Color Tips
Smalt is a deep blue pigment typically used in ceramics. Smalt is a glass that is created when cobalt salts are added to molten glass. It has a very subtle purple undertone but is better described as a pure blue. Much like cobalt, it has a luminescent quality, making it look backlit. This wall is a good example.
2. Cool blues and grays. This elegant dining room shimmers in shades of deep blue and gray. Generally, a darker hue on the ceiling will visually lower it, but cooler colors also have a tendency to make a wall or ceiling recede. I think this dark sapphire color makes the room feel more intimate and evokes the feeling of dining al fresco at night.
Black. A surprisingly elegant choice for any room, black looks great against most colors. When using black, try contrasting it with crisp white trim and punchy colors in fabrics or rugs. I prefer to see an eggshell finish on walls, and black looks particularly sophisticated in eggshell. This regal bedroom boasts a beautiful shade of black called Beluga, by Behr.
Gray. A popular color for modern and transitional interiors, gray is a unique neutral. I love a soft charcoal gray paired with creamy whites and beige. Try gray with a punch of chartreuse for a surprising combination that really works. This dramatic great room is painted in Dunn-Edwards' Baby Seal DE 6361.
Beige. A basic beige is a must-have for my paint arsenal. I love beige all through the house punctuated with bold color and other neutrals. Loved for its versatility, beige is also a great choice as a backdrop for an art collection. This elegant entry is painted in Sherwin-Williams' Accessible Beige SW7036.
Greige. A made-up color, but important enough to mention because I use it so much. A soft gray with beige undertones that is a perfect complement to most white marbles, such as Calacatta. It's a great solution for those who feel gray is too cold. This elegant bathroom is painted in my favorite greige, Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter HC-172.
Brown. Although beige tends to get a bad rap, there's a reason this color is so popular: It's hard to get wrong. Use a lighter shade for more soothing spaces and venture into dark chocolate browns to mix things up.
White. Sometimes sticking to the basics is your best bet. Don't dismiss white as boring — when used right, it can make an incredible statement.
Purple. Purple isn't always the first choice for interior decorating — outside of children's spaces — but when used smartly and sparingly, it can add an elegant element of surprise to modern or traditional spaces.
Blue. Bright and striking in some spaces, subdued and soothing in others, blue can completely transform a space.
Green. Bring the outdoors inside with nature's favorite color. Lively, refreshing and eye catching, the right tone of green can work in any home.
Yellow. Yellow is one of those colors that instantly makes people happy. Accent it with bright blues for a palette that plays off the color wheel, or tone it down by pairing it with gray and neutral textiles.
Gray. It was touted as a trend at first, but the love for gray has yet to fade. Play with dark charcoal for dramatic dining rooms and use foggy gray for relaxing bedrooms full of natural light.
Red. Go beyond the classic red front door and bring this bold hue inside. Make an impact with an incredible accent wall or keep things simple with a few striped pillows.
Pink. Although it's a favorite choice for little girls' rooms, pink can still feel grown up and sophisticated. This cheerful hue can brighten rooms of many styles.
Orange. An often-forgotten color, orange can instantly warm up a room in even the subtlest accents. From tangerine to coral, a shade of orange can work in your home.
Fallow is a tannish brown and is inspired by the light brown fur of a deer's back. This gorgeous shade, selected here for the carpet, pairs well with white and black.
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