Dr Decorator Examines Design with Color

There is a revolution brewing in the design world. It is a revolution to be fought with paint brushes and paint

The color wheel illustrates how colors relate to each other.

cans. It is the color revolution. The battle cry is banish the boring and bring on the bold.

Color is the most powerful element in interior design. Color set the tone, defines the space, and adds personality and individuality. The paint brush or paint roller is the magic wand that will transform a space. It is also the best decorating bargain around. Change the color of your walls and you can crate a new room without changing any of your furnishings. Take a tired room with a bland sofa and it will instantly come to life if the sofa wall is painted a bold and dramatic color. A colored background defines and frames everything that sits in front of it. The contrast will make your furnishings pop and will give your space an instant "glam" look.

Color can affect our moods and create an emotional affect. The colors in our homes can make us feel relaxed or excited, calm or frenetic. It is crucial that people determine their best color fit before starting a decorative project. they should select the colors that make them feel good before deciding the the colors they want to live with. Choosing a color is like choosing a housemate. Some are easy to live with and some are not. In addition, color choice is a very personal decision which can have a varying emotional effect. A dark space can feel cozy and nurturing to some people while it will feel oppressive and claustrophobic to others. Once person may feel energized and uplifted in a bright space while another will find it jarring and disturbing. Reactions to the color of a space can be as varying as the people in them.

Color can be used to camouflage architectural problems. Dark colors protrude and light colors recede.

Silver is not a color but a metallic tone. Black is not a color but the absence of color. The combination of black and silver create a very potent interior design scheme as shown in the headboard and nightstand by Andre Originals.

Conversely, if the ceiling is too low, it can be made to feel higher by painting it a light color. A trick for small rooms is to paint the walls and ceiling the same color so that the space will visually expand. A design tip for rooms with angled ceilings is to paint everything the same color to make the angles disappear.

The power of paint can be used to make a small space feel larger or to make a large space feel smaller. These painterly tricks of the trade are certainly a cheaper solution to architectural challenges than a call to your favorite contractor.

It is not always necessary to repaint a room to benefit from a color transformation. Colors are like spices. They will accent and enliven any design recipe. Just adding some brightly colored pillows or accessories will add decorative spice to a bland room. Even a beautifully colored floral arrangement will enliven a space impart the drama of a rainbow. Don't be afraid to mix colors. It is the interaction of color that makes a decor exciting. Just thing of your garden. Nature is the best color mixer of all.

The color wheel is a visual device which illustrates how colors relate to each other. It is used by designers and architects to understand how colors interact. Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. Secondary colors are created by mixing the two primary colors on either side of them. Tertiary colors are made by combing a primary and secondary color. White and black are not colors. White is the presence of color while black is the absence of color. However, black and white are very important to interior design. They add drama and definition and enhance the colors around them. Silver and gold are also not colors. They are metallic tones. But they are an important element in the decorative color story. The shimmer and shine of these metallic tones add glamour and drama to a room.

Paint is a wonderful way to update tired furniture. An old wooden dresser can get a brand new look when painted black or white or pretty pastel tone. Furniture pained white will look clean and crisp. Black paint will make your furniture look classic and elegant. Metallic tones are another exciting way to enliven beat up old pieces. Silver paint can give your old goodies a new "glam" aura. The photo of the black bombe style nightstand shows the combo of black paint and silver hardware. Treat your furniture to this stylish mix and you will achieve instant drama.

This bathroom features a mix of lilac-toned fabrics and wallpaper. Lilac is very popular because it is considered a more "grown up" feminine color than pink. Designed by Ziering Interiors

Colors can also change our moods and create an emotional affect. Beige tones have a warm and creamy quality that make them versatile neutrals and timeless favorites. Browns are rich and deep. Grays are cool and neutral. Green tones are calming and restful. Blue is one of America's favorite colors and is both cool and warm. Red is rich and energetic. Yellow is cheerful and makes a room feel like the sun is always shining. Pink and peach tones are soft and feminine. Lilac or lavender is sophisticated and feminine. These colors become even more exciting when used in combinations with each other.

The attached photos of a bedroom designed by Jennifer Huson and Jeani Ziering of Ziering Interiors show the combination of varying color choices. The wall panels have inserts of a pale lime green grasscloth wall covering. the lime green is repeated in the headboard and the bench. The color scheme of the room mixes green, light blue, yellow and white. The combo of these tones create a room which is vibrant and dynamic.

The bathroom photo shows a mix of lilac tones in wall-covering and fabrics. Also designed by Ziering and Huson of Ziering Interiors, the bath is calm and relaxing and feminine. Where the bedroom is crisp and slightly contemporary, the bath is traditional and gracious in style. The difference stems from the colors, furnishings, and accessories.

Reactions to colors are totally individual. What makes one person feel good can make another feel gloomy. Choose your favorite color and be brave. Don't be worried about the commitment. There is no such thing as a good color or bad color. It is all about selecting your color. If you are not happy with your creation, just paint the wall again. After all, it's only paint.

The color combination of green, yellow, and blue provides a decorative punch for the eclectic furniture combo. This bedroom was designed by Jeani Ziering and Jennifer Huson of Ziering Interiors.

Elegant Accents/ Spring, 2009