(NC) Prepare your paintbrushes: colour is back. Neutral aesthetics have dominated for seasons on end, but design tastemakers have shifted their focus to adventurous interiors.

Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore colour and design expert, shares how to confidently move on from neutral tones and kickstart a colour revival.

Balance a room
“Colour has visual weight, so be mindful of the size of your space,” Grech advises. Larger rooms can handle darker tones and strong saturation. Smaller spaces can benefit from airier, pale tones; but with ample lighting, a bold hue can be a joyful transformation.

Make a statement
There is something alluring about a room that is bursting with colour. Be bold in your expression and have fun. Instead of using an oversized piece of art for your wall, create an area of interest by painting a wall section behind a favourite piece of furniture. Paint unexpected corners of your home, like a bookcase, chimney or ceiling, to add a splash of colour and inject your personality.

Amplify the colour you love
Your home is your haven. Consider the emotional and subconscious impact certain colours have on you and let them guide your choice. Grech suggests, “Consider a shade like Raspberry Blush 2008-30 for your living room or kitchen to energize or New Age 1444 for a calming bedroom.” Colour has the ability to evoke emotions and affect mood, so consider how you use the room and want to feel in it before selecting a hue.