Physical health

Using and Understanding Color in Designing and Decorating

 

USING AND UNDERSTANDING COLOR IN DESIGNING AND DECORATING

TERMS, DEFINITIONS, MEANINGS, AND TIPS

COLOR Is the first element of art, and an essential element of design. Color is considered to be one of the most useful and powerful design tools available.

A great body of research has been conducted on the visual and physical effects of color. Color affects mood and behavior, it represents personality and style. We tend to form first impressions on appearance and the colors a person is wearing has an impact on our impressions. The psychological, religious, and cultural expressions of color are very different and separate from each other, as each of these areas sees color in a different way.

Meanings and symbolism attached to colors vary from culture to culture, and change over time according to societal rules and trends. Looking at particular colors causes particular emotions, and people respond to colors in different ways. The responses may take place on a subconscious level, but colors always affect the way people feel (e.g. sad, happy, relaxed, irritated, calm).

For example: in western culture black is associated with death, mourning, darkness, or sophistication, elegance, and formality.

In an attractive room, black can make other colors appear brighter if it is used as an accent color, but like most dark colors, if used on the walls it can make a room appear smaller and oppressive, even if there is a great source of light.

Red is synonymous with anger, heat, blood, love, and passion.

Reds and oranges together are happy and stimulating colors, but a bedroom entirely in bright red and orange is not going to be very relaxing.

Because colors are also associated with styles and trends (for example harvest yellow and orange wallpapers, avocado green stoves and refrigerators, and shaggy coffee brown carpets are commonly associated with the 60s and 70s) they define and date styles, people, and environments.

Before choosing your paint colors, accents, drapery, furniture, or anything else ask yourself these questions:

1. What is your purpose for redecorating? Is it to make your home/room look more beautiful (just from the aesthetic point of view), more functional, or both?

2. What are you hoping to do with the rooms to be redecorated? How do you want to use each of the rooms? (For example, in your living room, you may want this to be a formal place that you only use when entertaining or you may want to use your living room for entertaining, watching television and reading, etc.)

3. How much lighting and what light sources do you have in the room? (Is there one central light in the middle of the ceiling, 2 big windows, on the east side, on the west side, etc.)

4. What is your preferred decorating style (e.g., Contemporary, Victorian, Country etc.)? Your colors will depend on the style you choose, if any.

5. What type of mood and look do you want to express in each of the spaces to be redecorated? (e.g. tranquil, sophisticated, relaxed, active)

6. Which colors are more suitable for your purpose?

To choose well balanced colors use a color wheel. Color wheels are available at art and craft stores. The color wheel will show you the essential relationships between colors.

Color theory is a guide to color mixing and the visual impact of specific color combinations in the color wheel.

The primary or pure colors are red, yellow and blue. With these colors you can make all kinds of other color combinations.

The secondary colors are equal combinations of two primary colors:

red + yellow = orange, blue + yellow = green.

The tertiary colors or intermediate colors are an equal combination of a primary color and a secondary color: blue (primary) + green (secondary) = blue-green.

 

Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors mixed with black or white make all other colors as seen in the color wheel.

Color scheme is the plan of selecting or organizing color (monochromatic, analogous, complementary, triad, split-complementary, warm, cool or neutral colors) to create visual appeal and style. Color schemes are logical combinations of colors on a color wheel.

Monochromatic color is a color scheme which uses one hue and all its tints and shades for a unifying effect.

Analogous colors are colors that are beside each other on the color wheel. Analogous colors are often found in nature and are harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g., blue and orange). These colors are the strongest contrast to each other. When a hue is mixed with its complement, its intensity is reduced. Complementary colors work well when you want something to stand out.

Color triad is three colors spaced an equal distance apart on the color wheel (e.g., purple, orange, and green).

The choice of colors for a triad should be carefully balanced – let one color dominate and use the other two for accent.

A split complementary color scheme uses analogous hues, “split” from a basic key color, with the complementary color as contrast.

In decorating there is a distinction between warm, cool, and neutral colors.

Warm colors are usually a hue of red, yellow, brown, and orange.

A hue is just another word for color.

Cool colors are a hue of green, blue, violet, and grey.

Warm colors are said to be more cozy and inviting while cool colors are more fresh and relaxing.

However any color can be made to appear warmer or cooler in combination with certain other colors.

Neutrals are a mixture of pure colors with black and white such as grey, beige, taupe, tan, ivory, etc. (and white and black which do not have a specific place in the color wheel).

The value of a color is its darkness or lightness. Therefore there are infinite variations of lightness and darkness. “Night blue” or “navy blue” are dark values of blue as “sky blue” or “baby blue” are light values of blue.

The temperature is how warm or cool the color is compared to the other colors.

The intensity is the dullness or brightness of a color.

Black and white combine well with any color. Black, used in correct amounts, “anchors” or grounds other colors and objects, outlines and defines shapes and forms. White in the background brings things out. White as an accent makes things light.

The saturation of a hue/color with black or white creates shades and tints.

Any color can be darkened by adding black to it, creating shades such as hunter green or royal blue, or lightened by adding white, creating tints, such as sea foam blue, or aqua green. Adding gray to a hue creates a tone.

The colors you like and how to use them, or not.

It is important to know the psychology of colors when you are planning to redecorate/design your home. Most aesthetic and visual effects are affected by color. Your mood and emotions will be influenced by the colors that surround you, as well as those of the persons that come into your home. The colors you choose will speak volumes about you and your personality. Use your favorite colors in combination with other colors, and create balanced and attractive surroundings that will give you a feeling of calm and comfort or dynamic energy, as well as visual aesthetic pleasure.

Most people tend to think that because a color is attractive to them it suits the purpose for anything around them, taking little thought of how that particular color will affect their mood and actions over time, or if it works with the other elements around it.

Red is a vibrant, lively, and intense color. Red, carefully used, is dramatic and sensual. Red is also used in restaurants to increase appetite, help you eat faster, and move on. But notice that red lights and overly red rooms tend to make people more argumentative, uneasy, on the edge, and over a period of time, studies show, more violent.

Carefully combined, brown is warming, inviting, and personal. It reminds you of autumn, chocolate, and coziness. Brown, tan, and pale blues in a bedroom are beautiful together.

Too much brown, or too many shades of similar browns tend to be boring, drab, and give a heavy feeling.

Bright yellow is used to attract attention, such as in street signs, or on billboards. It stands out. In a home, after a while, it tends to irritate vision, mood, and children. However, in a playroom, together with red, blue, and green, yellow increases the imagination of children, makes them active, happy, and increases their energy level. Soft yellow tend to improve concentration. Yellow needs to be chosen carefully.

The most popular and preferred color in the spectrum is blue. Blue is relaxing and calming, makes people perform better and concentrate on tasks, but too many blues or similar blues make people depressed and sulky, or cold and distant.

On most people, green has a calming and relaxing effect. It’s a fresh and “clean” color. It signifies ecology, growth, and earth. As with any other color, too much green gets boring, and some hues of green are associated with decay and unpleasant smells.

Black is becoming a popular wall color in decorating and design. Black and shades of black are showing up in living rooms, bathrooms, game rooms, and other areas. Black on walls is not a very common choice but can be attractive when properly combined with white, red, and other colors.

Too much black is oppressive and tends to absorb light and decrease room size.

White gives the illusion of air, space, and coolness in a hot summer day. It brings out other color accents and presents them in a fresh and elegant way. White is hard to take care of, especially if there are children.

Too much white becomes boring, hospital sterile, and “colorless”.

Combine your colors carefully, remember to keep it simple and enjoy it.

About the Author

Born in Uruguay from French and Italian parents and raised traveling and living in South America and Europe, Egan grew up trilingual.
After having graduated from an Italian Art School Egan wanted to use her first hand knowledge of art, lighting; accessories; architectural details; fine crafted furniture and rugs. Due to her studies abroad in Art History, Architecture, and Cultures and having acquired an appreciation and passion for world cultures and customs, Egan created Ravenna Theme Interiors-Consulting and Design.
She creates authentic and original themes from around the world, coordinating space, shapes, sound, color, materials, lighting and texture.

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