a bland wall or highlight an interesting architectural feature or specific area in a room.
“Colour blocking is a term generally reserved for painted blocks or geometric patterns that are limited to parts of a wall,” said Grech, as opposed to when an entire wall is painted in a contrasting colour and best described as an accent wall. “Today, we are seeing painted circles and organic shapes still falling under the term colour blocking. For example, graphic stripes of colour may be painted to visually connect spaces or as a contemporary way to add a ‘border’ around a room.”
Colour blocking is a great way to highlight a special feature in a room such as a grouping of art or to create a feature on a blank wall such as a colour block in place of a headboard in a bedroom.
“It’s a wonderful option for those who want to explore their creative side and be expressive with paint and colour,” said Grech.
Any room will work for colour blocking, but Grech noted that she has seen it used quite often in a bedroom to creatively insert some colour. Or, she added, it’s a great way to define areas in an open-concept space where there are no distinct zones.
“It can be interesting to use colour blocks to define functional zones, so to visually outline the dining area from the living area, and so on,” said Grech.
But what about the colour palette — do you stick to different shades of one colour or should you go with contrasting hues?
“It’s important to consider the overall mood you want in the space and select colours that will support it,” said Grech. “Generally, higher contrast colours bring higher energy to a space where less contrast or monochromatic schemes will be calmer. I have most often seen colour blocking used in spaces where the main colour is very neutral, such as white or off-white, in which case even a pastel colour block will be dynamic. In general, I suggest using a total of three to five colours in a room — this includes all the materials: paint, finishes and furnishings that have colour. It can be helpful to look to a textile or piece of art in the space to inspire the room colour palette.”
Should you decide that colour blocking is your next DIY paint project, Grech has a couple of quick tips.
“You will need to use high-quality painter’s tape to create crisp lines for your blocks or graphic patterns, so it’s best to stick to smooth walls and not attempt to colour block over stucco or heavily textured surfaces,” said Grech.
Further, she said that sourcing inspiration from online galleries is always a good starting point especially if you have pin-pointed the wall or room that you are ready to tackle.
“If you are hesitant but really want to explore bolder colours, start in a small room like a bathroom or bedroom before colour-blocking in the more public-facing rooms in the house,” added Grech.