In color, as with most things, there are certain rules and guidelines that should be followed.
MOOD: One of the most important aspects of color is that it evokes emotion; stimulating all the senses, not just the eyes. Color can be used to suggest and accentuate the mood of a room to create an emotional response from the viewer, triggering images, emotions and sounds. Blue makes us think of sky and sea, mountains and streams. Depending on the color and tone used, it can denote freshness and lightness or melancholy and alienation. Yellow conjures up images of sun and flowers, but it can also be harsh, therefore vital that the correct color and tone be chosen.
TONAL VALUE: When choosing a color, it is important to consider the depth of the tone you desire. The tonal value of any color will change with lighting. The more a surface faces away from the source of light the darker it becomes. The framework of light and dark areas that make up a room is often what initially attracts attention and will give an immediate introduction to the mood or atmosphere of a room. Tones and colors are modified by adjoining colors; a color that appears dark when next to a white wall may seem to have a lighter tone when surrounded by other colors. Colors and tones should never be regarded in isolation, but in terms of how they relate to others around them. When two colors are viewed side by side, the contrast between them is enhanced. Each touch of color added to the room alters the relationship of the colors that are already there.
HARMONY: Harmony is probably the most subtle of all reactions between colors and can be used with great effect to create mood in a room. While contrast is dramatic, harmony is easy on the eye. The harmony between yellow and green is a combination frequently found in nature in the harmony of a spring landscape. Although harmonious schemes are often the most pleasing and easy to achieve, their qualities may make them monotonous. So it is important to enliven the color scheme with suggestions of complimentary color.
CHOOSING COLORS: Like everything else, paint colors are subject to fashion fads. Thus, each year, more shades are added to paint ranges. Consumers can only benefit from the wider choice, but it does make the task all the harder.
There are some color combinations, however, that never seem to fall prey to fashion, still managing to look new and exciting; blue and yellow, or the classic neutral range are obvious examples.
Color can be used to change the shape and size of a room. Strong colors like red diminish the space and create a warm, dramatic environment. Cool blue creates an airy quality that can be accentuated by use of accessories in contrasting colors. Bright Pink can range from pale cotton candy, through sugar-almond pink to subtle salmon. Pink works well with turquoise; and with the colors on either side of it on the color wheel, violet and red. Psychologists believe that to sleep in a pink room leaves you in a good, optimistic frame of mind. Soothing Aqua is derived by mixing blue and green together, being on the cooler side of the color wheel, which means that it recedes in a room, creating the feeling of space and depth. Aqua is a versatile color with a gentle, cleansing ambience and, with its connotations of water, creates a soothing atmosphere, perfect for the bedroom. Apple Green is a good natural color varying in hue from citrus lime to sage, and can look dramatic when partnered with red or orange. For a more harmonious combination, use blue and yellow. Green also works well with the pale natural range, like vanilla and linen. True Moody Blue is a timeless favorite, being the supreme cool color; evoking a sense of tranquility. Blue's rich and varied tones are endless, with deep, intense blues that give an energetic and fresh feel to a room, adding depth and contrast. Pale, subtle and muted shades of blue create the feel of open, airy spaces. Sunshine Yellow is the most cheerful of all colors. Its bright, light-reflecting quality cannot help but lift your spirits. Yellow is warm and will bring a source of light to even the darkest of rooms. Its tonal range from citrus lemon to sultry yellow ocher, has sunny and muted shades in between. Yellow works well with blue, purple and green. Calming Lavender is a beautiful atmospheric color between blue and red. Because of the mix of warm and cool tones, there is a great balance within lavender's shade. You can either create a warm, pinky lavender, or a violet tone, which will recede. Use it with green, pink, or orange.
Whatever color plan you decide needs to fit in with your idea of what your bedroom's functions are, whether it be multi-function office/workout room or simply relaxing.
Mary Beth is the author and can provide additional information about your bedroom's decor.
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