A ll that glitters may not be gold, but we don’t care. Be it the precious metal or golden replacements such as fabric, accessories or knick-knacks, Indians love gold. It’s evident during festivals, weddings and special occasions. But why not make this rich colour a part of your home round the year?
Gold, a yellow-orange colour blend, is the shade of achievement, accomplishment and triumph. Associated with abundance, prestige, success, extravagance, luxury and quality, the colour psychology of this stands for opulence, material wealth and surfeit.
Gold and gold tones have been a mainstay in the design world for decades. Be it the ramp, graphic design, beauty or interior décor, gold is a sure-shot bet to give your home a regal look. Décor pieces in rich gold can be a part of a neutral colour scheme just as gorgeously as they enhance a vibrant setting. But how do you go for gold without going overboard?
Rajiv Rajgopal, director, decorative paints, AkzoNobel India, feels it’s not tough to work gold tones into a home’s colour scheme.
The trick is to explore the colour and go with what works best for your space. “For a sophisticated touch, a gold wall will play off well against pastel pink accents. This colour combination creates an invigorating backdrop for a home with mostly white or neutral furniture,” he says.
He gives us three simple ways to incorporate gold at home:
Begin with an accent wall
The task of painting might sound like a lot of work, but if you’re just looking to refresh your space, you don’t need to paint the whole house.
Just do up an accent wall. When we create a space that isn’t colour balanced and it has too much of one colour — it can leave us feeling off-balanced.
Try painting an accent wall with a lighter shade of gold. Gold complements pastel shades and wood, and works wonderfully with minimalist designs.
Contrast with dark shades
A dark colour might not be a popular choice but darker colours can make a room feel cosier and create a dramatic and intimate feeling.
Use pops of gold in darker rooms and select a pale colour that nicely contrasts with the gold to steer the room away from being too drab and dreary.
A playful touch
Far from being a gaudy colour that only fits into opulent décor themes, gold can also be used as a fun accent in rooms.
Gold breaks the monotony of the wallpaper and adds an unexpected, playful touch. It also superbly highlights an existing black lampshade, show pieces, or can help tone down high-contrast colours in the room such as yellow.
