Shape a room with colour in association with Farrow and Ball

The experts at paint and wallpaper company Farrow & Ball reveal how the right choice of colour or wallpaper can help change the shape of a room

room with brown sofa and drawers
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball paint colours)

It's one of the best tricks in the interior designer book-use colour to bring out the best in a room. The right hues, or a combination of different hues, can alter the shape of a room to suit your needs.

For example, if you have a long narrow room and want to make it look more square, you only have to paint the shorter walls a darker hue than the longer ones. This is because dark colours seem to come towards you whereas lighter colours seem to recede.

This colour contrast technique works particularly well to shape long narrow hallways, which can be made to look more regular by painting the end wall a stronger hue.

Neutral lovers can still achieve the colour-shaping benefits of paint by matching lighter with darker neutrals. For example, you could pair Farrow & Ball's bright Off White (colour card number 3) with the slightly darker Old White (4); the warm Joa's White (226) with the even warmer Archive (227); or the cosy Matchstick (2013) with the pale earth pigment-based String (8).

And if you are considering introducing a feature wall-whether painted or wallpapered-think carefully about the ways it will affect the overall shape and balance of a room.

For more information on wallpaper and paint colours, and to request a free colour card, visit www.farrow-ball.com

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Contributor

Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street.