Your New Algarve Home – Planning Your Colour Scheme

Our Top Tips for Interior Design for Your New Algarve Property

If you have bought or are thinking of buying a brand new Algarve home and you now need to do a complete makeover, read on for our personal advice. 

This could also apply to those who are intending to buy and renovate an existing Algarve property.

Introduction to Interior Design

Here will try to point you in the right direction regarding the choices open to those thinking of decorating and finishing a newly built house.

If you read the whole article, making notes as you go may help you plan your revamp without any hitches. 

It is important to think about the whole package before starting to avoid mismatched colour schemes or bad design.

The First Step – Setting Out The Colour Scheme

There is no such thing as a correct colour palette, but if you are not confident with colour schemes, there are a few things you should consider before introducing them into your rooms. 

It’s always best to be equipped with the knowledge of how to pair different shades together, and how much of a colour to use in any one room. 

colour palette painting property

Avoiding Psychedelic Mishaps

When it comes to interior design, colour rules show you how not to create an explosion of different shades that create a psychedelic feel as you pass between rooms. The rules guide you on how to choose shades, balance them and go for the best colours for your spaces. 

Most newly built Algarve homes are white-washed throughout, but you are having the property built you can change this with the construction company as per your instructions, so you really need to plan everything beforehand.

Choosing a Modern or Traditional Colour Scheme

The colour scheme you choose will depend on the style of your home and the rooms you’re painting. For example, if you have a traditional home, you might want to choose a warm, neutral colour like cream or beige. If you have a more modern home maybe you would go for the now-popular white with blacks and greys. 

I you have larger rooms you might want to choose one wall to paint a bolder colour like blue or green with the others in a paler colour that matches the darker one. With smaller rooms, it is better to stick to paler colours to avoid bringing the wall in closer.

Choosing Modern or Traditional Colours

Tip on Buying House Paint in the Algarve 

It is important to choose high-quality paint that is durable and easy to clean. Brands like Robbialac, Cin, Luxens & Dyrup are popular choices. Consider the colour scheme of each room and choose colours that create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. 

You will find most hardware stores stock various paints and you can find many paint stores that offer professional services and paint. However, if you want the best choice head to the nearest Leroy Merlin, they stock a wide range of types, colours and range of prices.

It is always a good idea to pick up a few of the sample paint pots to test out in each room, simply paint a small square of each on walls throughout the house, and after passing them by for a few days you will soon have your favourite colour!

Testing colours on walls

Matching Your Furniture to the Room Colour

The 60-30-10 rule is a classic design rule to follow and a great start to creating your colour scheme. In essence, it means spreading your palette with 60 per cent of the primary colour you are going to use for sofas, coffee tables, carpets and rugs and paintings that will take centre stage in your room. 

30 per cent will be the secondary colour you choose including the soft furnishings such as curtains, bed linens, table cloths etc. 

The last 10 per cent is meant to balance the colours used in any room, this includes smaller furnishings like cushions and artwork. 

A great way of doing this is to buy small samples of cloth in the colours you like the most, these are sold in most fabric outlets in the Algarve, take them home and place them in the rooms you intend to use them in.

Furnishing to Match Paintwork

Hiring an Interior Decorator

If you need help with your decorating consider hiring an interior decorator. They can help you create a cohesive design and choose the best products and materials for your budget. Make sure to discuss your budget and expectations upfront to avoid unexpected costs.

Obviously, it is a great deal more expensive to get an interior designer but if you have the money it saves a great deal of time and stress. However, if you are a competent DIY person it gives a great deal of satisfaction and pride in the finished product. It will also save you a whole load of money!

We hope these tips help you in your quest to redesign your new Algarve home. On the other hand, if you are still trying to find your dream property feel free to browse our extensive listings of Algarve villas and apartments for sale.