Color and Texture

Bringing together a color palette for a room's overall scheme will depend on the style or type of decoration that you opt for,and the key to deciding this is inspiration.You may start by finding a curtain fabric that you like and the colors in the pattern will lead you into a scheme,or it might be a painting,a piece of furniture or a handmade piece of craftwork that triggers your ideas.If artworks aren't your thing then explore the wealth of materials and finishes available.Be brave and experiment with unusual materials to create a unique look.

Color Theory

When it comes to planning a color scheme there are various options,including choosing colors that are part of the same family{have a similar base color},colors that are opposites or tonal colors.The primary colors,red,yellow and blue,are the main spokes,and between them you get colors that are made up from a mix of them.For example red and yellow make orange,yellow with a hint of blue make green.They are colors that belong together.Opposite or contrasting colors are red-green,orange-blue,yellow-violet.Tonel schemes select a single color such as red and use darker or lighter shades of it rather than mixing with other colors.

Choosing your colors

Choosing colors is very personal and people react differently to various shades.You should,above all,choose colors that you and your family fell comfortable with.Neutral colors have long been popular.Magnolia is a standard as a beige,soft yellows and off-whites because they are all easy to live with and make a room look light and bright.There is a standard decorating guideline that says that dark colors make surfaces advance and that light colors make them recede but there are exceptions to the rule.Dark colors can be effective in making a ceiling seem further away.Dark colors can also be used to disguise or camouflage uneven surfaces and architectural imbalances.For impact and drama,bold colors are the best.Many people are wary of using them and of making such a definite statement when decorating their home,but if you take the plunge the effect can be rewarding.It may take time for your eyes to get accustomed to rich,dark shades so you can always take it step by step,building up gradually to a really deep shade.Paint one wall in a strong shade and live with it for a few weeks until you get used to it or start with an undercoat of a paler shade and add a top layer of the darker color later,so that you have time to adapt and become familiar with the change.Also remember that when you first see the bare walls painted in a dark color they may appear strong,even overwhelming,but as soon as you have added carpets,furniture,pictures,lights and soft furnishings to the room,the effect will be dramatically reduced.