Color Schemes
Home Renovations: Balance your House with Feng Shui Colors
By: Danielle McVicar
Does your home feel out of balance? It could be because your color schemes are giving off negative energies, or bad Feng Shui.
Choosing a color scheme for a room or house can be an extremely difficult task. Color is a key element to any rooms’ atmosphere and determining a color scheme deserves a great deal of thought and consideration. The theory of Feng Shui might be able to help you find the perfect combination of colors for your room as well as balance the energies in your home.
Feng Shui was developed in ancient China over 3,000 years ago and has been used all over the world since then to balance the energies in areas of space and promote harmony. Feng Shui implements the five Feng Shui elements of wood, fire, earth, water and metal as well as the theory of Yin and Yang. Each element is represented by a specific color and by combining and balancing these colors properly you can easily achieve balance in your home energetically and visually.
The element of wood symbolizes vitality and health. It also promotes creativity, motivation, and inspiration. The colors associated with wood are brown and green.
Fire is considered the most powerful of the five elements and should be used carefully. Fire represents passion and energy and can spice up a dull room. The colors associated with fire are red, orange, purple, pink, and bright yellow.
Earth is the element of stability and nourishment. Earth colors invoke feelings of protection, permanence, and a sense of home. Colors associated with earth are beige, tan, light yellow, and other various earthy tones.
Water symbolizes abundance, ease and peace. It also encourages relaxation and a sense of serenity. The colors of water include both blue and black.
The element of metal symbolizes sharpness and clarity. It promotes feelings of efficiency and precision. Colors associated with the element of metal are white and gray.
In addition to combing the five elements, Feng Shui also utilizes the theory of Yin and Yang, or the balancing of opposite energies. Not only are colors associated with the five elements, they are also associated with either Yin or Yang.
Yin represents the passive principle of nature. Qualities associated with Yin include calmness, relaxation, stillness, quiet and healing. Therefore, the colors of Yin are:
- Blue
- Black
- Purple
- White
- Pink
- Green
Yang is the exact opposite of Yin, and represents the active principle of nature. Qualities associated with Yang consist of heat, light, passion, energy and movement. The colors of Yang are:
- Red
- Yellow
- Orange
- Brown
- Lavender
- Gold
By combining these different elements and colors you should be able to find a color scheme that makes your home renovations pleasing to both the eye and mind.
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Interior Home Decorating Ideas: Color and Mood
By: Danielle McVicar
Color is one of the most important and dynamic elements of a room. The color, or colors, of a room determine the atmosphere that the room will have. Colors affect our moods differently; different colors evoke different emotions within us. Therefore, choosing a paint color for your room is very important depending on the ambiance you want to create.
There are three general categories in which most colors fall: warm, cool, and neutral. Warm colors are shades that predominantly include oranges and yellows. These colors are vibrant and full of energy. They are also usually intense and have a very dominating presence. Warm colors are perfect for rooms where energy and creativity are needed, such as kitchens, dining rooms, and offices.
Cool colors are shades that include blues, greens, and purples. These colors serve as the exact opposite of warm colors, and are therefore used to encourage peace and relaxation. Cool colors blend quietly into the background and have a very soft presence. These colors tend to be ideal for rooms where quiet and calmness are encouraged, such as bedrooms and bathrooms.
Neutral colors are neither warm nor cool. They are unbiased colors that include whites, grays, and browns. Neutral colors have the power to unify different colors and are often used to create balance between different colors in a room. Darker neutral tones can be used to subdue bright colors while lighter neutral tones can be used to intensify soft colors. Neutral colors can be used in any type of room, but they work especially well in rooms that unite a house, such as hallways and living rooms.
The following list details the moods and emotions that are often associated with each color. It is important to determine the desired atmosphere of a room and keep this in mind when choosing a paint color.
- Blue- refreshing, cool, relaxing, stability and harmony.
- Green- balance, normalizing, health and renewal.
- Purple- comforting, mystery, wisdom and spirituality.
- Red- stimulation, drama, passion and excitement.
- Orange- energy, warmth, enthusiasm and flamboyancy.
- Yellow- cheerful, energy, happiness and optimism.
- Black- strength, discipline, elegance and power.
- White- pure, unity, cleanliness and simplicity.
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The Importance of Color in Window Coverings
By: Danielle McVicar
Color is an extremely important factor when it comes to decorating, and it doesn’t just apply to your walls. Window coverings can make a huge difference in the appearance of your décor and deserve just as much attention in choosing a color scheme as any other part of the room.
Many people stick with traditional, neutral colors for their window coverings, but in today’s world window coverings are a great way to add some excitement and creativity to your room. Don’t be afraid to grab a color wheel and try out some different and unusual color schemes for your windows; you’ll be surprised how much your décor is affected by mixing different colors and shades.
You can select color combinations of two or more colors; three is generally the rule of thumb, but don’t let that hinder your decision. You could also choose one color and use varying shades and tones of that same color to create a softer look. Choosing the perfect color scheme for you windows will have an interesting impact on your room. By using the color as a focal point, you are able to change the overall feel of a room, making it look warm and inviting, or open and spacious. Bright colors against a lighter background will make the window appear larger, and light colors against and darker background will make the window appear smaller.
Colored patterns are also an option available for your window coverings. Bright, funky patterns can spice up a room with an interesting twist and more traditional patterns can blend into your décor while adding a touch of sophistication. You can mix patterns with solid colors to help them blend into the décor or you can let the pattern stand alone and become an interesting focal point of your room.
Make sure that you observe how your colors appear at different times of the day with different lighting as this will affect the overall look of your room. Your window coverings may match perfectly with your décor in the morning with the sun shining, but without the sun at night they might clash with the rest of the room.
And of course, if choosing colors for your window coverings seems too difficult a task, you can always hire a professional interior designer to help you make your color choices.
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Color Schemes for Your Bathroom
By: Danielle McVicar
The perfect color scheme for your bathroom depends on what kind of atmosphere you are trying to create. Do you want a luxurious, spa-like sanctuary? Or does a casual, laid-back bathroom fit your style better? Color plays a huge role in determining your bathroom’s ambiance, and the following color schemes all emanate a different mood.
Blue is by far the most common color used for bathrooms due to its relaxing, peaceful presence. Soft, light shades are often paired with neutral colors such as whites or browns, reminiscent of the ocean and other aspects of nature. Blue is also a cool color, meaning that it invokes a sense of calm and tranquility, which is perfect for a bathroom. Shades of green have similar effects to that of blues, and are also a popular color choice for bathrooms.
White is another common choice for bathrooms. It can be paired with other, soft colors, or can be used alone. An all white bathroom has a sophisticated, spa-like appearance, but can also look uninviting and cold if not decorated properly. Using accent colors of gold, black, or even different shades of white will balance your bathroom and prevent it from looking sterile and bleak. The use of proper lighting can also warm up a white bathroom; soft, warm lights will cut your white bathroom’s edge.
Pale purples, yellows and pinks are becoming increasing trendy among bathroom colors. Purples create a warm and elegant look for your bathroom, while yellows add a touch of freshness and cheer. Pinks are good for feminizing a bathroom but should be used sparingly in bathrooms that are shared by both men and women.
Also take into consideration the size of your bathroom when choosing a color scheme. Darker colors will make a small bathroom appear even smaller, while lighter colors will create the illusion of spaciousness. Cool colors will make walls appear to recede, also making the room look larger than it really is.
Your bathroom is an extremely significant part of your home and deserves a color scheme that will emphasize its strong points. Take your time when picking a color, or colors, for your bathroom and consult a professional if you need to.
