by Cherry Yount
Have you ever felt uncomfortable in a room but didn’t know why? It probably wasn’t the style of furniture that affected you, it’s more likely that the color was too intense or seemed too cold and sterile. Or maybe it was just boring.
Every room in your house has the ability to evoke a mood. Color is powerful and can dramatically change any space within your home. Choosing a color palette can be the most exciting decision you will make in creating the right kind of mood that suits your lifestyle and blends with your personality. It is worth the time to learn a little about color and light to discover which colors you personally love.
Certain color groups will inspire particular emotions and are worth remembering when deciding on your color palette. Pinks are positive and feminine. Reds are passionate, daring and comforting. Oranges stimulate creativity and are warm and cozy. Yellows are welcoming and are said to help the mind work better. Greens are restful and balancing. Blues are calming and associated with clear thinking. Browns are warm and grounded. Grays are cool and sophisticated. Colors can be classified as either warm or cool. If the color has yellow undertones, it is warm (orange, fire-engine red, yellow-green). If it has blue undertones, it is cool (royal blue, maroon, lavender, gray). This principle also applies to lighter shades of the color.
Art, fabrics and rugs are often the best starting points in building your color palette. Art is an extremely personal thing and a favorite piece can be the jumping-off point for a color scheme that reflects your personal style.
Fabrics are designed by professionals, so it’s no accident that the colors in a fabric look good together. Enliven your room by using one strong color plus its analogous and complementary colors as accents.
There are a multitude of rug choices available today, from hand-knotted orientals to natural wovens like seagrass. Rugs can be a simple starting point to successfully select your fabrics and colors within your room.
When choosing your color scheme, it is important to consider the natural light that comes into the room. For instance, if a room is facing northeast it will receive the least amount of natural light, so always use warming colors in this room.
If the room has a large window and receives a lot of natural light, then a palette of cool blues and greens will look pretty, not cold.
Rules are made to be broken. To keep a pastel room from seeming too tame, throw in a bold color accent that’s one step away from the complementary color. For instance, instead of pure yellow with lavender use the yellow-green.
Bring life to a beige/brown room by making it pop with hot pink instead of white or cream.
The eye likes order and repetition in color and pattern. To "pull" rooms together, repeat a color from one area to the next. As you get farther away from the source, use smaller amounts of the color or change its shade a little. In public spaces, such as dining rooms, living rooms and kitchens, make sure that each room has enough of the same color to lead your eye from one area to the next in an effortless transition. A good rule of thumb is 70/20/10 – three main colors that are used in different amounts in all of these spaces, allowing each room to be distinctive, yet create a cohesive color scheme.
Finding inspiration to begin your color scheme can be simple. Whether you live in the city or in the country, take a little time to scan your surroundings. Look closely at the colors of fallen leaves to inspire a palette of rich orange, red and ocher. Seashells, sand, and the ocean against the sky will inspire blues, greens, sand and coral. Or maybe it’s a piece of art, a fabric you love or a rug handed down from your grandmother. Do not be afraid to go with exactly what you love. The most important thing to remember is that it is you and your family who will live with and enjoy these colors.
Photos taken from The Color Scheme Bible by Anna Starmer, Firefly Books, Ltd. and Color Schemes Made Easy by Better Homes and Gardens, Meredith Publishing Group.
Cherry Yount has been a designer for more than nine years. She had her own interior decorating business for six years and worked with clients in their homes on a project-by-project basis. Outstanding sales have helped Cherry to be included in the 1.5 million dollar club at Furnitureland South. Cherry is energetic, enthusiastic and listens to her clients’ ideas so that she can reflect their personality and lifestyle in the design of their homes. Whether you are doing an entire house or just one room, she can help you create the look you are trying to achieve. Cherry invites you to call or e-mail to get started on designing the beautiful home you deserve.
To contact Cherry, call 866.436.8056 ext. 2859 or email cherryyount@furniturelandsouth.com.
