Can you break decorating down for me?

[thelegohooverer]

We’re going to completely re-do dd’s room and apart from the floor, there’s nothing that I can’t change. I’ve never done this before as I’ve always been adding to or patching up existing rooms.

I’d like us to end up with a lovely colour coordinated room at the end of it but I don’t really understand how it’s done. And I don’t want to overdo it either with everything matchy matchy.

Ime trying to find colours that match is really difficult. I see a colour, that seems to be everywhere for a while but if I buy bits in different shops they all look completely different when I get them home. Maybe the trick is to just buy all the accessories in the one place?

The floor will be grey, her bed will be white and her favourite colour is blue. There is a fitted wardrobe in the room that we are going to paint. She will need a desk, curtains, and some shelves, bedding, cushions, a rug and a lamp.

Can you help break this down logically for me? Should the curtains be a neutral colour (white?grey?navy?) or the fun colour (blue). Should they match the duvet/rug or is that too much.
How many colours is best? Is it ok to have different shades of a small number of colours or is each new shade another colour?
Walls- neutral or bright? Feature wall?

Please, please don’t tell me it’s a matter of personal taste because it’s sorely lacking. I really need some guidelines.

There is some ratio 60/30/10 of light, deep, bright. www.mymove.com/home-inspiration/decoration-design-ideas/why-you-should-use-the-golden-ratio-in-your-decor/#:~:text=They're%20based%20off%20the,areas%20like%20walls%20and%20flooring.

From experience I would go plain for curtains and pattern for bedding, much cheaper to update.

Also have a good browse on Pinterest and make a mood board of ideas. Blue is good with a little bright contrast.

OP if you're on Facebook I'd really recommend this group, people share their pics and ask for advice from each other. I've found it really useful and learned lots, even browsing people's pics helps
www.facebook.com/groups/185798995457251/?ref=share

If you look on paint websites such as Farrow and Ball and Craig and Rose and click on a blue colour you like they will display both complementary & contrasting colours.

Don’t go for white curtains unless you have blackout lining.

I always stick to patterned bedding too as it's cheaper to update. Keep your floor and curtains neutral so in this case grey floor and grey curtains. You might want to look at painting the walls two tone, so possibly dark blue on the bottom half or two thirds and white at the top. I'd also introduce another accent colour - either pink, mustard or teal, in the firm of a throw, cushion and artwork. Simple!

Look how well these colours go together

Thank you - really useful. The golden ratio is fascinating.
I never realised that there are tools for figuring out complementary colours. Revelation!

I’d start by picking out a duvet cover and curtains she loves and then take it from there.

As paint comes in 100s of colours, it’s much easier to find paint that matches soft furnishings than it is the other way round, so I’d pick the paint last.

If she picks a duvet cover etc that’s quite neutral, you can use something a bit bolder for the walls. If the duvet cover etc is pretty wild, you can tone it down with some more neutral wall colours. The duvet cover/curtains etc may also have different colours in them which you can then use as an accent colour (e.g. buy cushions in one of those colours)

I suggest finding the soft furnishings first and then get paint colour matched to that. Its easier than trying to do it the other way.

I use the 60/30/10 rule but use it for main colour/secondary colour/highlight colour.
It's less busy if you have plain walls and patterned furnishings or vice versa- but not patterned with patterned or plain with plain.

Try tester pots on more than wall. Leave to dry and walk away. Look at the way the light falls on the surfaces at different times of the day. Generally I find it better to go a shade lighter than the sample strip.

You can try the dulux colour visualization app. Hours of fun.

The tip about picking paint to match instead of starting with paint is so obvious when it’s been pointed out

I’m taking lots of notes thank you!