8 colour blocking ideas to liven up your space

Putting together a colour scheme for your home? Express your creativity and add instant impact to any room with colour blocking. This popular interior design trend can liven up any space with pops of colour and contrasting prints and patterns. Discover 8 clever colour blocking ideas to revive any space in your home below.

Firstly, what is colour blocking?

From ceilings and sideboards to fences and furniture, you can pretty much colour block any surface you choose. In a nutshell, colour blocking involves creating solid 'blocks' of colour (or patterns). Not only can this create an impactful visual statement and liven up bland spaces, but it can also help you to highlight certain features in your home.

8 colour blocking ideas

Want to see what colour blocking looks like in action? Read on.

Go bold with your colour choices

Colour blocking is a celebration of colour. So go bold! Although colour blocking has traditionally been done with just two colours or patterns, it’s important to point out that it doesn’t exclusively need to be done with just two colours. You can colour block with lots of colours too! Be brave with your colour choices if you want to create a space with that wow factor. Try unusual combinations of colours and you may be surprised at how well they contrast with each other.

Create a split wall effect

Split your wall into two blocks of colour by half painting it. Opt for contrasting colours or even a two-tone treatment. Painting the bottom half of a wall in a darker colour and the top half in a lighter neutral can create a cosy feel below and a sense of spaciousness above.

Block with prints and patterns

While it’s called ‘colour’ blocking, this design trend doesn't just work with paint colours. You can also block with prints and patterns. Mixing and matching your wallpaper is a great way to do this.

Create a wall mural with paint

If you want your home to have that real wow-factor, colour block your walls with paint to create a wall mural. Wall murals are a great way to create a bold design feature and add visual interest to an otherwise plain wall.

Colour block with furniture and upholstery

Colour blocking isn’t just for walls; you can also colour block with furniture! See your furniture as another colour block! Experiment with bold colours in your soft furnishings and see how they interact with the colour on your walls.

Paint your ceiling

No need to limit yourself to just the walls —colour blocking your ceiling with paint can completely transform the look of a room. Create contrast with your muted or white walls by painting your ceiling in a bright or bold colour and you can add vibrant energy to a room without being too ‘in your face’ about it.

Create statement stairs

Want to make those daily climbs a little more aesthetically pleasing? It’s easily done with a tin of paint and colour blocking. Stairs are a beautiful piece of interior architecture in their own right but they are easily taken for granted. So let the spine of your house shine and give them the attention they deserve by colour blocking them with bold or dark, dramatic tones.

Use paint to create zones

You can also use colour blocking to create focal points or statement areas in a room, or demarcate and 'contain' certain areas. For example, a reading nook or office zone can be created by boxing them in with colour.

Inspired to add a burst of colour to your home? Check out these colourful bedroom and living room ideas for more design ideas.