Neutralizing Neutrals There's a reason most people prefer neutrals in their homes: They're usually easier to live with. Neutrals "are the perennials of color — not subject to trends as much as brighter colors, timeless and dependable," says Eiseman. The dependable side of neutrals makes it a safe choice for big-budget items like sofas and more permanent material choices — especially for those who can't make up their minds. Color tends to be a big commitment that needs a lot of confidence, so neutrals work well for people who want to change their accent colors frequently. "Color just isn't for everyone," says interior designer Ellinor Ellefson.
Controversial Colors "Sometimes people are afraid of color because they can't visualize it," says interior designer Marlene Wangenheim. Envisioning a bold purple on your walls can be difficult when your home is all gray and white. So often those who do chose color already have quite a bit of experience using it. Color tends to get better with use and experience. "The more color you have, the more color you can use with it," says Martin. "With monochromatic rooms, you'll find there is only a very slim margin for error when selecting a color or even neutrals to go with it. With color, you become liberated." Add to ideabook by Rikki Snyder by Rikki Snyder Considering color but feeling nervous? Start small. "Area size sometimes has an effect on committing to a strong color," says Harrington. "We tend to shy away from large areas of color, even if it is easy to change or not expensive to do." Try using color in a small space that you don't use that often — like a powder room or even the inside of a closet. "This can be a jumping-off point for braver attempts in other rooms," says Woodman. Or find a color you like and tone down its intensity by asking your local paint shop to add some g...
What Is a Signature Color? Personal. A signature color at its heart is a hue that is associated with you. Friends are reminded of you when they see "your" color, and a home feels more authentically you when it is woven in. Sometimes it happens accidentally, but you can also intentionally cultivate a signature hue.
Consistent. Tiffany blue is not just any blue. It is instantly recognizable because it is always precisely the same blue-green shade. If you already have a favorite color, take a moment to consider exactly how to describe the color you love — it's not just "pink" but "magenta" or "bubblegum." Not just "blue" but the color of the sky in a Maxfield Parrish painting.
Repeated (with care). There is something reassuring about knowing what your signature color is. You can repeat the color in your home or wardrobe, meaning that some decorating decisions become easier. One caveat to keep in mind: You don't want to let your signature hue become watered down through overuse. Keep it special; a touch here and there (or one big statement) should suffice.
How to Find a Signature Color Look back. Your signature color might be something that resonates deeply with you, so it makes sense to think back to your formative years. Which crayon did you search through the box to find? Which colors did you paint with at school? Do you have any positive memories associated with a certain color?
How to Use Your Color Gather inspiration. Have some fun figuring out how to apply it in your life. Start by creating a Houzz ideabook devoted to your color and filling it with inspirational pictures. Or if you want something more hands-on, use tear sheets from magazines to create an inspiration board.
Find your signature paint color. Take an object in your signature color to a hardware store that does color matching and find the paint shade that matches your color. Paint a whole wall if you feel inspired to, but at least pick up a sample pot to take home and commit to painting something small — a flea market chair or set of picture frames. And don't forget to write down the name of the paint color for future reference!
With so many gorgeous paint colors available, why stick to what's safe and common? Now that's not to knock neutrals, as a quick browse on Houzz reveals numerous eye-catching, beautiful interiors with toned-down color palettes. However, many of you are clamoring for more color — and some of you want extreme color. If this describes you, then my advice is to have fun with it! But don't just randomly pick three or four snappy colors and slap them on the walls — you may end up with the Skittles effect: a riot of screaming color that most will find too busy or garish. Check out these tips on how to mix bold colors in an interior space, as well as images and examples of paint palettes featuring bold color combinations.
A good tip for working with multiple bold colors is to stick with either a cool or warm palette. It's less jarring than a mix of several intense cool and warm hues. Here we have a cooler palette of turquoise, dill and a dark inky blue, lightened with a dose of white furniture and accessories. Add to ideabook by Jennifer Ott by Jennifer Ott Example palette: From left to right, all from Kelly-Moore: Turquoise Treat, Jive Clive and Royal Wave.
2. Carrot, Magenta and Plum This palette sticks to the warm side of the color wheel and illustrates another strategy for working with bold colors: Have one of your predominant colors be less vibrant to act as a grounding color. This plum color has some black in it, which grays it out and turns it into a neutral backdrop for the intense orange and pink.
4. Bright Coral, Sky Blue and Dark Brown Here's another room mixing a bold warm hue with a bold cool hue. Because all of the remaining colors are neutrals, the two bold colors play together nicely. I also think it works because the bold colors are used in fairly monolithic ways. Instead of little bits of red and blue here and there — which could appear busy — there are large isolated chunks of the colors. The red chairs really stand out and contrast nicely against the backdrop of blue.
5. Sea Blue, Saffron and Tangerine This is a very bold and energetic palette, but you can get away with such intensity in areas of your home where people just pass through, such as entries, hallways and stairwells. You may not want to paint your bedroom in electric shades of yellow and orange, but for your home's entry, go for it!
Example palette: From left to right, all from Pratt & Lambert: Jungle, Bezique and Bambino.
Style Secret: An Artful Balance One secret to combining a lot of strong colors in a space: Pay attention to scale and proportion. In this living area, the strong zones of color help to buoy and balance one another: red wall, yellow chaise, orange sofa, blue and green rug. Take away any of these elements and the whole composition would feel off-kilter. Small visual echoes, such as the red rug border and the rainbow of framed polka dots, tie the room together. Color your world: The useful thing about this guideline is that it applies to any palette you choose. Imagine this room with a mixture of citron green, periwinkle, turquoise and Prussian blue, or with a subtler blend of cream, straw, oxblood red and blue-gray. You could even put it into practice with a stark black and white scheme, not that most color addicts could live with such restraint.
Style Secret: Color-Wheel Opposites It's color theory 101: Hues that oppose each other on the color wheel work well in combination. That means oranges complement blues, purples play nicely with yellows, and reds and greens get along. Go as bold or as pale as you like — a space done in watery blues and coral oranges can look as striking as one that's drenched in sizzling tangerine and cerulean. Color your world: Give a room depth by layering in variations of each color. Picture a butter-colored living area with a deep eggplant sofa, punctuated with accents of taxicab yellow and pale violet. If you're intrigued by the thought of red and green but don't want a space that feels like year-round Christmas, try instead a sophisticated pairing such as olive and crimson.
Style Secret: Analagous Colors Here's another lesson from the color wheel: Dress a space with analogous colors, which fall next to each other on the spectrum, rather than opposites. That might mean yellows and greens, reds and oranges, blues and purples. This space artfully marries swaths of turquoise, teal, sky and chartreuse into a cohesive whole.
Color your world: One secret to the success of the palette shown here is that the rich pigments are cut by bands of crisp white. This imbues the look with a more restful, less rambunctious feel. If you wanted to create a livelier atmosphere, however, you could skip the neutrals and just go all-out with bold hues. Add to ideabook by Kristen Rivoli Interior Design by Kristen Rivoli Interior Design Style Secret: Judicious Editing If you crave a hit of color but aren't so sure about pulling out all the stops, take heart: A space can still read as colorful even when the surfaces are mostly neutral. This living room, though grounded in creams, browns and beiges, is anything but bland, thanks to the red chair and ottoman, the green accent pieces and the bright artwork. Color your world: Because colors perform differently in relation to other hues that surround them, a neutral foundation can work to your advantage. Against the pale walls, for example, that red chair really pops. High contrast leads to drama and energy, and that's part of what a colorful room is all about.
Color your world: Because colors perform differently in relation to other hues that surround them, a neutral foundation can work to your advantage. Against the pale walls, for example, that red chair really pops. High contrast leads to drama and energy, and that's part of what a colorful room is all about.
Style Secret: Livable Base Hues Under a less skillful hand, this living area could have brought on a headache. But look closer, and you'll see how masterfully it's balanced. Here's the secret: The reigning color, green, is easy on the eye (partly because we're accustomed to seeing it in nature) and easy to live with. In spite of the bold slipper chairs that appear to dominate at first glance, the magenta and persimmon hues are really just accents. Color your world: Remember the color wheel opposites we talked about a moment ago? That's what this scheme boils down to — reds and greens — and that's one reason it works. But there are enough orange and purple undertones in the mix to give the pairing an entirely new spin. Add to ideabook by Judith Balis by Judith Balis Style Secret: The Power of Paint Some people are so in love with color that they hesitate to devote themselves to a single palette. What if your fling with kelly green ends abruptly or you suddenly turn against tomato? In that case, paint is your best friend. It's easy, it's inexpensive and you can't beat it in bang-for-buck terms. Make paintable surfaces, such as walls and wooden furniture, your main sources of colo...
Color your world: Those with a color commitment phobia can also go with brightly patterned pieces to satisfy their changing tastes. The quilt and shams in this bedroom have enough different hues that it would be easy to pull out one, then another, then another to repeat on the walls if you were in the mood to make a change. And if the entire palette becomes old hat, small accessories are a snap to replace. Add to ideabook by Erika Bierman Photography by Erika Bierman Photography Style Secret: Color Blocking Color blocking has been around for years, in fashion as well as interior decorating. But sometimes it's hard to think beyond simply painting squares of varying shades on the walls. Remember that color blocks can take the form of any material: fabric, flooring, accessories. In this space a mustard ceiling, blue draperies and a rainbow of hues on the backs of the storage crates and the throw pillow create a blocked effect that goes far beyond the paintbrush. Color your world: Color blocking doesn't have to be permanent. The next time you throw a dinner party, try using a different shade for each place setting and matching vessels to the tone of the foods served in them (a red t...
Style Secret: A Lighthearted Touch Color and whimsy go hand in hand, so don't hesitate to have some fun. Paint each of your kitchen chairs a different shade, spatter your ceiling with wild hues, follow the lead of artist Scott Ingram and drip nail polish down a blank sheet of paper for an original abstract work. Or compile all those paint chips you've collected into a graphic composition such as the one in this dining room — so much fresher than a single painting or a mirror. Color your world: Look for less obvious opportunities to play with color. Maybe you could arrange the books on your shelves by the shade of their spines or create a rainbow effect with your collection of Fiesta ware, glass or china. Or mass together a group of clear or plain white vases, each filled with flowers in a single, strong hue.
7. Wrap branches in rainbow-hued thread. This simple project is the sort of thing you can do while watching TV — just take any old twig (cleaned and dried thoroughly) and some vibrant-colored thread, and start wrapping. Use a tiny dab of glue to hold the thread in place at the beginning and end of each place you wrap, leaving some bark exposed between colors for contrast. If you choose a branch with a few forks in it, you can use the finished project to hold jewelry, as shown here.
The Otomi people, indigenous inhabitants of central Mexico, are probably best known today for their colorful embroidery and textiles. Influenced by nature and ancient cliff paintings, the pieces incorporate vibrant images of animals, flora, fauna and native people. Their lively aesthetic is clean and modern. Whether you are on the hunt for an original work or a more modest mass-produced item that references the Otomi style, I have curated stunning selections from far and wide for home and hearth. — Lani from Mon Petit Chou Chou Eclectic Accessories And Decor by La Fuente Imports La Fuente Imports Flowers and Animals Otomi Tapestry - $795 This Otomi tapestry is a kaleidoscope of stunning colors. I would love to see it on the wall in place of a headboard, or as a grand way to greet guests when they enter the house. Mediterranean Hall by Mina Brinkey Mina Brinkey
Pan American Phoenix SaveEmail Otomi Cocktail Napkin - $7.50 I just ordered a few of these Otomi cocktail napkins. (They’re sold individually.) They’re hand embroidered — your cocktail never had it so good.
Etsy SaveEmail Mexican Otomi Pattern Wall Stencil by Chic Stencils for Unique Places - $44 Stenciling is a great way to craft a custom wall space without the commitment of wallpaper. Just paint over it when you need a c
non voc paint companies
colors: turquoise & scarlet
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