Finding Your Colors I

With so many colors, literally millions of choices, available it can be a daunting task to choose the right color palette for your home. You may have different members of your family who have very different ideas and taste, compounding the dilemma.

I've found that when there is conflict, it can usually be resolved by looking a colors working together, rather than isolated and looking at photographs of rooms that appeal to each member of the family using the room. Here are a few examples and some quick tips.

• Get a handful of up-to-date decorating magazines.
• Cut out the pictures that appeal to you.
• Have other family members do the same thing.
• Whoever uses the room full time gets to make the final decision.
• Agree on whether you want the home to have the same color palette throughout for continuity or not.
• Try to get at least one color repeating itself in different ratios in every room, for some color flow. This will usually be the carpeting or flooring.
• Look at your wardrobe to see the colors you are most comfortable wearing. This can be a clue.
• Look for your favorite accessory, like a beautiful painting, and choose the colors from there. More on this on another page in this issue.

This is always a pretty safe combination that brings relaxation into any space. It's quite neutral, but on the warmer side of the spectrum. One color should dominate in the room and the other colors should be used in differing ratios, keeping the brightest color for the accent color. In this case, the brighter gold tones, if used in this saturation level, should be used strictly for accent or your room will be bound to be rather glaring.

Now taking this combination of 4 colors, and using them in different levels of saturation, you could create a room that has the following feeling. Notice that the gold has been dramatically toned down to blend, leaving the strength of colors to the sofa and drapery treatment. Here are some other examples: Finding Your Colors II

For more discussion on this topic, look at the links below. It's easier than you think to finding your colors, you just got to do some homework first. Then test the colors before you commit to them full force.

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Barbara Jennings is author of 10 decorating books: Decor Secrets Revealed, Rearrange It, Home Staging for Profit, Home Staging for Yourself, Arrange Your Stuff, Advanced Redesign, Pro Art Consulting, Where There's a Wall - There's a Way, The Art of Hanging Art, Great Parties! Great Homes!