Destination Inspiration: The Colors of Spain

12/30/2021 | specs+spaces staff |

Welcome back to our Destination Inspiration series where we take a visual dive into the color palettes of locales near and far, from Iceland to France, and even South Africa. The places we travel so often inspire our design choices — and while travel may be less frequent in the time of COVID, it's never far from mind.

Clays and Burnt Umbers
From the red rooftops of Madrid to the jamon and dried fruits hanging in the stalls at Barcelona’s Boqueria, and the mosaic tiles lining the ancient buildings of Toledo, these earthy browns and reds are prominent. To bring the earthy, yet vibrant feel of Spain into your design project look to Dunn-Edwards Bonfire Flame (DEA109), Clay Terrace (DE5229), New Cork (DE6180), and Sunken Ship (DEA148).

Plaza Mayor in Madrid

A stall at Barcelona’s famous Mercado de La Boqueria

Browns and umbers remain a key ingredient in a Spanish-inspired color palette. And if you're designing for a Spanish architectural style home here in the Southwest, check out these best browns, or for more on how to design with brown paints in general, click here.

Soft Pinks

Spain is home to one particularly notable pink housing complex, La Muralla Roja, located in Calpe, Spain. But look to many of Spain’s other cities and also find a flare for the rosey hue in many other apartment buildings and housing complexes, even in the work of one of Catalonia’s most famous sons, Antoni Gaudí. Think more Art Deco pink than Millennial Pink with this dose of destination inspiration, something more infused with the peachy-beige hues of this more worldly Post-Millennial pink.

apartment building

Le Meridien Hotel, Barcelona

Stormy Seas

Fall in the Mediterranean brings with it plenty of sunshine, but also a few roaring storms. Here, stormy seas and blustery days eventually give way to golden hour and a break in the clouds, providing a Spanish color palette that is both moody and magical.