Unique colour palettes to brighten up your home this winter
Winter doesn’t need to be synonymous with dark and depressing. It may be raining outside, but your house can be a haven that offers a reprieve from the dreary and dull weather.
The simplest way to brighten up your home - and your mood - is with colour. Colour has strong psychological effects. If you’re looking for a unique colour palette to breathe new life into your home this season, here’s some inspiration.
“The colour of springtime is in the flowers; the colour of winter is in the imagination.”
A silvery grey, peach, and purple colour palette for winter
The magical thing with this colour palette is the contrast between the colours. The light grey and peach are striking when held against the deep purple. The purple pays homage to winter with its dark and cold tone, while the peach and silvery grey are brighter and lighter.
The peach is also a warmer colour - this is essential to brighten up your house. Step inside after being battered around in the chilling wind, and the colour peach will envelope you in its warmth and bring a smile to your face. It’s simply a cheerful colour.
To bring these colours into your home, pay attention to scale. Since the purple is the darker, colder colour, keep it to accessories (for example, cushions, as seen in the image below) so that it doesn’t darken the whole room.
Then, use peach and silvery grey as the dominant colours. The grey fabric above is perfect for upholstering furniture, while the peach works well as an accessory or as a wall paint or in wallpaper.
A pale yellow, cerulean blue, and white colour palette for winter
There’s no colour warmer or brighter than yellow. Yet in wintertime, you don’t want a sunshine yellow or anything too vibrant, because this will clash with the general winter aesthetic and better suits summer or spring (when it’s actually reflecting the weather outside).
In winter, a buttermilk yellow (almost pastel yellow) is a wonderful alternative. It offers warmth, and it’s comforting without being overwhelming. Pair it with a bright cerulean blue (the blue reflecting winter, except cerulean has warmer undertones) and white, and your home will appear brighter and happier.
The cerulean contrasts with soft yellow, and white provides a clean neutral space between them.
Choose the light yellow as the dominant colour (in wallpaper, furniture coverings, curtains...) since it’s the brightest colour.
Then, use the white as the secondary colour (on the wall or furniture).
Lastly, choose the vibrant blue as an accent (cushions, throws…), since it’s the darkest colour.
A light blue and neutral colour palette for winter
Blue is winter’s trademark colour. But to avoid cold blue tones and also brighten up your home, you’ll need to choose a brighter, softer blue and pair it carefully. Neutrals in muted beige or desert sand are warm and earthy. Light blue speaks to the classic blues of winter, without being too cold. Together, these colours are perfect for a lounge or living room.
These colours blend effortlessly together. That’s what makes this combination beautiful - there’s no harsh, dark contrast.
With this colour palette, either the light blue or the neutrals can work as a dominant colour. This is because neither of them are overpowering or dark.
A light blue wall with accessories in neutral shades works well. So does a neutral wallpaper with furniture and accessories in blue accents.
Lilac, fuchsia, and bright white colour palette for winter
This colour palette is delightful and bright. We’re using white again because it works across all seasons, and it’s bright and clean. A soft lilac is unassuming and feminine, while fuchsia is bright and warm. There’s certainly nothing dreary about this colour combination. The fuchsia pops against the more muted colours.
With this colour palette, fuchsia is the accent colour. If it was dominant, it would make the room too dark.
Use fuchsia in patterns and prints, or furniture, or accessories, and use lilac and white for the walls.
This palette is perfect for a dreamy bedroom design or a living room with wide, open windows.
Get inspired with colour palettes from home fabrics
Our collection of globally recognised brands offer fabrics and interior decorations in every colour imaginable. Keep your favourite winter palette in mind, and browse Designers Guild’s paint colours or explore our colourful fabric library.
Create a bright winter this year. It all rests in the power of colour.
