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Color Basics
Color is like a magic wand to a decorator. Color can magically alter a person’s mood. For example, blue has a calming effect, yellow has a cheering effect and red creates excitement. The color of a space determines whether or not people will feel comfortable or not in that space. Some colors have the effect or warming a space and other can make a room appear cold or formal.
Color 1o1
The colors you choose for your home should reflect your personality. Colors can be very powerful especially when used together. Contrasting dark and bright colors in a space can be very powerful.
Relating Color
Color scheming isn’t just about choosing colors you like. It’s about choosing colors that are livable in and produce the right effects.
Selecting a color scheme can be a real challenge. The easiest way is to start by thinking what colors you do and do not like. Narrow down the number of colors you do like until you have the ones you like most. Ask yourself how the colors you like will affect the space. For example you may not want warm colors in a small space, as it can appear more claustrophobic. A cool color may be a better choice here.
For a serene feel, use a whole house color scheme that provides a sense of harmony. If you stick to one color scheme it can make a small space seem larger. If you decide on a whole house color scheme it does not mean using one color but a variety of relating colors.
The Color Wheel
A color wheel is basically a rainbow circle. There are primary colors of red, yellow and blue and secondary colors of orange, green and violet. By mixing adjacent colors, tertiary and quaternary colors can be created.
The color wheel makes seeing color relationships easier. Designers often refer to color schemes in terms of where colors are on the wheel.
Analogous colors are next to each other on the wheel. Red and yellow are two such colors.
Complimentary colors are colors that are opposite each other are considered complimentary. Red and green are good examples.
Warm and cool colors
Colors fall in to two categories, either warm or cool. Warm colors include yellow and red and cool colors include green and blue.
Warm and cool colors are on opposite sides. Every warm color has a cool complement.
Warm colors can be relaxing, informal and intimate. Warm colors can motivate and stimulate the mind.
Cool colors are associated with formality and reserved behavior. Cool colors are also refreshing and distant. They slow down the heart and relieve and soothe mental tension.
You can now see that you can use colors to warm up or cool down a space.
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