Design Dilemmas: Choosing a colour palette

I thought I would dedicate today's post to a reader's question and, if I have more that work, I can turn this into a regular feature. And (small plug for the book) that means readers's questions that are not already addressed in my 101 Interior Design Answers. So first up a question  - well three actually - from Hazel who wanted to know how you tell the difference between warm and cool colours, how you put a palette together and how you can use different wall colours in an open plan home.

warm tones by @nudeandthenovice

So first up choosing a colour palette and the difference between those warm and cool colours. Years ago, in the 1980s, when Colour Me Beautiful was a thing, my mother had her colours done which resulted in a slavish devotion to magenta and navy blue and an entire restructuring of her hitherto sage, camel and lavender wardrobe. As it happens I think it was the wrong call but who was I to argue with Sue? Now Sue's technique was to hold a swatch of gold and a swatch of sil…