When it comes to how much color you prefer to live with in your home, there are maximalists and minimalists and then a whole lot of in between. Saving the minimalist’s approach for another post, let's dive into how to use color throughout your home. We all know that color can evoke feelings - that’s why we all have favorites - or why Bryn doesn’t prefer a particular shade of green because it reminds her of her childhood babysitter’s sofa. There are countless articles written about color theory and the psychological effects of different colors - CLICK HERE for a quick overview of each color.
To start simply, most people can easily decide whether they like an energizing or a calm palette, or if they have a color or two that they naturally gravitate towards. Of course, most rooms don’t exist in a vacuum of only one color - so really the experience of a room is all about the combinations of different intensities and complimentary colors that combine for a cohesive palette. We generally find it helpful to find an accent fabric or piece of art that sets the palette for the home - a touchstone that you can reference at the outset and when bringing in new elements. If a piece of fabric or art hasn’t driven the color scheme yet, platforms like Pinterest and Houzz can help you hone in on more specific tones or combinations that you like. For example, a simple Pinterest search of “blue living rooms” will give you a dizzying array of images to peruse. Our growing collection of PALETTES on our website is also a place to look for inspiration - here we’ve curated fabrics, metals and wallpapers into layered collections as jumping off points.
At the very beginning of this design, we pulled this piece of artwork together with this fabric to inspire a palette.
Pulling together a pile of colors and patterns can inspire an entire room. This collection of fabrics, wallpaper and cabinet colors was the foundation for a fun attic space.
Palettes do come and go with general decor trends, although I don’t really believe in “good” or “bad” colors. PANTONE and most paint companies pick a color of the year, and you can definitely track that influence in most retailers - be it with pillow choices, rugs or decor. Certainly it’s easy and fun to add colorful accents that are quick to change out with the trends in the ubiquitous neutral room with “pops” of color.
Here, a neutral room allows for the accent color to change seasonally as well.
However, I would argue that a more sophisticated and classic approach to color is to choose a palette that inspires you and then weave it through your home in different elements. Breaking that down even further, for example - a rug with blues and greens in the family room might be echoed in a piece of art or a chair fabric, which then might be repeated in curtains in the dining room and a vase in the kitchen, and maybe even a fabulous wallpaper in the powder room. While each of these rooms might not technically “match,” as you move through them they will have a continuous thread of blues and greens in different elements that ground the home and create a cohesive feeling. It might be that the blue is paired with orange in the family room, but with sage in the dining room, which helps the aesthetic flow and keeps the home from feeling repetitive.
These two rooms are adjacent to each other and while they don’t repeat any specific elements, the blue in the wallpaper and the blue on the island and backsplash connect the two spaces.
Once inspired by a color palette, what I feel most strongly about is helping folks move past a fear of color! Kim from our team recently completed a mudroom renovation with the most sublimely beautiful teal/blue cabinets - the color is stunning and I know it would make me happy every day - whether the room is full of boots and papers, or not. In my own home, the combination of deep blues, oranges, reds and pinks is mostly in my rugs and accent fabrics, while the walls are predominantly neutral. No matter how you weave color into your home, life is more interesting in color - don’t be afraid!
