People worry too much about decorating small rooms with
colour because the urban myth tells us that we will make
a small room appear smaller unless it is a pale shade.
Although this is true to some extent, the effect is
blown way out of proportion. Making wise use of
colour in small spaces allows us to define and anchor
the room. A powder room, for instance can become
jewel-like with bold use of colour. True, we may then
require more lighting intensity, but builder’s lighting
is most often inadequate at best, so better lighting was
needed from the start anyway.
Use a favourite colour combination throughout several
rooms to maintain flow and balance. Use one trim
colour, not always white, to pull the eye from one space
to the next. Dark colours used as trim can take a home
from flat and boring to dramatic and elegant. Lack of
colour visually flattens a space. Layering in a
favourite colour as an accent contributes to a feeling
of depth in a room.
The beauty of wood furniture deserves to be displayed
to best advantage. Grain pattern, colour of the
wood, and patina add complexity to the surface of the
wood. Most often, all the wood furniture in a room will
not be identical to each other. This is highly desirable
for an acquired over time look. A colour consultation
with an interior designer or interior decorator will
help determine the underlying hue in the pieces. From
there, wall colour and fabrics that will show the
furniture to greatest advantage can be chosen. A high
contrast colour can be very dynamic; low contrast tones
can look rich and mellow. Dark finishes, such as
mahogany, walnut, or cherry, stand out in sharp relief
against any light color, whether it's a tint of green or
blue or a hue from the sunny side of the colour wheel.
In the same way, light wood shows up boldly against dark
or strong color on the walls.
If you have very fine furniture and want to show it
off a light colour will achieve this. This option
can back-fire and look busy if you have a lot of dark
furniture in a light room. The contrast calls more
attention to the furniture, and the eye darts from piece
to piece. If you love the look of dark wood against
light walls (or light furniture against dark walls),
keep furniture arrangements orderly and streamlined to
offset the impression of crowding.
To achieve high contrast with medium-tone finishes,
keep the wall color soft and light, creating as much
difference as possible between the values of the wood
color and the wall. You can also use the colors in
the furniture finish as a cue for wall colors. If the
dominant color in the wood appears to be red, then a
green background will enhance and intensify the wood's
hue. Golden-yellow woods look handsome against warm red
as well as earthy greens, teal, or eggplant. Brown woods
with yellow undertones relate to buttery walls yet stand
out boldly for high-contrast drama. Antique woods, which
have a patina that offers depth and complexity, may
combine several tones -- that's why they can look good
against a variety of light or dark colors.
Since 1993 Mulberry Interiors, interior design
consultants have been assisting clients in Oakville,
Mississauga, Burlington, Brampton, Milton, Georgetown,
Etobicoke, western Toronto, and Vaughn. We specialize in
residential interior design and decorating and are at
our most creative when we use colour as our theme. We
offer a full range of interior design services such as
choosing paint colours, space planning, furniture
sourcing, custom draperies and soft furnishings,
flooring selection and accessories. Call Mulberry
Interiors now at (905) 849-6423 to book a consultation.
We look forward to working with you to increase your
enjoyment of your home.
Full Décor Service
Colour Consultations a Specialty
Window Coverings including Draperies and Blinds
Furniture
Flooring
Space Planning
Accessories and Wall Art
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