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published by KatieDid Design
How To Develop Your Color Scheme
by Kathleen M. Peters, www.KatieDidDesign.com
Color schemes are often what can make
or break a room. A good color scheme cannot be just chosen, however.
It must be developed so that the end result is natural and pleasing to the
eye.
There are 5 steps that you must go through to develop
a good color scheme. Some may seem unnecessary at first, but each serves
a specific purpose, and helps avoid mistakes.
STEP ONE
First, you must know your decorating style and preferences.
It is not enough to know just your favorite color and style. You must
realize what you'd like to LIVE with. Often the color that we consider
our favorite, or colors that we like to wear, are not colors that we would
really like surrounding us day in and day out. So make sure that you
have already gone through the whole process of "Finding Your Style"
BEFORE you start to develop a color scheme. If you skip this first
step, you could easily end up with a completely decorated room that you aren't
comfortable in. Either that, or you might never get more than half
way done decorating because you can't find anything you like in your color
scheme! (If you are trying to decorate in a style that you wouldn't be comfortable in, then this is often what you'll find happening.)
STEP TWO
Once you're familiar with your decorating style,
use your newfound knowledge to choose one or two dominant colors as a base
for your color scheme. Don't be too particular about subtle hue and
shade differences right now; you just want to get a general idea started. It
is usually best to stick with one hue and clarity of each color in your color
scheme. In other words, combinations like hot pink and pale pink, or
grass green and sage green don't often mix easily. It's better to choose
totally separate colors. Read “Creating Great Color Combinations” for more information.
STEP THREE
Next, think about your accent colors. Note
any colors that you definitely would or would not like to use. Be open
to the idea that you might want to add or subtract accent colors later on.
Remember that muted colors and light colors are less visually dominant than clear colors and dark colors. You don't want your accent colors to dominate your color scheme. So if your color scheme's dominant color(s) are muted, then choose muted accent colors as well. Read “Achieving Balance with Color” for more information.
STEP FOUR
The next step in developing your color scheme is
to choose the dominant fabric(s) for that particular room. Sometimes
this will mean choosing a sofa or bedding set, instead of an actual fabric.
Consider all the major items in the room which will have fabric or be made
of fabric: bedding, window treatments, furniture, etc. Which ones will
be hardest to fit into your color scheme? Think of it this way... paint
and carpet can be color matched, but fabric comes as it comes. Even
though there are thousands of fabrics available, your choices will be quite
limited once you've eliminated those that are out of your budget, those that
aren't your style, and those that are the wrong colors. On top of this, furniture
and ready-made bedding and window treatments are only available in a limited
number of fabrics to begin with. This is why you only made general
color choices in steps two and three. You must now allow the fabric(s)
you choose to pinpoint the exact hue, clarity, and shades that will be in
your color scheme. Let's look at several common situations to understand
this more clearly.
Let's say you are developing the color scheme for
your living room. You will now need to find either your furniture set,
or your window treatments, or both. Do you want window treatments with
lots of pattern and color, matched with a solid-color furniture set?
Then find your window treatments! Do you prefer minimal window treatments,
but want to see your colors on your furniture? Then find your furniture!
Keep in mind that almost anything can be designed from any fabric you choose.
My business - KatieDid Design, and other drapery workrooms can design custom
window treatments and bedding. And companies such as Ballard Designs, Crate
and Barrel, and Clasen Home have COM (Customer's Own Material) services available
to those who want furniture designed with their choice of fabrics.
What about bedrooms? The same principle applies
for bedding and window treatments. If you're using ready-made sets,
then you'll just have to find the set, and then choose which pieces you want
to use. If you'll be placing custom orders, then you'll want to find
your fabric(s).
What if you cannot purchase these major items, and
must use what you already have? In this case, you need to evaluate
your furniture and/or window treatments to figure out how you can make them
compatible with your color scheme. Does it have ANY of your colors
in it? If so, bring that color out, and minimize the others.
If not, can you take one of it's colors, and add it into your color scheme
as an accent color? Even if your desired color scheme is antique red,
sage, and taupe, and your must-use sofa is a bright blue, you can still add
a slightly more muted blue color to your color scheme as an accent color.
Toss a taupe-colored throw blanket over the back and add cream and antique
red pillows to tone down and minimize the blue. So for this step you'll
need to find a fabric or window treatments that fit your color scheme, but
will work with your sofa.
STEP FIVE
Now that you've found your main fabric(s) you can
pinpoint the exact colors which will be your color scheme. Keep my "Tips on Choosing a Color Scheme"
in mind as you decide your final details, as well as the other articles mentioned above. Use those little
paint color cards to match your fabric and define your dominant and accent
colors. Now you are prepared to paint your walls and choose carpet
colors and other decor items. Take duplicate paint cards in your chosen
colors with you as you shop so you can quickly and easily match them up to
what you have at home.
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This article Copyright 1999-2004 - 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
http://www.DecorDecoratingAndDesign.com
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