Color Is A Catalyst

by: Lisa French

Color is the prime mover in decorating. There is no limit to it's versatility. it can change the shape and size of a room, disguise it's architectural defects, emphasize and dramatize it's good points.

Color is the catalyst that brings a room to life. Clever use of color creates the mood and atmosphere in a room...serene, gay or dramatic. Color plays it cool, or turns around and is warm and friendly. You can use any color with any period or style of furnishing and it will be perfectly compatible. Most important, color influences your own mood, evokes a personal, emotional response...it can make your spirits soar or soothe and relax you.

When you enter a room, color makes the first impression, and so it should be one of the first considerations in your decorating plans. Creating your own color scheme is not as difficult as it sounds. An analysis of your of your wardrobe might provide a clue to the colors you are happiest with, your favorite color in fact.

If you favor neutral shades and spark your ensembles with vivid accessories, then a subdued background with bright accents is your best bet in the home. If your wardrobe reveals more pungent hued clothes with a repetition of one color, select this color and work around it.

You may own an original painting, which you treasure. Display it against a neutral background and key your color scheme to the painter's palette. In fact, let any colorful, prized possession inspire your color scheme.

Remember that a small swatch of color looks totally different than when it covers a whole wall. In fact, always bear in mind that color changes color when used in a large area. it becomes stronger, brighter and more intense.

Come Alive!...with Color in the kitchen

Let color burst forth in your kitchen. Dispense with that antiseptic look which sterile white, often creates. Match walls to the new colored refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers; make floors, ceilings, cupboards sparkle with bright shades to cheer up your kitchen. Remember, a daring color changes the shape and size of any room, gives it totally new dimensions.

Color Underfoot Provokes a Theme

Vivid color on the floor in vinyl, mosaic, tile or carpet makes a good jumping off point for a color scheme. Certain vivid colors which can look too harsh on walls, are doubly effective underfoot. They look more subdued while still remain lively, make successful backgrounds for white rugs, painted furniture, antique as well as modern pieces. Pale colored floors reflect light, help to enlarge a small room. Either way, a bright floor can be the color anchor of your decorating scheme.

About The Author Lisa french is webmaster and freelance writer for Decorating Country Home. Use of article requires an active link to www.decorating-country-home.com.

How To Choose Color Schemes For Your Rooms’ Decor And Window Coverings

by: Daryl Plaza

How to choose color schemes for your rooms' decor and window coverings.

The color that you choose greatly affects the décor and window coverings. Colors establish a mood and feel of a room, and when used properly can create different illusions. Using neutral or lighter colors such as grays and cream colors will give you an impression of spaciousness, where the darker colors can make a big room feel more intimate. Warming colors have the ability to make a room more cheerful and give it a livelier disposition. On the other end, cool colors are a more relaxing and soothing feel. When choosing your décor color scheme, consider the effect that you are trying to achieve. Sometimes it is tricky to choose the right tints, shades or the tones in order to get your desired look. So understanding how to use the color wheel can greatly help you in choosing your décor colors.

How does the color wheel work for decorating.

Time and effort spent first choosing your perfect color scheme will repay you back every time you enter your room or open your curtains First here are some basics using the color wheel. A monochromatic color scheme will use various intensities and values of just one color. Using this color style is relaxing since it allows your eye to flow from one shade into the next. This creates the illusion of space. Implementing patterns and textures into this scheme is recommended. Having two or three colors falling next to each other using the color wheel creates an analogous color scheme. So pick your favorite color as the dominant and accent with the others.

Here are some complimentary color schemes.

Two or more ways to choose your home decorating color would be complimentary color schemes, which are made up of two colors which are exact opposite from each other on the color wheel. Their style will produce a dramatic and unusually stimulating effect. This bold effect will be softened if you use one color as the predominant with the other color as an accent color. Split-complimentary is matching one color from the wheel not to its complimentary color but to a pair of colors on either side of its complimentary color. Red would be teamed not with green but with shades of yellow and blue green. Varying the intensities of colors will have the best effect.

About The Author Daryl Plaza is the owner of: windowcoveringresource.com - a website focused on helping people to understand more about their window coverings and how important your décors designs are. We have resources and reviews on window coverings, window covering ideas and tips so you can learn more before you buy your window treatments.