Design Blog
Thoughts & Musings
Lovely pastels! In this living room there are blue and pink pastels combine with white. That’s how it is going to be as those are the owner’s favourite colours. All the needed pieces of furniture seem to be there, but the space is lacking a wow-factor. Not that every place must have a wow-factor, but nevertheless it is a good bonus.
We all have our favourite colours. This doesn’t mean that all the colours around us have to be in that specific tone. Sometimes it can be difficult to choose a colour, especially if it’s something you see every day, affects to your mood or costs a lot of money. Choosing colours for your home can be confusing - suddenly you see so many different options. I have collected here a few tips to make it easier for you to find the right colour palette.
You can find your colour inspiration in a holiday photo, your fave cashmere pullover, flower field or by looking out of your window. Perhaps you are looking for a certain atmosphere and you want your home to be fresh, dramatic, bright, moody, cosy or what ever you feel.
Neutral hues are those basic ones such as white, grey and beige. Keep in mind that there are a wide variety of neutrals- not all greys are cool, and not all beiges are warm. It is completely possible to choose both grey & beige - just make sure they are both in same tone level; either cool or warm side. Even white has plenty of different tones.
In case you like to have different colours in each room, keep the same neutrals in every space. That pulls the whole home palette together.
When the neutrals are picked up, go for the ‘real’ colours. Even if you think that you don’t want to add any colour for your place, I recommend you to choose at least one colour. You will see the difference in atmosphere just by adding a tiny hint of a colour. It can be a stripe in a cushion, a glass vase, a poster on the wall.
Choose one or more pictures which represent those colours or that atmosphere you are looking for. Pick up the main shades and you get a beautiful colour palette.
PS. if you still find it too complicated and time-consuming, I’m here to help you. Just drop me a message tiina(at)tiinaarminen.com and I’ll make you a perfect colour scheme for your home.
Here’re 3 example how I create a colour palette moodboard:
Btw, you can find out more about moodboards here!
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You are probably wondering what is this e-decor service that has become popular these days, especially now due to this corona virus panepidemic. E-decor service is an online interior decorating service which is delivered to the client digitally via email. The e-decor service usually includes a layout, colour scheme and list of furniture and decor items with links where to buy them. It can be a whole house or just one room which needs a makeover.
In the beginning you will be asked some questions such as:
Which styles & colours you prefer? Or which ones you don’t like at all?
What is the size of the space?
What is your budget?
Is the space empty or are there pieces of furniture you like to keep?
Do you have preference pictures or a Pinterest board with design inspiration?
A couple of pictures of the space would also be needed
During the process there might come up some questions or more information is needed.
It is time saving. You don’t have to do all of the online searching by yourself nor try to figure out what actually works in your own place.
You might want to redesign your home but don’t know where to begin. Perhaps you are stuck with the layout and feel something should be done but cannot imagine having your sofa in another place yet it is disturbing you.
You are afraid of making mistakes in choosing pieces of furniture, painting your walls or shopping decoration items, and there for you do nothing to enhance your living spaces.
You will receive a ready-made plan and shopping list, so all you need to do is order the items online or go out for shopping and then place all the pieces according to the plan. Super easy!
if you have all your big items but don’t know how to pull it all together.
You need to furnish your new home on a realistic budget.
You have just moved and need a living room that makes you feel at home.
Your home is almost put together but you could use a new rug.
PS. Here’s an example of a moodboard I made for my e-decor client. She wanted to refresh the family living room yet keep the main pieces of furniture such a sofa, armchairs and piano. There was also that beautiful blue Kiuru (Skylark) wallpaper by Birger Kaipiainen on one wall and the white Lokki design lamp by Yki Nummi, which both made the base for my planning. She had a lot of green plants and plenty of books. I wanted to update the place with light pieces to make it airy and make it inviting for the whole family.
Blue and grey with watery shades of greens create a beautiful fresh and relaxing colour scheme. I wanted to add a tiny bit of black to sharpen the overall look. Brass brings some luxury and updates & upgrades the room. I changed the wooden open book shelf to a white one with glass doors.
All the items on her shopping list are easy to buy in Finland, where she lives. And I was delivering it for her from Budapest. That’s how it works:)
Moodboard based on Kiuru wallpaper and Lokki lamp.
There are three types of clients who buy interior design & decor services. One group consists of persons who know what they want but don’t have time for looking the items and make the whole package together. Then there’re clients who had an idea which style and colours they prefer, and thirdly there are people who just have a budget but no idea what to do decor wise with the space they have.
As an interior designer and decorator all those types of clients are ideal and have the same goal - beautiful & functional home. Designer has to understand client’s dreams, hopes and aspirations, and bring those alive in that specific place. Every home tells a story.
To make a home beautiful and functional I like to keep in mind the following ideas one the list below.
Trends come and go. That’s why it is not recommended to make your whole home according to the current trend, unless you have big pockets and ready to make a total makeover after a year or two. It goes also the other way - not such a good idea to stick the old times. A great rule is to mix them both and create a space with personality. Updating home with a couple of trendy pieces - a chair, small table, lamp etc - gives a nice fresh touch. The main thing is that your home is that place where you should enjoy being in.
When you hire a designer/decorator it doesn’t mean that everything in your place goes out and new ones are brought in. I always discuss with my clients which existing pieces they like to keep and which ones they want to get rid of. But I’m also clear that it’s my job to tell them if I feel it doesn’t work.
Home, office, any space should be functional. Sometimes it is a wise decision to make a compromise and choose something over functionality if is beautiful and you really want it. If you love the look of a white sofa, but at the same time you feel it is not practical, my advice is - take it! Especially if another colour wouldn’t have the same desired effect in your space. Nowadays it is not too difficult nor time-consuming to take care of fabrics and other delicate materials.
A balance between beautiful and functional is the keyword.
With timeless pieces and materials you can’t go wrong. Where renovations are concern, it’s especially important to pick materials that will stand the test of time.
Leather, linen, wood and stone are natural materials and just get better when they age. Home is not an exhibition hall nor a museum. it is a place for living that’s why the marks of living belong to it and only add charm and cosiness.
Consider an “unknown” artist or designer and buy based on shape, comfort and how the art or furniture works for you and your needs. The most humble objects can have the most soul and be the most beautiful thing in a room. Do not be afraid to mix high and low price points. Not everything must be precious to be important. The opposite can be said with splurging on something that you really love.
Your chosen not so well-known artist may become very well-known, and you become a visionary and trendsetter :)
