Colours in living spaces
May 2026How colours work in a room
Why colour accents can enhance a room
When to use which materials
)
Selecting the right colours and materials gives living spaces their distinctive character. “I am a very visual person and it is important to me that everything goes together perfectly, from my table decorations to the materials and colours of my furniture”, is how Milan-based interior designer Gianna puts it. She explains that furniture colours should always be chosen with care and tailored to the respective living space.
The most important colour palettes are listed below:
)
White or cream are the classic choices for kitchens and bathrooms. They create a sense of cleanliness and order but can appear sterile if no contrasting elements are used.
)
Furniture items in dark colours are timeless and stand for luxury and quality. They look their best in open-plan, generously dimensioned living spaces as they can make compact spaces feel even smaller.
)
Muted natural tones such as beige, light grey or wood finishes convey a sense of calmness. These neutral shades are suitable for any living space. Purposefully placed contrasting elements prevent rooms in neutral colours from looking bland.
)
Bright shades such as red, yellow and orange make a bold statement. They convey a sense of energy and vibrancy and look particularly good in open-plan kitchens and dining rooms.
How to use on-trend colours
Life comes in many colours, extending well beyond the broad categories outlined here: “We also explore evolving colour trends that come and go. At the moment, salmon, blue-grey and ochre are popular choices. However, when these shades are used across an entire kitchen front, they make a very strong visual statement. I would treat them the same way as bright colours and proceed with caution. Used in the right location, they can be incredibly effective”, says Gianna. “Ultimately, selecting a colour will always come down to personal taste and is an individual decision.”
More about design trends in the kitchen
)
)
“Green and blue can work as visual refreshers in a room”, explains interior designer Gianna.
Creating visual accents
“Generally, I would advise people not to think just in terms of individual colours. Experience has shown that contrasts can really enhance furniture, in particular when dark or white accessories are used.” One way of creating such visual accents is the use of dark-coloured fittings on the inside of furniture items, as Gianna explains: “For instance, drawers in dark colours create a very elegant look. When an inner dividing system in the same colour is used, drawers can be styled in a single colour throughout. There are also black hinges and fittings available now for a completely seamless look.”
Colour perception changes with age
On average, kitchens are used every day for up to 20 years. It is therefore a good idea to keep the future in mind when selecting a colour scheme. After our retina has been exposed to sunlight over many years, we might start to see things around us with a yellowish tint, making it harder to distinguish between similar shades. “As we age, bolder accents make a lot of sense and can also help with orientation”, says Gianna. Furthermore, our vision tends to decline with age. Gianna recommends good lighting, in particular with dark-coloured furniture: “This way, the kitchen remains easy to navigate.”
)
Choosing the right material
In addition to colours, textures also play a crucial role in designing living spaces. “Material textures are also part of the visual experience, just as much as the colours of furniture items”, Gianna explains. Tactile qualities shouldn’t be underestimated when it comes to creating a sense of comfort in a living space.
Depending on the room, material selection can vary greatly, but should follow a few basic principles:
For the bathroom and kitchen, preference should be given to surfaces that are easy to clean and resistant to moisture and dirt.
In spaces such as the bedroom and the living room, on the other hand, comfort comes first and textiles can be integrated more easily into the overall design.
In cellars, garages or storage rooms, materials should be resistant to high levels of humidity and temperature fluctuations and easy to clean from dust and dirt.
See below for an overview of the most common materials and their advantages:
)
Wood is a natural all-rounder that is valued for its ease of processing and the harmonious, warm atmosphere it creates.
)
Smooth-surfaced materials such as glass and aluminium feel modern and are considered particularly hygienic. However, they are also susceptible to scratches and water stains.
)
Metal is particularly robust, heat-resistant and hygienic. However, it can feel a little cold and is susceptible to fingerprints and scratches.
)
Stone is a durable and robust material, but it is also heavy and susceptible to acid and oil stains.
)
To achieve perfect living comfort, form and function have to complement each other.
Appearance isn’t everything
“As an interior designer, visual impact is of course important to me – but so is functionality. Even the most stunning kitchen is lost on me if it isn’t also practical. The reverse is also true: a kitchen that is merely practical and has no design features wouldn’t interest me either”, Gianna states. “The feather-light glide of drawers or the soft opening and closing of furniture doors add to a sense of well-being just as much as pleasant colours and high-quality surface materials.”
The interior designer has the following recommendations:
“Go through the typical routines for the respective room in your head, such as baking a cake in the kitchen or doing your beauty routine in the bathroom. Are the individual steps involved easy to complete? For instance, no one wants to bend over every morning to dig out their moisturiser from the back corner of a bathroom shelf. We should expect more from high-quality furniture than mere aesthetics: it should make our everyday life easier.“
More on form and function in interior design:
)
)
)
)
)
All details at a glance:
Light colours and natural tones have the strongest impact when combined with deliberate contrasting elements.
Dark-coloured furniture feels luxurious and is particularly suited to large open-plan living concepts.
Bright colours should be used with caution and mostly to make purposeful statements.
To create accents, design elements such as dark furniture fittings can be used.
Colour perception can change with age.
Materials should be chosen with the purpose of the room in mind.
Ergonomics is just as important as aesthetics.
)