Designing your garden or outdoor space from scratch can be a very exciting time. However, before heading out to buy your outdoor chairs, sofas, tables or lounges, you need to have your colour scheme in mind. Otherwise, you could end up purchasing all sorts of different pieces that when put together in one space don’t work well at all. It can be overwhelming with so many different colour options to know where to begin or what kind of vibe you want to go for. Palette selection can sometimes feel like an infinite swirl of colour swatches. So, keep in mind this isn’t always the quickest process but it’s one of the most important when designing your outdoor space. Having the perfect colour palette can really enhance your outdoor living space, making it look effortlessly perfect. While colour theory is a complex practice implemented by expert designers, we’ve put together a few simple rules you can follow to help you along your journey, hopefully making the process a whole lot smoother for you. Further along the blog, you’ll also find some hot tips on how to implement your colour scheme to give it that extra wow factor.
Step One: Investigate your Surroundings
Firstly, we’d advise taking out your notebook and taking a walk around your outside space. You can gain a lot of inspiration from your surroundings. Outlined below are a few questions you should be asking yourself while on your walk.
- What colours and shades can you see from your outdoor space?
- What shades do you prefer?
Make a list of all the colours you see and which ones you find most attractive. If you find that you’re drawn to these colours and quite like them, consider choosing a colour scheme that reflects the environmental colour palette. What do I do if I don’t like my environmental colour scheme? No need to stress. In this instance, we’d suggest opting for complementary or contrasting shades.
Step Two: Take the Mood into Consideration
It’s well established that the design of a space can directly influence someone’s mood. Hence, our second step is to consider the mood of your space and what kind of mood you want it to give off. Colour affects people’s energy levels and on top of that can be a direct reflection of a person’s personality. Different colour palettes can evoke feelings from joy, happiness, to drama, peacefulness and passion. Get your notebook out once again and ask yourself these questions.
- Are you hoping to create a spa-like atmosphere?
- Do you want to create a family friendly gathering space?
- Or do you want to create an entertainer’s oasis?
Step 3: How to create Cohesion
Now you need to take into consideration the interior design of your home. You want to create a natural transition from your indoor space to your outdoor space. You want to ensure that similar colour palettes, patterns, materials, and design elements are used to achieve a seamless flow.
We hope these three simple easy steps have helped you form a starting point on your journey to creating your very own outdoor setting.
