I enjoy writing about topics that
apply to both interior design and fashion. Fashion colors are closely related
to interior design. My belief is that each takes a nod from the other. Fashionistas can apply their unique clothing
style to their homes while home design lovers can interpret their home décor into
stylish and sophisticated attire. This article focuses on the fun we can have
with color at home or in fashioning an ensemble, and eliminates much of the guesswork. |
| Harley - Director of Inspiration |
Keep in mind that the look and sensibility
of colors change in various lights and during different times of day. This
applies to interior design as well as fashion. Color will appear truer in
natural light, and can appear totally different in the evening in artificial
light. So don’t try to copy nature, but rather, recreate the feeling and its
effect.
You don’t have to know color theory to create a dynamite fashion look or spectacular home. For those of you interested, this is a good introduction. Otherwise, skip this section and read the next: Simple Tips for Selecting and Using Color.
All colors are derived from three
primary colors: yellow, blue and red. Mix the primary colors together and you
get secondary colors: orange, green, violet. Mix the secondary colors and you
get the tertiary colors: red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green,
yellow-orange, red-orange.
Colors in the red/orange area of the color spectrum are known as warm colors and include red, orange and yellow. These warm colors are vibrant, exciting, and warm. Colors on the blue/green side of the spectrum include blue and green. They’re cool, tranquil, and calming.
Analogous colors - three colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, with one of the three usually being dominant over the other two. Together, they give a cohesive look.
Complementary colors - directly opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green and orange and blue. Complementary colors create maximum contrast with vibrancy and excitement.
Triadic colors - three colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel. Choose a color, skip three colors to get your next choice, then skip three more to get your third. When using the triadic color scheme, keep colors balanced by choosing one dominant color and using the other two for accents.
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| Buy A Color Wheel: Click on Image |
Buy yourself a color wheel and play with the different combinations. Then go to your local paint store and buy sample pints of paint and experiment right on your walls. You’ll have the opportunity to experience the color in a variety of light conditions before making the final decision and investment.
Want to use all the colors of the rainbow? In your home, I believe in limitless color, but I do insist that there be cohesiveness amongst different rooms, and a logical transition from one adjacent room to another. Love decking out in rainbow attire? Wear multiple colors with the correct scale to achieve balance.
Nature is able to mix many different colors so that each is distinct, yet none seems out of place. We can achieve the same.
1.
Colors next to each other on the color wheel are
always compatible. For example, wear a blouse in red, and slacks or skirt in
red-orange. Paint a wall in yellow-orange and use orange upholstery for a sofa
or pull up chairs.
2.
The safest use of bright colors is to select
one, and the rest neutrals. For example, wear a royal blue blouse and slacks or
skirt in white or beige. For your home, paint your walls a neutral color and
select a favorite color (like red) for furnishings; or paint a wall a
blue-green and select neutral furnishings.
3.
Opposites attract. Cool colors mix with warm and
vibrate together. Wear a violet dress with yellow shoes, bag, and accessories.
Paint walls a yellow-green and accessorize with red-violet.
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