Color is one of the highest-impact elements in interior decorating. A change of color can affect how large or small the room appears and it can even affect moods. The difference can be subtle if a decorator simply tones down a palette by going a shade or two lighter, or it can be more dramatic if the decorator completely changes the colors used.
There are many ways to incorporate the use of color into interior decorating. Some ideas are listed below.
Pay Attention to Curtains
Window treatments are another great way to introduce splashes of color in a room. They can actually be used to create a seamless flow with the walls by using a similar color or they can be used to pop if they are in a contrasting hue.
Don’t Forget the Floor
Designers often refer to the floor as the "fifth wall" because it has just as much visual weight. Wood floors can be stained in rich hues and even concrete flooring can be color treated to create beautiful and unique patterns. Decorators also add floor coverings such as area rugs or runners to create another layer of interest using color and pattern.
Highlight With Molding
Small architectural details can really add a lot of interest to a room. By painting crown molding, base boards and chair rails in a crisp white professional interior decorators call attention to them and highlight the built in character of the home. To have them recede they can be painted in the same color as the wall; this is especially useful when chair rails need to be made to disappear.
Create a Focal Wall
Color can also be used to create a focal point. The treatment of color can control the way the eye moves across the room. Interior decorations use a concentration of color on one wall to build up the visual interest and draw the eye to this particular point.
Incorporate Artwork
Decorators often choose to allow the artwork and accessories to do the talking. By using more neutral tones on the walls and floors artwork can be hung to add punches of color that will set the tone of the space. Accessories can also play a big part in adding interest by skillfully adding color in small spurts.
Paint the Walls
Probably the most common way to use color would be to paint the walls and so mentioning this technique is really unavoidable. Walls are such a large surface that the color choosen to cover them will definitely impact the style of the room.
While decorators can use almost any color with some degree of success there are certain considerations that should be made if persons that are inexperienced in using color are thinking of repainting their walls. For instance, is there a lot of natural light in the room, is the room small or large and is the room a high traffic area or one that will have a lot of moisture? All these factors come together to affect the final choice of paint color.
Typically smaller rooms, as well as rooms with little natural light, should be painted in lighter hues, while high traffic and moisture-prone rooms would do better with a high gloss finish as they are easier to clean.
If you live in a beige world or your use of color is limited to the paint on the walls, try experimenting with some of these ways to add more color into your home today.
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