Part 3: Colors & the practicalities

As you’ve read in the previous articles, decorating with color is not just about going to a store and choosing your desired color from a swatch. Colors affect us mentally, physically and psychologically. The same color can make some people relaxed others restless. Furthermore, different tones of the same color can affect us differently. In fact, according to research, it’s the tone rather than the hue of a color that primarily affect our mental and psychological being. So if you choose the wrong tone of your favourite color, it can make you feel just as sad and edgy as your most hated color. This is why you should not copy color schemes from magazines and TV shows!..

Before you decide on a color-scheme you should determine your own color-group –  and choose a shade of your preferred color according to that group. Then you must observe the space you want to decorate (its location and size). Then choose an interior style that suits the building, fits within the overall deco scheme of your home and reflects you.  Read more about color groups, spaces and styles in the previous part of Decorating With Color.

When you have done these – collect samples, images, pictures that you like. Not just about interiors or rooms – anything. Make a scrapbook – a collage of your cuttings, thoughts and memories. Collect furnishing catalogues, or go to home stores and take pictures of furniture you like or you want to buy (in which case don’t forget to measure them). You don’t need to get rid of your present furniture – with a little imagination you can freshen them up. If you have pine furniture you can limewash it  to create a country style, stain ( walnut or ebony) and varnish it for an oriental feel,  paint it with pearl paint and add glass handles for a glamorous look…. etc… The bottom line is: you can always customise used furniture. I’ll write about this subject in the future and put a link to it here. 

Anyway, to the practicalities :colors look different on different textures creating a different visual impact. For example, the same red doesn’t look the same on a piece of wood and on velvet, does it? So, always get real samples of paints, wallpapers, textiles and floorboards. Never ever buy a full tin of paint from a swatch – it looks different on the wall. Also, the same paint has a different depth on plaster to that on lining paper or wood. So get samples – at least three different shades of the color you’ve chosen.. Then start experimenting – but don’t just paint a brush-stroke of a sample on the wall – make big squares of at least three samples on each wall! Then wait till night time. A color can look gorgeous during daytime – dreadful with the lights on. Install the lighting before decorating. Most people finish off their decoration with a new type of light or lampshade – not realising that standard, fluorescent, halogen or energy saving light bulbs affect colors differently.

Then put all other samples together – see whether they work or not. When you’re happy, order & buy everything –  and off you go… happy decorating!