Color is simple. Although it seems to cause a lot of heartache so many people shy away from it. If you like a color use it. If you like a lot of colors use them. If you love neutrals use neutrals. Color is so much more than just color. Color is how you create atmosphere in your space. It is a vibe someone gets when they walk into your home.
Instead of focusing on just color theory I want to discuss how to create the space you want through color. Usually when you walk into a space you want a feeling. The two most basic atmospheres we create in our home are either Energetic or Subdued.
So when a client asks me what color should I paint my room I usually respond with. "How do you want it to feel?"
Subdued
When I speak with clients this is the most sought after atmosphere. Think words like serenity, relaxing and mellow.
You can create a subdued environment by using monochromatic color schemes. Monochromatic means using variations of the same color. You can also achieve this feeling by using the same undertones when working with neutrals. All neutrals like browns, blacks, grays and whites are composed of several colors put together. An undertone is a dominant color in that composition that makes the neutral either warm (think reds and oranges) or cool ( think blues and purples). This is why there are so many variations for neutrals.
Creating tone on tone rooms means there is very little contrast. Since there is very little contrast this is what makes the room feel subdued and evokes serenity.
 |
| source |
 |
| source |
 |
| source |
Energetic
Energetic rooms live off of contrast, or colors opposite of each other on the color wheel. Variations of red vs. green, orange vs. blue, purple vs. yellow, black vs. white. If you want to use neutrals but, want to create a contrast skip matching your undertones. Instead use a cool gray with a warm brown, etc.
Usually when you want an energetic room I listen for key words like fun or exciting.
 |
| source |
 |
| source |
 |
| source |
