Why Colour Matters More Than You Think
Choosing a colour for fitted furniture isn’t simply a matter of picking something you like. The right shade can change the feel of a room, influence the sense of space, and tie the whole design together. The wrong shade can fight with wall colours, clash with flooring, or look flat in certain lighting.
At Leechcroft Carpentry, we paint almost all our bespoke furniture using Farrow and Ball. Their palette is incredibly well balanced, and the paint colours have a depth and softness that suit built-in joinery perfectly. But good colour choice isn’t about following a trend. It’s about understanding how colour interacts with natural light, the shape of the room, and the materials around it.
How Lighting Influences Colour
Lighting is one of the biggest factors that affects how a colour looks. Natural daylight, warm LEDs, spotlights and shaded corners can all make the same colour read differently throughout the day.
Soft greys, warm neutrals and muted greens will shift subtly as light changes. Even deeper tones like Railings or Down Pipe can feel softer or sharper depending on where they are used. Farrow and Ball colours handle these changes beautifully because of their high pigment content.
When choosing a colour, think about the room’s orientation.
North facing rooms often benefit from warmer tones.
South facing rooms can handle both bright neutrals and strong dark shades.
Rooms with little natural light sometimes work better with mid-tones than stark whites.
Matching Furniture to Your Wall Colour
The biggest mistake people make is choosing a furniture colour in isolation. Fitted furniture sits up against your walls, frames your architecture and becomes part of the room. The two must work together.
For a calm, modern look, painting the furniture in the same shade as the walls gives a seamless effect. This works well for wardrobes or alcove units where the aim is to let the storage blend into the room.
If you prefer a more characterful look, contrasting tones can work beautifully. A deep green or navy on the furniture with soft, warm walls can add depth without overwhelming the space.
If you want to understand the wider benefits of painted furniture, you can read our full guide to the benefits of hand-painted furniture in the Resources section.
How Colour Affects the Feel of a Space
Colour has a big impact on mood and atmosphere.
Light neutrals feel clean and open.
Soft greys feel calm and understated.
Earthy greens feel natural and grounded.
Deep shades feel luxurious and intimate.
In smaller rooms, matching the furniture to the walls can help the space feel larger because the eye is not stopped by colour changes. In larger rooms, deeper tones can anchor the design and give it structure.
The Power of Sample Boards
Because Farrow and Ball colours behave differently throughout the day, sample boards are essential. Paint them properly with two coats and move them around the room as the light changes. Hold them up against the walls, flooring, curtains and existing furniture. Look at them in both daylight and evening lighting.
This simple step is often what gives clients the confidence to choose a colour they truly love.
A Quick Note About Photography
At Leechcroft, we document every piece of furniture we design, build and paint. Each project is photographed and added to our online case studies along with the exact Farrow and Ball colour used. This helps clients see how real furniture looks in real homes.
However, while we are very good carpenters, we are not professional photographers. We do everything we can to capture the true beauty of Farrow and Ball colours, but photos are influenced by room lighting, camera quality and even the screen you view them on. Because of this, the colour in our photos may not always reflect just how beautiful the finish looks in person. Sample boards and in-room testing will always give the most accurate results.
Future-Proofing Your Furniture
One of the biggest advantages of painted furniture is flexibility. If you redecorate or change your wall colours in the future, your furniture can be repainted to match. You are not stuck with a single colour forever.
Another advantage is that if you want to add new pieces in the same room later on, they can be built to match perfectly. A new side cabinet, extra shelving or an extended wardrobe run can all be painted in the same colour, giving you a completely cohesive look. You are not tied to a specific vendor or colour range.
Final Thoughts
Colour choice is one of the most important parts of designing fitted furniture. With the right shade, your joinery becomes part of the room rather than something placed within it. Farrow and Ball’s palette offers depth, warmth and character, and when paired with handcrafted furniture, the result is timeless and beautifully refined.
At Leechcroft Carpentry, we take time to help clients choose colours that truly suit their home. The goal is always the same: furniture that looks right, feels right and stands the test of time.
