When It Comes to Color, Follow Your Heart
by Carolyn Goldberg, Interiors By Carolyn
How do you feel about your home and how does your home feel about you? It is a well-known fact that different colors in the home can have an immediate impact on our mood.
Changing a color is one of the most exciting and economical ways to transform a space; alternatively, choosing a color can be a very overwhelming experience, since there are as many colors available on the market as there are grains of sands on the beach. Understanding color is vital to creating your perfect space.
Choosing a color scheme is easier once you understand that color is classified and organized on what is known as the Color Wheel. Balance is the key as the Color Wheel helps to sort things systematically. Colors schemes can be termed by how they are grouped together: Monochromatic, Analogous or Complementary.
The Monochromatic, meaning one single color, scheme is one of the easiest to create and is considered unified, peaceful and harmonious. You can create interest with different shades and tones of the same color and incorporate a variety of volumes and textures using fabric, carpet, art and accessories.
The Analogous scheme is a combination of two to three related colors that are side-by-side on the Color Wheel and considered to be versatile and eye catching. Usually one color is dominant and the others secondary in importance.
A Complementary scheme uses colors across from each other on the Color Wheel and is generally found to be visually pleasing to most people. Complementary color schemes are tricky to use in large doses, but work well when you want something to stand out.
Color Preferences
Color preferences are not always the same as favorite colors. You may love cobalt blue in glass – but not as a color on your walls. Lightened and subdued, cobalt might become a color you prefer and would like to live with.
An idea file can help you identify your color preferences. Start with decorating books, magazines and catalogues. As you look through your books and magazines, flag or cut out pictures of things that appeal to you, whether it’s an entire room, a fabric or a vase of flowers.
Do colored walls look inviting? Maybe you like the feel of an all-white room or perhaps you prefer botanical or textured solids? Don’t try to analyze why you like something; just collect the ideas and include family members in this discovery process, because everyone’s preferences count.
Analyze your color preferences by sitting down with your idea file and ask yourself a few questions. Do you like cool blues, greens and violets? Or warm reds, yellows and oranges? Perhaps you feel more at ease with neutrals. Do you prefer combinations of just a few colors or combinations that include many colors. One approach is not necessarily easier than the other; it’s all a matter of taste.
Which is your least favorite color? For adults, it is usually orange. But, can you see the potential in light-value, low-intensity versions of orange; colors that might be described as pumpkin or spice? Don’t rule it out, in the right form, in the right amount and in the right situation, your least favorite color may turn out to be just right.
Colors look different in varied levels of lighting and will greatly affect the way you perceive it. Certain colors will have a different impact according to the characteristics of your space. Always view samples of paint or wall coverings in the rooms in which they will be used both during day and with the lights on at night so you get a true sense of how they will appear.
Do you prefer light, airy colors or dark, dramatic ones, bright colors or quiet colors? Recognizing your preferences in these aspects of color is especially helpful when you choose a wall color.
What part of the natural world appeals to you? Just because you love the ocean doesn’t mean you must build your color scheme around blue – in fact, ocean colors include many warm hues. Your preference might lead you to blue-greens, yellow greens, even yellow-oranges as well as neutrals.
Do you long for a calm space, or do you hope to create a high-energy room? If you favor a quiet earthy ambience, use warm neutrals, a single color in many variations, or related colors such as cool clear blues, aqua or sandy tans, warm browns and orange. If you’re after excitement, opt for more contrast-colors from all around the color wheel, lots of light/dark contrast, and doses of high intensity color.
Overall, selecting a color scheme can be a very daunting task. Some people don’t have the time or know-how to choose colors that best suit their personality.
Enjoy the experience, take the plunge, arrange a color consultation and most of all enjoy the experience today. You will be thrilled with the results!
This article was provided by Interiors by Carolyn Inc. Interiors by Carolyn Inc. is a full-service decorating firm owned by Carolyn Goldberg, an accredited member of the Canadian Decorators Association. The company offers a variety of service customized to help you create your own personal style, including re-planning your space with color. Visit the company’s website, call 416-568-3127 or email cg@interiorsbycarolyn.ca today.
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