Apartments

Balcony Colour Palette for Apartments

Choose colour against the surfaces that will stay. Test it on a large sample at the room's brightest and darkest points.

Living room inspiration: seating grouped around a shared focal point.

Compare the options

Set the brief: Collect samples of permanent finishes, upholstery and hardware before picking a paint or laminate.
Compare: Assign a background colour, one wayfinding or feature colour, and contrast where people need to distinguish edges.
Before buying: Check painted or laminated samples vertically beside the same light source the finished room will use.

Worked example

A north-facing lounge makes a cool gray sofa and wall paint appear flat through the day.

Test large paint and textile samples in morning and evening light, keeping the permanent floor visible beside them.

How to test it

Compare the samples in daylight and artificial light, and check that handles and door edges remain easy to distinguish.

Apply it to this space

Layout: Keep one continuous walking strip and group planters at the least obstructive edge.
Detail: Use weather-tolerant lightweight seating and a dedicated drying zone that folds away.
Trade-off: Dense planting adds privacy but reduces light and usable width.

The Elixir portfolio

Photographs for design inspiration