When deciding on a color scheme consider how you want the space to feel. Do you want a warm and cozy feeling, bright and airy, plush and luxurious, sleek and sophisticated or perhaps calm and soothing? Whether your style is traditional or modern, the colors and fabrics you use can create the mood you want. The ambiance of each room in your home can vary, however, if you have an open floor plan where one room flows into another then you should continue the same feeling from room to room.
The important thing is to create an environment you love coming home to. You may have well intentioned friends and family members giving you advise on how to decorate, just remember you have to live with it and you should surround yourself with what makes you feel good. Studies show that people re-decorate every 8 - 10 years; that is a long time to live in a home you don't love.
The colors you surround yourself with can influence your emotions. So once you have decided how you want the space to feel the next step is to select a color scheme. There are three basic types of color schemes.
1. A neutral color scheme is made up of tints and shades of black, white, gray and/or taupe. To make this color scheme work it usually requires investing in a varied assortment of furnishings and accessories to pull the room together and add interest.
2. A monochromatic color scheme includes tints and shades of one color in addition to one or more neutral colors.
3. A multi colored scheme has at least three colors in addition to neutrals. A simple formula for this type of scheme would consist of a dominant color which accounts for 60% of the color in the room, a secondary color comprising 30% and an accent color making u 10% of the color.
If you are decorating around fabric furnishings you already have than your color scheme should include the most prominent color in the fabric. Colors influence emotions and will determine how a room feels. Here is a quick look at how various colors affect our moods:
The color Blue is very calming and can be used to create a peaceful serene atmosphere.
The color Red is stimulating and is a good choice for an active kitchen or family room
Yellow, the color of the sun is cheerful and upbeat
Bright Orange creates a lively, vivacious mood while lighter shades are calming
Green is the color of nature and fills a room with a tranquil and soothing ambiance
Purple, the color of royalty adds glamour to a space while also having a calming effect
Pink is fun and playful, and is a good color for adding pizzazz to a room
Neutrals include browns, beige, grays, whites and taupe. These are non colors which don't affect our moods and can be used to link colors and rooms.
Generally speaking the ambiance of a room with a multi-colored scheme will be determined by the combination of the dominant and secondary color. For example a room that is predominantly green with purple as a secondary can feel tranquil with a glamorous flair.
A simple way to put together a color scheme is to find a fabric you like. If the fabric is colorful this will enable you to see the effect of several colors in combination. Then decorate using the colors from the fabric. For more decorating ideas and information, visit www.roseinteriors.blogspot.com.
Interior Decorator Rose Duffy began her business Rose Interiors in Staten Island, New York 18 years ago. In addition to helping her clients stage their houses to sell she offers ideas and products to create your dream home. Visit her on-line store at http://www.roseinteriors.com
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