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A guide to colour blocking

11th January 2022

Purple mood board.

Colour blocking is the art of taking contrasting colours and painting them in a space to create a bold statement. Colour blocking is extremely versatile and can be used to highlight features such as windows and doors, liven up blank spaces and even change the atmosphere of a room. We’ve put together a useful guide with 5 tips to help you incorporate colour blocking into your home.

Simple and effective

Incorporate our Colour of the Year 2022 Lily Lily Rose easily into your home with this simple yet effective colour blocking technique. We’ve used Lily Lily Rose with White Clay to create a calming and contemporary space, that is perfect for bedrooms. Named in homage to John Singer Sargent’s famous painting, Lily Lily Rose captures that delicate and magical twilight glow before light fades into evening. A wonderfully complicated colour that will provide a certain elegance to any space. This pale violet has an alluring beauty while offering flexibility, which means it can be used across a variety of rooms and differing design styles.

 

Colour of the Year 2022 Lilly Lilly Rose paired with Kissing Gate

Tape and shape

The easiest way to play with colour blocking is to create geometric shapes using straight clean lines. Use some masking tape to section different areas and then paint in your chosen colours. For the most dramatic effect consider using colours that are opposite on a colour wheel. For example painting your walls in the warm orange colour of Flower Pot and then colour blocking with a cooler blue like Puddling (discontinued).

 

Divide into zones

Colour blocking can be an extremely effective way of separating areas in a room. Try creating a snug in your home by colour blocking on a corner. By using darker colours such as Hidey Hole, you can make the space feel more enclosed and relaxing. Alternatively, try colour blocking next to a dining table or office desk. Adding a simple block of colour can create a visually distinguishable area that isn’t closed off from the rest of the room.

@thegreeneyedgirl_ cleverly used Humpty Dumpty to create a playful house colour block for a play area in her living room. Feather Pillow is used on the walls.

@thegreeneyedgirl_ cleverly used Humpty Dumpty to create a playful house colour block for a play area in her living room. Feather Pillow is used on the walls.

Frame a frame

The technique of adding blocks of colours around picture frames and window and door frames can be used to highlight features. By incorporating the same splash of colour into your furnishings can give an overall balanced feel to your scheme.

Sunday Stroll used to create a colour block around a frame. Little Rascal used on the walls.

Make it monochromatic

For those less adventurous but looking for a subtle nod to the trend try colour blocking with monochromatic colours. When choosing your colours pick a dark, medium and light shade from the same colour group for example Inglenook, Lily Lily Rose and Eyebright.

 

Go Abstract

Although traditionally colour blocking is created using geometric shapes, why not try painting outside of the box – quite literally. Free flowing shapes with bright colours creates interest and makes your walls look happy especially when using colours like Daisy Chain and The Lido!

Daisy Chain and The Lido used to make a fun colour block. Freckle is used on the walls with Rosie Posie and Inglenook on the vase.

Daisy Chain and The Lido used to make a fun colour block. Freckle is used on the walls with Rosie Posie and Inglenook on the vase.

Whichever technique you decide we are sure that you will love colour blocking as much as we do here at Earthborn HQ. Looking for some inspiration? Why not order one of our free colour cards and subscribe to our newsletter.

We love to see your projects, be sure to tag us on Instagram at #Earthbornbyme

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