Spring into summer and avoid a fall just by using some of these fashionably colorful ideas. A pattern, formation, a collective color combination best defines one path on the road to a new room. Beginning with stripes of dark colors may have been the future to the year 1940 but today a merge with a little curve, and a splash of color, can make all the difference. If you enjoy the energetic taste of design then continue. Find out how you can turn things around in at least one room.
Aaliyah gave some sound advice, words from the wise.
When it comes to creatively mastering the triumph of poor color combinations, at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again. Back and forth you may fight your own color decisions. I’m down with the truckload swatch team, but pick at least one in the million choices before two birthdays fly by. You’ll always try finding a new color again as long as there are more color swatches in the world. Okay, you get it. Moving on.
Guess that’s why they call it the blues.
Goodbye yellow brick road, and reds, and oranges. Indian sunset colors are not only restricted to brilliant yellows, reds, or oranges. Right before the golden sun actually breaks through the clouds, along eastern coastal areas, the summer sunrise can contribute to colors of rich blues into a pink/blue mix with a hint of light violet/lavender (photo: Lori Lane, L.A., Cape Hatteras, North Carolina). Problem? You just can’t splatter a lavender sunrise across your room. You’ll need to arrange these colors to give them the circle of life.
An irreplaceable halo.
A combination of blue/pink/lavender with a touch of purple may be hard to find in an item or object so define the colors in a round formation of similar items or objects. For instance, you have a large plant without a decent decorative pot. Go simple and either purchase one or paint the old one. The second item would be the decorative lamp on the table. Third, the coasters on the table(s). Take those items and mix colors or use a solid color for each set of items or objects. And, as mentioned, the colors would be sky blue, pink/blue mix and a touch of lavender. Do not spread the items or objects too far from each other. It takes away from the color combo. Try to keep it in the circle, like a halo. So if you haven’t done this yet when it comes to the design of a room, put a ring on it and go full circle in combo.
I shot ya the “do-wop” twist?
Stuck in the fifties big momma? Me too. It’s not the movies like “Christine” with fantastic vehicles that require no mechanic straight from Queens. It’s not the overloaded hamburgers that diners used to serve up when the cow population seemed a standstill. Could it be the red sparkles on the diner stool or the six minutes of pleasure belting out that Chuck Berry tune? Who knows, who cares. Timeless styles happen.
Solid white and red pinstripe with pink in between may be overdoing the introduction to the 1960’s. Which happened to be in the 1950’s. as in BBC’s Homes. Not the summer trend you’re looking for. Try another 1950’s approach, turn to Flick River. It looks so good your eyes will get jealous. Remember, you can’t dance the 50’s when you’re in two different worlds. Or can you?
Visit Flick River for an incredible view of various 1950’s home styles.
China Town eruption.
A pretty woman is not made out of china, but her home can be designed after the fragile notion (notion, not nation). Stay frosty with this design theme. Like a dream, decorative Chinese displays usually come in two colors – black and white. Most of the time with words written in Chinese on a white backing. Time to be unchained and jump outside of that line! Well, just a dash. Use various shades of frosted whites. A couple of Chinese dragons and decorative Geisha girls could match that of the floor rug color and drape color. A couple of chop sticks in a chop stick holder is an excellent addition to any kitchen of those adoring Chinese food. But never clutter up table tops. Always keep it simple, keep it together. What’s stopping you from designing your home after another country? It couldn’t feel just as creepy as it sounds. Freedom calls, right now, even for decorative Chinese items or objects. Bonsai Trees included.
Tip: Here are a couple of color combinations to stay away from. Reds with greens on the same item or object (unless instructed by holiday or celebration); Grays, dark green with lime wallpaper.
Speaking of wallpaper.
Wallpaper, all shook up?
Like Crazy Eddie’s Sale, wallpaper with flowers the size of small animals, small sports related equipment like bikes and balls, small children or faces every six inches apart, must go! The only thing standing between you and your new room color would be laziness. Okay, and maybe a little money. Either way, any day now you may consider changing the wallpaper. Especially if it has never been changed in your twenty-plus-year-old home. No matter what, there’s one thing worst than fake blue Hawaii style foiled wallpaper. Polka dots. And you just can’t help falling out of love with polka dots.
Polka dots are just an eyesore. That’s all I got to say about that.
If you’re going to do any wallpaper pattern at all consider pinstripes, in an order or formation. If anything, as long as the colors work, vertical pinstripes works best and they will not make your room look fat. Never bold, always light. Last thing you need is a room that looks like the bars of a prison – dark, cold.
If you’re going to use a solid color try the Pittsfield Buff, a creamy light pale yellow as seen in this Benjamin Moore page (in viewer, on right). Spring into summer is right up this alley. With the right trim, it will all come together nicely. I prefer white trim over most. With thousands of colors, you’ll find something – eventually.
Our quick picks for best spring to summer rooms?
– Splendid Design’s gorgeous array of the blues and purples in a Michaela Noelle design.
– Tradition Chinese Interior Designs shares a handsome Chinese style room.
– Biltmore Estate always offers great taste in timeless design. Note; Each room in the Biltmore Estate has a different design.
All in all, remember, when it comes to stripes going vertical, to a sunrise of blues to reds, and everything else mentioned, make sure you choose a color wisely. Meaning, do not forget the hours before and after the sun comes up, before and after the sun goes down. The extra, or lack of, light can also give life to a room color.
The key to a full room is to overload in color and items, or objects. So, if you don’t want your color to make your room look fat then don’t overuse the same color. Be flexible Grasshopper.
Related:
BBC Homes, 1950’s, http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/design/period_1950s.shtml; Flick River, 1950’s, http://www.flickriver.com/photos/americanvintagehome/tags/flooring/;
(Accessed 3/26/2013)
