Interior Design for Colour Blindness

Interior blindness is more common across the population than most people realise, and thoughtful design can make a big difference to those affected. It is estimated that approximately 8% of the world’s male population are impacted. Laura’s interior design for colour blindness offers a refined, thoughtful approach to creating spaces that are both beautiful and accessible. With a deep understanding of how colour is perceived differently, this bespoke experience ensures your home feels harmonious, balanced, and effortlessly stylish. It goes beyond specifying paint colours to selecting materials and finishes, crafting contrast and clarity, with every detail considered with care.

What is Colour Blindness?

Colour vision deficiency (CVD), commonly known as colour blindness, occurs when an individual perceives colours differently from many people and has difficulty distinguishing between certain hues.  

It is a condition people are born with. While there is no treatment, diagnosis can be valuable, as it allows for practical adaptations to daily life. In interior design, understanding colour vision deficiency is particularly important, as well-designed spaces can support how individuals perceive, interpret, and interact with their surroundings.

Designing for colour blindness requires rethinking visual communication within the built environment. This approach goes beyond simply avoiding certain colour combinations, instead focusing on creating spaces where contrasting tactile qualities, visual patterns, and the relationships between colours work together to convey information, essentially performing the role that colour cues typically provide for people with standard colour vision.

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  • The transformation has been incredible

    “Laura was pivotal in the redecoration of our home, offering invaluable advice on colour schemes for every room. She made what could have been a stressful process feel easy and even enjoyable, helping us refine our ideas and explaining the reasoning behind her suggestions. We learned so much from her about the art and science of colour along the way.  One of the unexpected bonuses was Laura’s ability to act as a diplomatic mediator when my wife and I couldn’t quite agree! Thanks to her guidance, we chose colours that work beautifully in each space, and the transformation has been incredible. We couldn’t be happier with how it’s all come together.”

    — John, Private Client in Cobham

  • a beautifully transformed home that feels uniquely ours

    “Working with Laura on our home renovation was such a positive experience. From our first conversation to the final touches, she brought a sharp eye for detail and a real understanding of what I wanted to achieve. Laura managed to blend modern design elements with the original charm of our home, creating a space that feels fresh yet still true to its character. She was attentive to our needs every step of the way, coming up with creative solutions that balanced style and practicality perfectly. Her ability to collaborate with the team of tradesmen involved made the renovation process so much smoother and far less stressful than we’d imagined. The result is a beautifully transformed home that feels uniquely ours. I couldn’t be happier and would recommend Laura in a heartbeat.”

    — Richard, Private Client in Pyford

  • We were impressed by her innovative approach

    “Laura transformed our garage into an incredible home gym combining a sleek industrial aesthetic with sustainable design. I am especially impressed by her innovative suggestion to use cork for the walls and ceiling—not only does it look fantastic, but it also provides excellent insulation, making the space much more comfortable for training. Since putting our house on the market, every prospective buyer has walked into the space and said, ‘WOW!’ It truly feels like a boutique personal training studio, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the result. This is the second time I’ve worked with Laura, and I can’t wait to see what she creates for our next home!"

    — Richard, Private Client in Pyford

Interior Design for Colour Blindness: A Tailored, Inclusive Approach

The Myth of ‘Safe’ Neutrals

Neutral palettes are often assumed to be universally accessible, but this isn’t always the case. For example, someone with red-blindness may struggle to distinguish between warm greys and muted pinks, colours that can appear nearly identical. The solution lies in curating contrast that’s perceptible without sacrificing calmness. Sample boards tested under varied lighting and colour vision simulation tools help reveal how the space is truly experienced.

Manufacturer Limitations

Many UK suppliers offer only basic colour data (like RGB or hex codes), omitting crucial information such as luminance contrast or surface reflectance. This makes it difficult to assess how materials will perform in real-world settings. A more refined approach involves building a curated materials library tested for CVD suitability and partnering with suppliers who provide detailed technical specifications.

Open-Plan Ambiguity

Open-plan layouts, while popular, can blur the boundaries between functional zones. Without architectural cues, navigation becomes less intuitive. To maintain openness while enhancing clarity, we use subtle spatial markers, area rugs, ceiling treatments, furniture placement, and lighting shifts to gently define each zone.

Existing Home Constraints

Fixed features like flooring or built-in joinery may not support visual accessibility. Large-scale renovations aren’t always feasible, but thoughtful interventions can make a difference: contrasting rugs, freestanding furniture in distinct tones, edge trims, and task lighting all help clarify spatial relationships.

What Matters Most in Interior Design for Colour Blindness

Interior design for colour blindness requires a considered, multi-sensory approach. Throughout the process, it’s essential to test every element using colour blindness simulation tools and to involve the client directly, allowing them to experience samples in situ under varied lighting conditions. This ensures that the design is not only visually legible but personally resonant. A walk-through of the entire home can help to evaluate the full journey, ensuring that every corner is thoughtfully addressed.

Functionality must lead the design conversation. Before aesthetics are considered, the space must work practically for those with colour vision differences. Clear spatial zoning is key, achieved through subtle shifts in flooring, lighting, and architectural detailing. Visual interest should be layered through texture, pattern, sheen, and form, creating richness that doesn’t rely solely on colour. Consistency is also vital; if a particular texture signifies softness and calm in one room, that visual language should carry through the rest of the home. Wherever possible, Laura will provide more than one cue, such as shape, position, or labels, so that colour is never the sole indicator of meaning or function.

Equally important are the elements to avoid. Red-green contrasts, while common in conventional schemes, are particularly problematic and should be excluded to prevent confusion. Monochromatic palettes without texture can feel visually fatiguing, while schemes composed entirely of subtle pastels often lack the necessary contrast. It’s a misconception that colour blindness equates to seeing in black and white, most individuals perceive colour, just differently from the average viewer.

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