Color affects our moods and thoughts more than we realize. So when it comes to decorating our homes, it’s important to choose wisely. For many though, picking the right color combinations can be intimidating. As long as you remember to avoid jumping on big trends (they come and go), and learn the basics, you can create a space that will reflect exactly the mood you want.
Warm vs. Cool
All the beautiful colors out there can be broken down into two categories: warm and cool. Warm colors include red, red-orange, yellow and yellow-green. The warm undertones found in these colors can give a room a cozy and intimate feeling. Cool colors are the opposite. Colors such as purple, blue, and blue-green, which have cool undertones, create a calming effect. Even neutrals, or non-colors, such as white, gray and black can be categorized under warm and cool.
How Color Affects Us
The behavior of colors can be considered active, passive or neutral. If you want a sophisticated warmth and intimate appearance, go with darker colors. For a casual feel, and to make a room seem larger and brighter, stick with lighter colors. Here’s a quick glimpse at what effects certain colors can have on a room:
- Blue is known for its calming effect but it’s important to choose your shade carefully when using it as the primary color in your scheme. Light blues can look unpleasantly cool and dark blues can evoke sadness, but something in between the two should be just right.
- Yellow evokes happiness and can be uplifting, but is often best when used as a secondary, rather than a primary color.
- Red is powerful and energetic, but steer away from crimson, which can bring about feelings of anger and hostility.
- Purple is dramatic and sophisticated the darker you go, while being calming the lighter you go.
- Orange is energetic and exciting.
- Green is warm, calming and restful for the eye.
- Neutrals are flexible, serving as a nice palette for those who like to change color schemes often.
Color is Personal
Before finalizing a color scheme, the most important question you can ask yourself is what mood you want to create. Flipping through magazines or visiting a fabric store can give you great ideas.
If you are starting a room from scratch, pick your fabric, carpeting, tile and furniture before you pick your paint, since their color ranges are more limited. Another key tip is to not exceed more than three colors within the space.
In the end, you will need to go with what suits you and your style best. It’s a very personal choice so you have to pick something that you can live with for a long time.
Need to find a fabric store nearby in northern Houston? Stop by Interior Fabrics located at 3104 Fondren Rd.Houston, TX 77063-4904, where you will find endless discount designer fabrics for any project!
