Elements of Interior Design - Color

 

Color can be the most unifying element in your rooms and home and is an integral part of your decorating scheme.  You might get a cue from nature, a season, a destination, a favorite fabric, rug or artwork, or just your love of a certain color itself.  You can use a neutral palette on walls and have your color come from furnishings, accessories and accents, or the wall color can be the color backdrop that unifies the space.

Your use of color expresses your personality and gives your rooms character.  It can stimulate you or soothe your soul--but it should always make you feel comfortable.  If you wouldn't wear it, you probably won't want to live with it.  And don't buy into color trends!

The psychology of color shouldn't be underestimated.  Color can stimulate a physical and psychological response in our bodies--consciously or not.  It can send a message, evoke memories, stir emotions, or create a mood.  From repeated use, certain colors and combinations automatically suggest themes.

Red evokes energy and passion

Purple is trendy and stylish

Blue suggests tranquility and calm

Green is the basic color of nature 

Yellow is linked with happiness and optimism

Orange is warm and friendly

White signifies purity and innocence

Black is bold and dramatic

Earth tones convey a casual and relaxed mood

Blue & white is traditional and classic

Red & green is Christmas

Orange & black is Halloween

 

Then there's color theory.  Today there are no hard and fast rules, and designers experiment and utilize unusual color combinations.  But if you're not confident enough to take risks, the color wheel quickly illustrates which colors coordinate and contrast to create muted, tonal or dramatic combinations. 

Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel.  They create a harmonious blend and are safe choices. 

Complimentary colors are those opposite each other on the color wheel.  They create bold contrast for impact.

Monochromatic colors are different shades or gradations of a base color.  These tonal combinations are soothing and easy to live with.

Color can be transformative for a room.  It can be used sparingly and with subtlety, or a room can be drenched in color for impact.  Bold, vivid hues and lively tones work well in rooms for entertaining, that see a lot of activity.  Nuanced, muted or muddy colors (that can't always be described by ordinary names) result in warm, flattering shades for people to live in.  Keeping room color neutral creates a soft backdrop for antiques, art and other accents and brings a timelessness and longevity to the design. 

It's important to limit the overall number of different colors you use in one room, otherwise the space can feel unstructured or chaotic and can overload the senses.  Pick one or two colors that anchor a room and make them the common threads that run through the scheme.  If you're going for variety in tonality, you aren't as limited.  

White is probably the most difficult color to select.  The key is in the undertones.  Whatever your overall color scheme, the white you use for cabinets, moldings or walls should fall into the same warm or cool range for a seamless look.  If you're using blues, you need a cool white, without yellow or pink undertones, etc.  This color wheel helps demonstrate.

As for choosing paint colors, I have a theory.  I'm convinced Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, etc. put a lot of time, energy and money behind creating their signature paint pallets.  They've narrowed it down to tried-and-true choices.  So I often look first at their colors when I need inspiration.  The big paint companies also have themed pallets (historical, regional, farmhouse, cabin, eclectic, etc.) that are distinctive and carefully curated.