This is how a colour expert created the perfect engaging colour scheme for her son’s playroom – here’s how to translate it to your own home

Choosing a playroom colour scheme that will engage your little one just the right amount can be a tricky task – so why not take notes from a colour expert like Lick’s Tash Bradley who has both professional and personal experience with this very task? If you ask me, that’s the perfect source of inspiration for an engaging playroom colour scheme.

When thinking about who to ask for any colour-related playroom ideas, Tash Bradley was my first port of call. As a trained colour psychologist and the director of interior design at paint brand Lick, Tash is no stranger to designing homes and creating the perfect colour palettes for all kinds of rooms as she has done during more than 5000 colour consultations with her clients.

Last year, one of her clients was a little closer to home than most as she designed and created a beautiful playroom for her two-year-old son Zac, complete with great colour and paint ideas. ‘Designing Zac's playroom was one of my favourite rooms to work on. Whenever I'm designing a room, I always start with the feeling I want to create. I think about the memories I want us to make in that space and, in this case, what Zac naturally gravitates towards,’ Tash says.

The playroom colour scheme

Even with playrooms, it’s important to work with the room itself and its particular dimensions, quirks and lighting. ‘It was north-facing, so naturally it didn't get a huge amount of light, especially during the winter months. Rather than fighting that, I wanted to create a space that felt bright, warm and uplifting,’ Tash says.

On the walls, she started with a neutral base of Lick White 05, available at B&Q, which allows the colourful toys to pop against it. It also has warm yellow undertones that balance out the lack of light in the room. ‘The walls, cupboards and woodwork are all painted in White 05, which is one of my favourite warm whites. It has those lovely yellow undertones that bounce light around the room and stop it ever feeling cold,’ Tash explains.

But from there, things got more colourful – although the colour choices strike the perfect balance between calm and playful. ‘I chose Blue 15 for the ceiling because it's a soft, warm blue that instantly creates the feeling of looking up at the sky. Blue has a shorter wavelength of light, so it naturally helps a ceiling feel higher and the room feel more open.’

‘Because I wanted to bring in that playful energy, I painted the windowsill in Red 03. It's a small detail, but it creates a lovely focal point and nods back to those playful primary colours without overwhelming the space,’ Tash says.

Get the look

On top of creating this beautiful space only last year, Tash is currently in the process of designing a second playroom for her son as the family is moving into a new house later this year, leaving London for the Somerset countryside. This is what Tash has got in store for this next project.

The next playroom

‘For the new house, I'm definitely keeping that same philosophy of creating a room that feels joyful and sparks creativity, but I think this time I'll be a little braver. I love the idea of introducing more colour through painted furniture, playful joinery or even colour-blocking, rather than relying solely on the walls,’ Tash says.

Furniture and stylish toy storage make for the perfect opportunity to incorporate some fun colours into the play space aside from the walls.

Just like with children’s bedrooms, introducing a theme to your little one’s playroom is also a great way to make it all the more magical. And that’s exactly what Tash is planning.

‘One of his favourite books at the moment is Mouse on the River, and every time we read it, I'm drawn to this beautiful palette of soft blues and greens that runs throughout the illustrations. It feels so calm, nostalgic and connected to nature. As the house is in the countryside, and his playroom overlooks the garden and all the trees, it just feels like the perfect starting point,’ Tash explains.

To bring this reference to life, Tash is looking to the colour wheel and a bit of colour theory which she’s, of course, very familiar with. ‘I'll almost certainly keep a painted ceiling because I love the personality it brings, and I'll continue to layer those playful primary colours throughout the room. I'm leaning towards a really soft analogous colour palette, using shades like Blue 18, Blue 03 and a beautiful soft rich olive green. Those colours all sit next to each other on the colour wheel, so they create this wonderfully harmonious, calming backdrop that's still full of personality.’

‘Then, because every room needs a little surprise, I want to bring in an unexpected accent of a rich burnt orange through furniture or accessories. It'll add warmth, energy and that playful touch that every playroom deserves.’

Get the look

Tash concludes with how every playroom should feel, ‘The aim isn't to create a space that feels loud or overstimulating, but one that feels imaginative, energetic and full of happiness. Ultimately, a great playroom should inspire creativity while still feeling calm enough that both children and adults genuinely enjoy spending time there.’