This is one of the most important aspects of any design.
It has long been known that color affects our mood and emotions.
Cooler shades such as blues and some greens can be soothing.
Where as warm colors like yellow and red have a stimulating affect.
When deciding upon the color for a room it is important to think of the type of atmosphere, you want to create be it, contemporary, formal, classical or eclectic to name but a few.
The type of home you live is an element that needs consideration.
It maybe that you would like to disguise or accentuate a certain aspect of a room.
Of course, your personal taste plays an important part on the final decision.
Colors can be divided into hot and cold groups.
Cold colors include blues, greens and turquoise.
Warm color includes reds, yellows, oranges and pinks.
Light be it natural or artificial needs to be taken into consideration in the scheme.
A color selected during the day can look entirely different during the night.
The aspect of the room needs to be considered.
You may need to cool down a hot sunny room with cool shades or warm up a room with warm shades.
Here are a few ideas to help you pull everything together.
-Everyday without us realizing it, our world is filled with color.
We can take inspiration from nature.
Look at the combinations in the flowers trees around us.
-Collect any pictures or colors that you like and group them together into color groupings or room ideas.
This is often the way interior designers begin their designs.
It helps you to focus on your likes and dislikes.
-Make up a mood board for your color schemes.
Gather any samples swatches and pictures of pieces and group them together on a large piece of card or a scrapbook.
-Purchase sample pots and paint up a large piece of cardboard.
Stick this on your wall and view the color during daylight and artificial light.
Move it around and check it against your flooring, curtains and furnishings.
This will help you to see what how the color reacts in different setting and at different time of the day.
-The lighting both natural and artificial, in a room can greatly affect your wall color.
Make sure you consider this when selecting your final color.
-Use no more than 3 colors in your scheme.
More colors will make your room appear cluttered.
-Colors interact with each other and the colors around them.
View your colors in its natural environment rather than on a color chart surrounded by other colors.
-Choose a colors scheme you like the color and not because it is en vogue.
You are the one that will have to live with it.
-Consider your window treatment.
Think of how practical the choice is.