#AD – Navigating Client Colour Preferences with Professional Expertise
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Decorators have an important role to play in colour selection and should strike the perfect balance between meeting the client’s colour preferences and guiding them towards a tone that will work best within the space. However, this can be easier said than done! In this article, Nicola Holmes, Skills Development Consultant for Colour and Design at Dulux Academy, discusses how to approach these conversations to ensure beautiful and functional spaces are created.
Understanding the purpose and mood of the room
One of the biggest challenges is helping clients understand the impact that different colours can have on a room’s atmosphere and purpose. Many will have preferred colours in mind, so it is important for decorators to work with the client to identify tones that align to the purpose and desired mood for the room. For example, if the living room needs to feel cosy and comfortable then decorators should steer clients towards mid tones like Dulux Heritage Pale Walnut, Setting Stone or Dusted Heather. However, if they want the kitchen to feel light, airy and bring the outside in from the garden, pale tones like Clear Skies or Fennel White will be more appropriate.
Considering natural light
Decorators also need to evaluate how sunlight enters a space and the direction that the room is facing, as both of these factors can affect the perception of colours.
In north facing rooms, which receive little natural light, it is recommended to use soft warm colours with hints of pink, orange and yellow – like Bathstone Beige, DH Blossom and Coral Pink – to create a cosy aesthetic. On the other hand, south facing rooms that get lots of natural light can benefit from deeper tones like Midnight Teal, Florentine Red and Terra Ombra, which bring depth, drama and lend a certain grandeur to the space.
Colour choices
When providing colour assistance, using the 60/30/10 rule can help with how with visualising the colours and consider the proportions of colours being used. Think about the space and where certain colours will be used: a primary shade for 60% of the space (which is use on most of the walls), a secondary colour for 30% (this could be a feature wall), and an accent hue for 10% (skirting boards, doors etc), which complements or contrasts with both the primary and secondary tones.
If the client has a standout colour in mind, then this can be used for the primary shade and decorators can then advise on a complementary secondary shade and accent hue by reviewing the Dulux Heritage Collection colour wall.
However, if the client is unsure where to start then decorators can point them to other aspects of the home for inspiration. Consider existing architectural elements like hardwood floors or period detailing to help inspire your client’s colour selections.
To help decorators navigate the Dulux Heritage colour collection with confidence, there are valuable tools and resources available. The Dulux Heritage website allows decorators to explore colours by tone and colour groups– and the brochure organises the shades into complementary columns and rows for easy pairing. The ‘Inspiration and Advice’ section of the Dulux Heritage website also provides insight into the range and easy-to-follow decorating advice. For those looking for further support, Dulux Academy offers colour courses to enhance colour expertise and to learn how to create professionally presented colour schemes.
To find out more about Dulux Heritage visit: https://www.duluxheritage.co.uk/en
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