Color Can be Complicated

Color is so important when considering an aesthetic you want to create in your home. It can be a tricky thing to figure out what the best color might be for walls, furnishings, area rugs, flooring, accessories, etc. So many choices and will they all work well together?

As much as I lean more towards neutral colors and backgrounds – as in wall paint and major furnishings, I love a burst of color. I primarily use colors in area rugs and accessories, although I’ve had a few furniture pieces that have been in the past decade that were a bright red and I loved them. I loved them for a few reasons. There was red in the area rug I chose and I brought red into the room with artwork, a throw for the sofa, etc.

Here’s a wallpaper I chose for the entryway in a former home of mine  and I purposely chose the paint colors for my entire condo based on a small sample of the wallpaper I would eventually go with. It looks so much more cohesive because each color is seen from every room off of the entryway. The same is true in any home. Seeing one color appear from one room into the next (with other colors – as you don’t want your home to be only three colors), gives it a pulled together and intentional look.

Color is the essence of ambiance creation. It sets a mood and a tone for each room and the house as a whole. Warm reds and yellows infuse energy and vitality into a room, painting it with life. Red colors are thought to be great colors to have in dining rooms . . . and bedrooms if you’d like to spice things up.

Cool blues and greens conjure serenity, embracing spaces with a calming embrace like bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas. Texture creates depth and interest to colors – adding more character. Think of the color of the wood in your home. Even if your trim is painted, you’re likely to have some wood tones in a room. Keep those in mind as you choose your color palette as well. 

Your home is a living backdrop and canvas to your life. Be brave when mixing and matching Mix colors to sculpt a space to be uniquely yours. Try to bring one color from one room into an adjoining room for an ideal flow. Here’s a picture of my current kitchen with a black roman shade I had made on Etsy. I decided on black because the lower cabinets were black and it connects the two elements.

Look at a color wheel https://www.bhg.com/decorating/color/basics/color-wheel-color-chart/ and know that colors on the opposing side of a color you love would be an ideal compliment to one another. For instance, a blue is an opposing color to an orange but the two together look fabulous. I love a teal and copper color combination. I’ve been dying to use these colors in a space (or a toss pillow) with a little bit of magenta. I’m becoming obsessed with this combination. 

Strategically wield colors to metamorphose dullness into a vibrant, personalized narrative for your home.

If you need some help choosing the right colors for your home, i’m here to help. Please email me at nmichaels@nancymichaelsinteriors.com. And keep up with me on Instagram @nancymichaelsinteriors.