Style and colour - the perfect combination
Architects and designers sometimes face difficult tasks. In addition to designing a building in a certain style, they have to choose a façade colour that will match it. What are the different styles and which colours should be used?
Most of us are familiar with the rule that the lighter the colour of the walls, the larger the room appears. The same applies to the shade of the building façade, but in this case white will not always be appropriate. How do you combine style and colour to work best together? Below we discuss the most popular styles and their combinations with colours from the Ceresit Colours of Nature palette.
From style to colour
Modern style is primarily characterised by functionality, simplicity and harmony, which is why white (e.g. WHITE DESERT, WHITE MIST), grey (e.g. LANZAROTE 2, LANZAROTE 4) and black (e.g. DIAMOND EVENING) are the dominant colours. These colours are the perfect complement to wood, which also often appears as a complement to this style.
Scandinavian style is characterised by natural materials, so the colours of nature - whites, beiges and greys – work particularly well here. Stronger colours, characteristic for this style, are reds (RUBY SUNSET, RUBY FIRE), oranges (AMBER PATH, AMBER ISLAND) and shades of yellow (AMBER JEWEL). Interestingly, in the past, the use of red paint was thought to indicate the wealth of the property owner, and rich people painted their houses orange and yellow to make them stand out against the red façades.
Mediterranean style is all shades of beige (e.g. MAJORCA 1, CRETE 1 OR ZANZIBAR 6 - the colour of the year 2022). Beige is the colour of sand on the beach and is naturally associated with rest and relaxation. Buildings in this colour appear visually larger and the light façade strongly reflects light, making them appear brighter. Blue is often chosen as a complementary colour for this style (e.g. PACIFIC 4, PACIFIC 5). It mainly appears around windows (often in the form of shutters) or doors. In the Mediterranean style it is also important to play with textures, which is why you will see elements with different textures on façades.
In the minimalist style the role of light is very important, so the leading colour here is white, which reflects the most sunlight of all colours. Architects pay attention to highlighting the body of the house with the play of light rather than different colours or materials on the façade. In addition, the colour white is associated with purity, spirituality, so it fits perfectly with the idea of minimalism. If other colours appear, they are usually grey and black. They are used in architectural elements such as window and door frames, the roof, etc. However, there are buildings that are all or mostly grey or black.
Not just pastels
The English style is above all elegance and harmony, but also warmth and cosiness. Classical style influences are also visible here. It is rich in light pastel colours: delicate pinks (e.g. IBIZA 1, CATALONIA 1), greens (VIRGINIA 1), blues (e.g. OCEANIA 1, ADRIATIC 1). Subtle colours are supposed to give the impression of cosiness, delicacy and romanticism.
The Provençal style was born in Provence, famous for its warm climate, beautiful landscapes and cultivation of lavender. So it is no surprise that shades of white and warm pastels reign here: pale yellow, green, pink and lavender. These colours are supposed to give the impression of cosiness, add warmth and refer to nature, the idyllic atmosphere of the countryside and home warmth.
The art deco style is characterised by rich colours. It is dominated by expressive colours such as pink, green, maroon, red, navy blue, but also their pastel counterparts and white. Art deco buildings are sometimes monochromatic - different shades of the same colour appear on their façades, which distinguishes them from other buildings.
Eclectic style is the most common in architecture. There are no strict rules, so we have freedom in the choice of colours and textures. It is possible to combine different styles and colours. The entire Colours of Nature palette fits here.