Decorating 101

Welcome back to another installment of Decorating 101. In the last few installments I've gone over the impact color can have on a room as well as given example of three different types of color schemes: monochromatic, complementary and triadic.

This will be my last installment on color schemes though next week I'll briefly show you how the colors you choose to put on your walls can either make the room look smaller (advancing color) or give the illusion that the room is larger (receding color).

The last two color schemes I want to go over are Alternate Complementary and Analogous. This doesn't mean that there aren't other color schemes out there. I think it's safe to say that color combinations are endless. Simply do a search on the web and you'll be amazed at what you can put together in your own home.

Alternate Complementary Color Scheme

An alternate complementary color scheme is achieved through the use of a triad color scheme plus one complement. In the color wheel above we see the blue, red and yellow as the triad with the addition of yellow's direct complement, purple.

In the picture below we see a variation of this except instead of violet as the complement, green (red's complement) is used. In this example, red is represented by pink (a derivative of red).

Analogous Color Scheme

The analogous color scheme uses colors that sit adjacent to one another on the color wheel.

From Integrated Publishing:

typical analogous color scheme should not contain more than three or four colors
or you jeopardize harmony. Although analogous color schemes are easy to compose, they may become monotonous. Use a variety of values,
intensities, and arrangements to develop interest.

This room below demonstrates an analogous color scheme using hues from red, orange and yellow. The result is a calm and relaxing environment. Beautiful, isn't it?

As I've said before, because I'm not a professional and do not hold a degree in interior design, I'd love to hear from anyone with additional tips and advice on how to use color effectively in decorating. Also, if you have a post on your blog involving any decorating and would like to share it with the rest of us, please leave a link in the comments section.

Decorating 101

Welcome back to the third installment of Decorating 101. So far, we've gone over the impact color can have on a room, monochromatic color scheme and complementary color scheme. Continuing on that path, I'd like to introduce to you another no-fail color scheme:

The Triad Color Scheme

A Triad Color Scheme is created when you choose three colors that sit equally apart from one another (forming an equilateral triangle) on the color wheel. It is not necessary to use all three colors equally. For instance:

http://www.eleganceredefined.com/ photo

Blue dominates this room while red and yellow are used only as accent colors. You may notice there are two shades of blue in the room. This is okay and still counts as a Triad Color Scheme. As long as you stay within the same hue and do not lean towards the next color on the color wheel, in this case blue-green or blue-violet, you stay true to the color scheme.

I hope the thought of decorating with color or more color is something that is becoming less intimidating to you. The great thing about paint is you can always repaint. But to avoid repainting, it's a good idea to get samples of the colors you are considering and paint large swatches of them on a wall. This way, you can see how the color changes with the lighting throughout the day and it will give you a chance to live with it for a little while before making the big jump.

Again, because I'm not a professional and do not hold a degree in interior design, I'd love to hear from anyone with additional tips and advice on how to use color effectively in decorating. Also, if you have a post on your blog involving any decorating and would like to share it with the rest of us, please leave a link in the comments section.

Decorating 101

Welcome back for my second installment of Decorating 101. Last week, I talked about color and the impact it can have on a room, especially when painted on the walls. The first color scheme example I showed you was a monochromatic color scheme: the use of one color in variations of tints & shades to provide a simple yet stunning impact on a room.

Before I move on to the next color scheme, I'd like to just briefly go over hue, shade and tint. First, "hue" is just another name for color - pure color. A pure color is any color that has not been affected by the addition of white or black. Red, blue, yellow, green, violet and orange are pure colors.

A shade is created when black is added to a pure color. A tint is created when white is added. For instance, navy blue is a shade of blue while pink is a tint of red.

Now, I'd like to show you my favorite color scheme. It's my favorite because it's just so easy. There is really no messing this one up.

Complementary Color Scheme a.k.a Direct Complements.

Complementary colors are two colors that sit directly across from each other on the color wheel. The color wheel above is a great illustration. Blue sits directly across from orange. Red from green and violet from yellow. Though you are not limited to pure colors only. Again, any two colors that sit directly across from one another.

If you choose to decorate with direct complements and stay true to that color scheme, just remember not to add any additional colors into the room. White and black are not considered colors so, therefore, they don't count. You are also safe to add in neutrals.

See the two examples below:

www.furniturelandsouth.com

www.militaryavenue.com

Sticking to a definite color scheme helps considerably when shopping for decorative accessories for the room. You are limited, in a good way, to what you can purchase at the home decor stores and, therefore, eliminate many poor choices that probably wouldn't work in the room you're working on.

Again, because I'm not a professional and do not hold a degree in interior design, I'd love to hear from anyone with additional tips and advice on how to use color effectively in decorating. Also, if you have a post on your blog involving any decorating and would like to share it with the rest of us, please leave a link in the comments section.

Thank you and happy decorating!

Decorating 101

Years ago, I took a Decorating 101 course through the local community college. I learned a great deal, much of it I still use to this day.

Still can't say that about high school algebra, however.

Our last assignment was to create a Design Elements and Principles Notebook. I have held onto this notebook and often times will pull it out for a little inspiration and refresher.

I thought it would be fun to go through parts of the notebook with you and share some of the things that I learned. I am NOT by any means a professional but I think I do a not-so-half-bad job of decorating my home. I would like to encourage anyone who is reading this to offer up additional advice in the comments and, if you are so inclined, even supply links to your own blog of posts you've done involving decorating. I'd love to hear from you and share ideas!

I thought I would start off with talking about color. The use of color, particularly the use of paint on walls, is one of the most important decisions you can make when it comes to decorating your home. Paint gives you the most bang for your buck. Plus, the wonderful thing about paint is that you can always repaint if you decide the color isn't right for you or you just want to change things up a bit down the road. Sure, repainting may be a bit of a pain in the you-know-what but it's nothing like laying down a new tile floor and then realizing you've made a terrible mistake.

I cannot recommend enough buying a color wheel. You can pick these up at any craft store for just a few bucks. These handy little tools come jam-packed with lots of info on color combinations. If you are planning on decorating with more than one color and you're not sure what colors work well together, a color wheel can literally walk you through this decision.

The DIY Maven has a great article on understanding the basics of the color wheel.

To start things off real easy, I wanted to talk to you about just one color. Or, I should say, the use of just one color. This is called a Monochromatic color scheme.

From About.com:

A monochromatic color scheme uses a single color on most every room surface. In this type of scheme, various darker shades, grayer tones, and paler tints of the main color may be included in the palette. In addition, the one color is often paired with white or another neutral.

The use of just one color may sound boring but, on the contrary, it can have a beautiful and dramatic effect:

This room is a great example of a monochromatic color scheme using only the color blue. A few different shades and tints of blue are used throughout the room with the addition of white and dark neutrals. No other color is used. Simple, isn't it? Yet, oh-so-beautiful!

If you're not comfortable with combining colors but want a professional look, try going the monochromatic route. I think you'll be please and surprised at just how easy it is to create a stand-out room using this simple color scheme.

As I'm coming to the end of this writing, it occurs to me that I should have probably gone over the definitions of hue, shade, tone & tint. I'll cover that in the next Decorating 101 post next week along with a lesson in Complementary color scheme. Until then...

Happy Decorating!