Create Your Perfect Whole Home Color Story
Home design is an exciting venture where you have the opportunity to express your personal style and create a space that truly reflects your taste. And while there are many elements to consider when designing a home, one aspect that often sets the tone for the entire aesthetic is color.
Cold Play. This original abstract painting has a palette of green and blue resembling flowing water, contrasting warm tones, and bold red to energize and enliven your room. See it in my Abstract Shop here.
Color has the incredible power to evoke emotions and transform a space, which is why creating a “color story” for your home can be a powerful starting point for a successful design. Just like a captivating book or movie, a successful color story sets the stage for the rest of your design journey.
*So, where do you begin?
Well, the possibilities are endless. You can draw inspiration from a multitude of sources, but one simple and effective way is to start with an inspirational piece. This could be anything from a striking piece of artwork to a vibrant, graphic area rug. Whatever catches your eye and sets your heart aflutter, consider it the launching pad for your color story.
Use colors from your inspirational piece, such as this coastal seascape with a threatening stormy sky. See Henlopen View in my Landscape & Seascape shop.
*What is “color mapping?”
Once you have your inspirational piece in hand, it's time to explore the world of color mapping. This popular technique, also called color blocking, involves strategically placing a color throughout a space to allow the color scheme to feel cohesive, You can also use blocks of colors together to create a visually pleasing and harmonious effect. By using the colors from your inspirational piece as a starting point, you can begin to map out how different shades and tones can work together in your home. Think of it as creating a color roadmap that will guide you through your design journey.
*What do you do after you choose a color of paint? Color mapping doesn't stop at just paint on a wall. There are so many ingenious ways to incorporate color into your home design. From bold accent walls to carefully chosen furniture and accessories, the possibilities are endless. The key is to find a balance between boldness and subtlety, creating a space that feels cohesive and inviting.
The green color palette is proven to be relaxing and soothing. See this original pastel still life and more representational paintings for your home in my shop.
Whether your home is a country farmhouse or a city apartment the choices you make for the colors and design can help to uplift your mood and bring you some joy. Browse contemporary abstract art.
*What if you love color? Even if you love blue, red, orange or green your walls can have a neutral palette. Neutral colors such as variations of white and gray are like supporting actors—essential to the plot of the story but not the key players. Introduce color in the room and repeat it at least once. Original paintings and other works of art you love can provide uplifting energy and life to your space.
Brighten a drab wall with this cheery, colorful mixed media painting with collage. You’ll get “all A’s” by using this contemporary artwork in your home decoration. (there is a small collage piece with a good report card detail incorporated here, along with a piece resembling stitched fabric, for a comfy touch!)
*One two, or three colors in the art can help provide direction for your color palette search. For example, you may love blue and find a comforter for your bed that is blue and white, you can then choose an accent color. Perhaps that accent color can be the main color used in another space.
An important part of this process involves your personal taste, and your personal preferences! The colors you choose can be bold and bright or calm and peaceful. You get to be the designer in your home; you want to feel comfortable. Choose art that speaks to you, or choosing some other major decorative elements, and going from there.
In this room view, you can see that the painting of a vineyard looks attractive with neutral walls and decor, but you could also choose a color in the original art, such as pale green or soft, orangish-brown. Click here to see it here in the Landscapes & Seascapes category.
*Now, let's address the common misconception that repeating a color in your home design can be overdone. Quite the contrary! When it comes to color, repetition can actually be quite powerful. This can be done with accents and accessories, such as pillows, throws, lamps, mirrors, and pottery. Whether it's subtly weaving the same hue throughout different rooms or making a bold statement by using the same color in different shades and intensities, repetition adds a sense of continuity and harmony to your home.
Pink, peach, light orange, red, green, yellow, pale grey, or warm brown…… a cheerful, captvating painting that lets you set the stage for your home color journey. See more colorful abstract art here in my website shop. (Or click on the image above for “It’s All In Your Imagination”.
*Consider your “fixed surfaces” (carpeting, floooring, cabinets) and determine if they have warm or cool undertones. Match your neutral colors or find one or two coordinating neutral colors. Bedrooms, office, or playroom can can be painted a non-neutral color.
Gladiolas, Pears and Preserves; timeless, contemporary, wall art still life painting.
Don't overlook the importance of color in your home design. It has the ability to set the tone, evoke emotions, and transform a space in ways you never thought possible. So, start with an inspirational piece, (browse my website) and embrace the interior designer within you. Let your home become a canvas where your personal style can truly shine.