Great paint colour schemes for your interior

Pick up any property newsletter and you're bound to read that neutral paint colour schemes are always the best choice if you're putting your home on the market. But is it always the best advice? When should you trust your own instincts?

It turns out there are a few things to bear in mind. A more neutral colour scheme can be a good idea, simply because that way your house is likely to appeal to the widest range of people.

Whites and off-whites may not be everyone's idea of 'home', but they're unlikely to cause the strong reactions that a room filled with vivid reds might.

Starting with the basic colour schemes

People find it much easier to envisage how their furniture will look in a home if it's neutral, and there's more likely to be a sense of being able to move in without lifting a paintbrush if walls and floor coverings aren't too bold.

But remember that unless you choose wisely, a neutral palette does run the risk of being stark and unwelcoming, something that can actually put people off when they're in the market for a new home. In fact, some experts say that if you go too neutral, or choose the wrong neutrals, far from creating an elegant living space you can actually make your home seem a bit on the 'cheap and nasty' side of things.

The perfect colour balance

The trick is choosing the right neutral, opting for either warm or cool shades depending on the dimensions and mood of your home. To work out which is best, do your homework. Talk to the experts, take advantage of the colour consultants linked to the major paint companies and start flicking through magazines to get a sense of what you do and don't like.

It can also be a good idea to visit show homes, purely for the purpose of scoping out potential interior colour shemes. If you find one you like, you may be able to find out exactly which colours have been used by contacting the relevant builders.

Be diverse and practical with interior colour

But while a totally neutral palette can work well in homes that have interesting architecture, because it lets the features make a subtle statement, experts advise crafting a more diverse colour scheme, filled with layers and different tones of the same neutral colours, to create interest if your rooms are of the more stock standard variety.

Lastly, while it's a good idea to go for a low-clutter effect when you're selling your house, if you have chosen a neutral colour scheme, make sure you don't de-clutter to the extent that the house looks unlived in. While you want a prospective buyer to be able to picture how their own belongings will look, you also want to give them the sense that you have enjoyed living in your home - and nothing says that more than comfortable surroundings.

Contact an interior designer to discuss ways in which you can bring your interior colour schemes to life: