A FREE bi-monthly home decorating ezine!
published by KatieDid Design
August 2003, I
brought to you by KatieDid Design
http://www.katiediddesign.com
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August 11th, 2003 ------ August Issue, I -----
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Editorial
1. TIPS & TRICKS
- Tips on Choosing Colors
2. FEATURE ARTICLE
- Creating Great Color Combinations
3. BOOK OF THE MONTH
- Southern Accents on Color
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This free e-zine is published monthly for 15,700+
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Hello Readers!
This week's issue is full of color tips and guidelines.
I've finally written that long-overdue article on creating great color combinations,
too! I had planned on writing it several months back when I wrote "Color
Basics," but it slipped my mind. Sorry about that! I know plenty
of you have had questions about coordinating colors, and I hope this helps
answer some of those questions.
I've got a mini-survey for you all this week, also.
I want ideas for future articles! It's just one question long, so please
take a second and send in your answer. Quite a few of the articles I've written
in the past have been in response to my last survey.
Ready?.....
Q. Please tell me what your biggest decorating dilemma or question is!
Just click on this email link and type it into the body of the email:
mailto:question@katiediddesign.com?subject=biggest_question
Usually only 2-3% of you respond to my surveys...
I would LOVE to have a bigger response this time, so please take a moment
to participate! Please also note that even if only 2% of you answer
this survey, that's still 300 responses... and too many for me to personally
answer. If I've already written an article addressing your question,
then I'll try to drop you a quick note with the link, but otherwise, look
for future articles addressing your problem. Okay?
Finally, I am now an affiliate with Overstock.com...
and today's Book of the Month is available on their site for 40% off Amazon's
and BAMM's prices! I thought you all would like that. :-) I'm
still including easy links for all three merchants so you can choose which
merchant to use.
So enjoy the issue, and check out the advertisers!
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1. Tips & Tricks
- Tips on Choosing Colors
Here are some tips to consider as you're developing your color scheme:
1. Unless you have unlimited time, money, and patience,
don't limit yourself to only one set of choices. Why? Because if you set
your heart on an unpopular or 'out-of-style' color or combination, it can
be near to impossible to gather together an entire room of decor items that
coordinate. Don't let this discourage you, though. Sometimes just a slight
change or addition in accent colors can make things much easier to find.
2. Compare your colors with each other. You'll generally
want to choose two or three colors - one or two main colors and one or two
accent colors - and either white or ivory as a base. This doesn't mean that
no other colors will be allowed, it just means that these are the colors
you will focus on.
3. Green in the many leaf shades is generally easy to include
in most decors - especially if you like florals. Almost any floral print
out there has green leaves in it - just figure out which shades you like,
and how much you want (main color or small accent)
4. What is the feel of your room to be? Bright colors will
give a more cheery feel, while subdued tones will give a more relaxed feel.
Light colors feel more casual, while dark colors are usually formal. Greens
and blues make life feel more slowed down, but reds and yellows look more
active and busy. White gives a fresh, new, spic-and-span feel, while ivory
give a settled, antique feel.
5. Keep in mind the type of wood that you already have
or will be getting. Look for examples in your home decorating magazines and
see what colors the professionals use with that type of wood. You don't have
to do what they do, but it may help you figure out what you like.
6. Also keep in mind that lighter colors make a room appear
larger, while darker colors make it appear smaller.
More information on color is available in the following articles, which can be found at:
http://www.DecorDecoratingAndDesign.com/articles/
“Color Basics”
“Creating Great Color Combinations”
“Developing Your Color Scheme”
“Color Flow Between Rooms”
“Tips on Trim Color”
Have fun!
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This article Copyright 1999-2003 - Kathleen Peters,
KatieDid Design. Reproduced with permission.
Kathleen Peters - 'Katie' - is a custom window treatment
and bedding designer, and owner of KatieDid Design, her
online shop. She is also the editor-in-chief of Decor,
Decorating, and Design, a free bi-monthly ezine filled with
articles, tips, and guidelines to help with your home
decorating.
http://www.katiediddesign.com
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7 Easy Steps To A No-Sew Roman Shade
Learn how to easily make a professional
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Send a blank e-mail to:
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to receive your free e-lesson.
mailto:FreeShadeLesson@infogeneratorPro.com
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2. FEATURE ARTICLE
- Creating Great Color Combinations
Do you sometimes have difficulty creating a great
color scheme? Would you like some guidelines to help you successfully
combine colors? I'm going to give you several easy-to-follow rules
that will give you confidence.
Make sure that you're familiar and comfortable with
the color terms and descriptions that are discussed in my article on "Color
Basics." (link below) This article assumes you understand the difference
between a color's hue, clarity, and shade. So if you don't, read the article!
Please also make sure that you've gone through the process of "Finding Your
Style." (link below) Don't automatically assume that your favorite
color - or the colors of your wardrobe - are you're favorite decorating colors
as well. You need to know what colors you'll be comfortable LIVING
with.
Color Basics:
http://www.DecorDecoratingAndDesign.com/articles/colorbasics.shtml
Finding Your Style:
http://www.decordecoratinganddesign.com/articles/findingyourstyle.shtml
The first and most important aspect to compare when
you're coordinating colors is their clarity. A usual rule of thumb
is to make sure that all the colors in your color scheme have the same (or
almost the same) level of clarity. Either use all muted colors or all
clear or bright colors, since it's difficult to combine the two. Remember
that either can be dark or light shades. For example, don't mix a clear
and bright blue with a muted pink or yellow - choose a bright pink or yellow
instead. And don't mix muted shades of pink with bright greens - choose
muted greens as well.
The next aspect of color to compare when you're
coordinating colors is the shade of the colors. YES, you CAN easily
combine both light and dark shades of the same or different colors.
The trick to making them look great together is to keep light and dark balanced
throughout the room. Notice that I said "balanced" and not equal.
You should use greater quantities of your light colors to balance smaller
amounts of dark colors, since dark colors "weigh" more visually. (More
complete information on balancing color is available in "Achieving Balance
with Color" - link below.) So you have three options to choose from
regarding color shades... either use all dark colors, or use all light colors,
or work to make sure that the light and dark colors are balanced. If
you want a quick rule to follow, then try to use at least three times as
much of your lighter colors as you use of your darker colors.
Achieving Balance with Color:
http://www.decordecoratinganddesign.com/articles/balance-color.shtml
The final color aspect to consider when coordinating
colors is the hue of the colors... the actual tint of (or in) the color.
I list this last because even though a color's hue is it's foundation, it's
hard to pinpoint an exact rule to follow when deciding what coordinates.
Here are some general do's and don'ts:
--- DON'T try to combine two hue variations of the same color (ie: yellow-green and blue-green).
--- DO stick to one hue or tint of each color in your color scheme.
If you want variation of a color, go with shade variations rather than hue
or clarity variations.
--- DON'T ignore the colors used in multi-colored fabrics you consider.
--- DO pay attention to those multi-color fabrics if you like the colors,
even if you choose not to use that particular fabric... you'll find that
they usually fit into these guidelines, so they might guide YOU!
--- DO use greens, whites, and earthtones... they go well with almost any
color - as long as you match their clarity to the clarity of the other colors
in your color scheme.
--- DO find examples in magazines to get a good idea of how different colors look when used together.
Those are the general rules that will get you started.
Of course these, like all rules, can sometimes be broken by those who "know
that they know" what they're doing. But these are a good starting point
for anyone who is looking for guidelines. As you successfully coordinate
colors into attractive color schemes, your confidence will grow, and you'll
get excited about your newfound ability. Have fun!
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This article Copyright 2003 - Kathleen Peters, KatieDid
Design. Reproduced with permission.
Kathleen Peters - 'Katie' - is a custom window treatment
and bedding designer, and owner of KatieDid Design, her
online shop. She is also the editor-in-chief of Decor,
Decorating, and Design, a free bi-monthly ezine filled with
articles, tips, and guidelines to help with your home
decorating.
http://www.katiediddesign.com
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3. BOOK OF THE MONTH
- Southern Accents on Color
This book is a fabulous resource for those wanting
examples of the use of color in rooms. It is filled with photographs
of some of the most beautiful homes in the country, all organized by color!
So you can easily see examples of what the color you're thinking of looks
like it a professionally decorated room! Included is an extensive section
on the wide range of "neutral" color schemes that are so popular and elegant,
and help on mixing and matching colors for your home. Check it out!
Get it from Overstock.com (no photo available... check BAMM or Amazon for photos)
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=WLXG37P9//U&offerid=52439.851067&type=2&subid=0
Get it through Books-a-Million:
http://www.qksrv.net/click-510419-42121?isbn=0821228110
Get it through Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0821228110/katiediddesign
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That's it! Remember, if your decorating isn't fun,
it isn't worth it. So enjoy it!
--- Katie <><
KatieDid Design
- Custom Window Treatments & Bedding
http://www.katiediddesign.com
PO Box 381235
Murdock, FL 33938-1235
1-877-KATIEDID
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Don't hesitate to forward this publication to family and
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