Adding a pop of colour can instantly transform a room from bland to eye-catching. An accent colour can be used to highlight certain aspects of a design, create a focal point, or even evoke certain emotions. However, using an accent colour can be intimidating, as it’s easy to go overboard and create a chaotic look. As such, we’re here to help by exploring some creative ways to use accent colours in your home decor – demonstrated by this HDB unit at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.
Pair with different textures
Colour and texture have always been intertwined in interior design, and there’s no better way to make an accent colour look more unique than to complement it with textures. Mixing an accent colour and a textured material introduces subtle depth and drama to a space, livening up a space and providing visual weight. Of course, this should be done cautiously, as some textures can overwhelm the overall colour palette, giving the illusion of a messy and disorganised interior.
In regards to this HDB unit, you’ll notice that the main accent colour throughout the home is green. While the kitchen showcases a muted jade green, other parts of the house are scattered with different shades of green, from fern greens of plants to sage green in the bedroom. Contrary to popular belief, there’s no need to keep to a single shade of colour as varying shades and tones can contribute to flair and gravity, which energises a space.
We complemented these shades of green with wood, which is a wonderful combination that will never go out of style. As green is a nature-inspired colour, pairing it with wood, be it in a light or dark tone, helps to reinforce a nature-themed interior and creates a calm and serene home.
Create distinct areas
Accent colours can be a powerful tool in creating distinct rooms within a larger space. By using accent colours strategically, you can visually separate different zones or areas, such as a dining area, living room, or workspace, without the need for physical dividers.
For example, we purposefully use jade green to define the open-concept kitchen. Once you step foot into the home, your eyes will be automatically drawn to the green cabinets, and you’ll instantly know where the kitchen is. If your home spots an open-concept kitchen, creating an accent wall is especially important in order to make the overall space look cohesive and easy to navigate around.
Decorate with accent accessories
Even though decorative accessories tend to be smaller in size, that doesn’t mean they don’t play an impactful role in interior design. From artworks and knick-knacks to vases and lamps, accessories can help tie a room’s colour palette together and provide that finishing touch.
As mentioned earlier, we introduce various shades and tones of green through plants. The living room and bedroom may not feature a green accented wall, but by incorporating plants, there’s a pop of colour to brighten up a space, preventing it from looking too “cold” and uninteresting.
Turn to furniture
Furniture can be a powerful tool to incorporate accent colours into a space while serving a practical purpose. However, when selecting accent furniture, it’s important to consider the colour palette of the room and choose a hue that complements or contrasts with existing colours to create a harmonious look.
Aside from the green, we went with a yellow accented sofa. Despite yellow and green not being complementary colours according to colour theory, both colours pair well and look pleasing to the eye. As long as cooler tones like green, blue, or purple are paired with warmer tones like yellow or red, both colours will contrast well with each other.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it’s important to balance your accent colours with neutral hues and stick to a cohesive colour scheme for the best results – as clearly demonstrated in this apartment unit. We recommend sticking to a maximum of two or three accent colours throughout the home to maintain harmony.
If you’re unsure of how to experiment with the right colours or patterns, Editor Interior has got your back. As the premier interior design consultancy firm in Singapore, our team of interior designers is armed with the right experience and knowledge to design a home that suits your needs and preferences. From BTO interior design to modern condo interior design, our portfolio can be viewed here.