Colour Schemes: Practical Advice for Tradespeople

Quick Answer: Tradespeople offering colour advice should rely on a small, evidence-based toolkit: the 60-30-10 distribution rule, the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of paints (which determines how rooms feel for size and brightness), the undertone of whites and neutrals, and basic colour theory (complementary, analogous, triadic). Always sample on the actual wall in the actual light (BS EN 12464-1 covers interior lighting), never on a printed swatch. Building Regulations Approved Document M requires minimum 30-point LRV contrast between walls and doors/handles in accessible properties.

Summary

You don't need to be an interior designer to give a customer useful colour advice. You do need to understand a handful of concepts that prevent the most common, expensive mistakes: a north-facing room painted cold grey that feels miserable, a "white" trim that clashes with a "white" wall, a brilliant-white ceiling that makes a £400 statement wallpaper look washed-out. Painters and decorators who can talk competently about colour win bigger jobs and avoid argument-and-redo cycles when a customer's chosen colour doesn't look how they expected.

This article focuses on what tradespeople actually need on site: a simple framework for evaluating a customer's proposed scheme, how to test colours in real conditions, the role of undertones in whites and neutrals, accessibility-driven contrast rules, and the practical paint-system implications (sheen levels, primer choices, number of coats) of darker or saturated colours. It is not a design school in 2,000 words — it is the bare minimum knowledge to be a useful adviser and to avoid being blamed when a colour decision goes wrong.

Key Facts

Quick Reference Table

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Room Aspect Light Quality Wall Colour Suggestion Avoid
North-facing Cool, blue, flat Warm whites, creams, warm pinks, peach neutrals Cool greys, blue-whites — feels clinical
South-facing Warm yellow Anything; cool greys/blues won't feel cold n/a — most flexible
East-facing Warm AM, cool PM Mid-tone neutrals; warm or cool both work Very dark — looks dull after midday
West-facing Cool AM, warm PM Mid neutrals, soft yellows, terracotta Cold blue greys feel harsh in morning
Sheen Level LRV Behaviour Best For Avoid On
Matt / flat Absorbs light; hides imperfections Living rooms, bedrooms, ceilings Hallways, kitchens (marks easily)
Eggshell Slight sheen; mid wash Trim, kitchens, bathrooms, hallways Statement walls where matt is desired
Satin Noticeable sheen; durable Woodwork, doors, skirtings, kitchens Featured walls, ceilings
Gloss Reflective; shows defects Doors, decorative trim, period radiators Modern minimalist trim, uneven plaster
LRV Range Visual Effect Use Case
80-90 Bright, opens space Small rooms, low light, ceilings
60-79 Light, neutral, flexible Most rooms; default safe choice
40-59 Mid-tone, warm or cool Statement walls, hallways with good light
20-39 Dark, dramatic Feature walls, snug rooms, dining rooms
0-19 Very dark, enveloping Whole-room drench in well-lit rooms only

Detailed Guidance

Reading the room before quoting

Before discussing colour with a customer, walk the room and note:

  1. Window orientation — use a compass app to confirm; ask what time of day the customer uses the room
  2. Existing light fittings — warm white LED (2700K), neutral (3000K), cool (4000K+) dramatically change colour appearance
  3. Floor colour and finish — wooden floors push warm tones; grey LVT pushes cool; dark carpet absorbs light
  4. Fixed elements that won't change — kitchen units, tiles, fireplace, exposed brick, radiators
  5. Adjacent rooms — colour flow matters; sightlines from a hallway through to two rooms should feel connected
  6. Customer's existing soft furnishings — sofa, curtains, rugs are usually staying

A scheme that ignores any of these will fail. The customer's Pinterest board shows a room with a south-facing bay window and white oak floor; their actual room is north-facing with grey laminate. The same colour will look entirely different.

The 60-30-10 framework

Customers default to thinking about wall colour in isolation. The 60-30-10 rule gives a simple way to discuss the whole scheme:

This framework helps a customer realise that committing to a dark wall (the 60%) requires their 30% and 10% to balance it. If they have an existing brown leather sofa (30%) and refuse to change it, a strong saturated wall colour will fight with it.

Undertones in whites and neutrals

Every "white" has an undertone. There is no such thing as a neutral white in practice — pure brilliant white (95+ LRV) feels cold and clinical. The common categories:

The same logic applies to greys (warm "greige" vs cool blue-grey vs green-grey) and beiges. Mixing undertones in the same room — a warm-yellow cream wall against a cool-blue-white trim — produces a clash the customer can't articulate but will dislike.

LRV and room size perception

Light Reflectance Value matters more than the named colour. Two "dark grey" paints with LRVs of 12 vs 28 will produce noticeably different rooms. Manufacturer data sheets list LRV — check it before quoting a colour for a small or poorly-lit room.

Rough rules of thumb:

Accessibility — Approved Document M

In dwellings built or adapted under Approved Document M Category 2 (accessible and adaptable dwellings) or Category 3 (wheelchair user dwellings), the regs require a minimum 30-point LRV difference between:

This is to assist people with visual impairment. If you're decorating a property under these specifications — common in social housing and some new-builds — colour choice is not purely aesthetic. Verify the spec before painting a door the same colour as the surrounding wall.

Testing colours properly

Never let a customer choose a colour from a printed swatch in a paint store. The correct process:

  1. Order A3 or larger paint samples (most manufacturers sell these; preferable to small pots)
  2. Paint two coats on lining paper or directly on the wall, multiple locations including next to the window and on the wall opposite
  3. View at three times of day — morning, midday, evening — and under the room's actual artificial lighting
  4. Leave for 48 hours — paint colour shifts as it dries
  5. View against fixed elements — floor, kitchen units, tiles
  6. Get customer sign-off in writing before ordering paint

The single most common dispute on decoration jobs is "this isn't the colour I thought it would be." Written sign-off on a tested colour eliminates 90% of these arguments.

Paint-system implications of colour

Strong, saturated and dark colours have practical consequences:

Build these into your quote — a dark colour scheme is more labour than a mid-tone scheme. Don't price it the same.

Trim, ceiling and door colour decisions

The convention of "trim = brilliant white" is dated and often unflattering. Better options:

Discuss these as options. Customers default to brilliant white because they don't know other options exist.

Complementary, analogous and triadic schemes

The colour wheel is a useful shorthand:

Customers asking for "something a bit different" often mean a triadic or complementary scheme with one saturated accent. Recommend mid-tones rather than primary colours for sophistication.

Frequently Asked Questions

A customer wants a north-facing kitchen painted cool grey. Should I push back?

Yes — politely. North-facing rooms receive cool blue-tinted light, and cool grey will look flat, lifeless and slightly miserable. Suggest a warm grey (greige) or warm white instead. If they insist, paint a large sample on the actual wall and let them see it for 48 hours before committing. Get their colour decision in writing.

What's the best primer for a deep saturated colour?

A tinted primer in a similar tone — most manufacturers will tint a grey primer for deep colours. Dulux Trade Speedplus undercoat can be tinted to 80% of the topcoat shade; Crown Trade Multipurpose primer/undercoat tints to a mid-grey. This typically saves a coat and gives more consistent coverage. Specify "tinted primer" on the quote.

How do I price colour-change repaints vs same-colour refresh?

A same-colour refresh is usually 1 coat (sometimes 2 in poor condition). A colour change from light to mid-tone is 2 coats; light to dark is 2-3 coats plus tinted primer. Quote on the basis of: prep + primer + coat count + finish coat. Don't price a colour change the same as a refresh — you'll lose money.

Customer chose a colour from Pinterest — what's the risk?

High. Online photos are colour-graded, lit professionally and shot in rooms with different aspect, flooring, daylight and artificial lighting. The exact same paint colour will look 30-50% different in their room. Always sample on the actual wall before ordering, regardless of the customer's certainty.

Can I charge extra for colour consultation?

Yes, if you're providing more than basic advice. A 30-minute discussion explaining 60-30-10 and undertones is part of customer service. A full scheme proposal (samples, mood boards, multiple options) is a separately quoted service — £150-£400 is typical for a domestic colour consultation.

Regulations & Standards