Colors, lights and combinations to enhance custom-made technical elements

A first approach is complete visual integration . Technical false walls, flush-mounted hatches, cornices, and coves can be painted the same color as the walls or ceiling, using the same matte or slightly satin finish. This way, the technical elements almost disappear entirely: only shadow lines, thin cuts, and very subtle changes in level are visible. It's a perfect solution for spaces where visual clarity and continuity are desired.

At the other extreme are the technical elements highlighted . A false wall housing a TV, sound system, and niches can be treated with a bolder color (smoky gray, forest green, deep blue, or deep dove gray), while the rest of the room remains in light tones. The technical element thus becomes a true backdrop, organizing the wall and bringing together different functions. The same goes for metal frames, exposed profiles, and panels: a contrasting color, yet in keeping with the flooring and furnishings, transforms them into contemporary details.

Integrated lighting is one of the most powerful tools for enhancing these elements. Illuminated coves running along the perimeter, vertical light cuts on false walls, and LED strips recessed into niches or shelves serve not only to illuminate, but to define the space. A line of warm light cutting across a utility wall, for example, lightens the volume and guides the eye, while a light cut in the ceiling can mark paths, differentiate functions, or create more intimate atmospheres.

The matching of floors and furnishings helps make the technical elements feel like coherent parts of the space. Warm gray false walls pair well with natural oak floors and light-colored furniture; wood-effect or solid-color technical panels match the kitchen and living room finishes; black grooves and profiles complement dark windows, lamps, and metal details. The idea is to create a consistent family of materials and colors, avoiding the need to add a "technical piece" that is disconnected from the rest.

The relationship with non-technical walls is also important. If the technical element is prominent (for example, a large fitted false wall), the rest of the walls can remain neutral, allowing the space to breathe. If the element is more subtle, however, you can allow for a few more splashes of color, with a painted or decorated opposite wall, to balance the visual impact.

Finally, the color temperature of the lighting helps define the overall tone. Warm lights (2700–3000K) enhance natural palettes, woods, and soft tones; neutral lights (3000–4000K) complement more minimalist, gray, and white environments. Integrating custom technical elements into a thoughtful color and lighting project allows them to transform from simple "system containers" into true interior design tools.