Interior Design DIY

Light Sources You Can Use In Home Design

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:12:00 +0000

This is the sixth part of a post series on the interaction between light and colors in interior design and decor. The last article was about different categories of lights in interior design and decor. Feel free to browse through other articles about interior design.

There are five basic kind of light sources:

Diffused light,
Direct light,
Indirect light,
Semi-direct light, and,
Semi-indirect light.

Diffused Light

A diffused light provides good general room light; it’s soft and scattered, not directed at any specific surface. A light bulb enclosed by a translucent white glow is a common source of diffused light.

Direct Light

Direct light is a focused light and is also known as spot light, which illuminates an object directly. Direct light may be used as task lighting or as decorative lighting. Spot lights can be mounted or fixed on a wall or ceiling in order to cast direct light on an object. Down lighters, another name for spotlights, are used to achieve task or accent lighting.

Indirect Light and Interior Design

Indirect light is intended to be reflected. This light is usually thrown upward, from a light source on walls, onto the ceiling, where it diffuses and bounces back as general light. Up-lighters provide light only from their upper portion, i.e. indirectly, allowing people to sit in subdued lighting.

Semi-Direct Light in Your Home

In indirect lights, a smaller area of light is beamed upward and reflected as indirectly, whereas, most of the semi-direct light is beamed downward as direct light.

Semi-Indirect Light

Semi indirect light is most reflected, but manages to provide a small amount of direct task lighting.

Lighting Categories and Their Specific Functions

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:37:00 +0000

This is the fifth part of a post series on the interaction between light and colors in interior design and decor. The last article was about the role of lights in interior design and decor. Feel free to browse through other post series about interior design.

We can divide lighting into three categories:

General light
Task light, and,
Decorative light.

General Light in Interior Design and Decor

General light is a substitute for daylight and it produces the overall illumination of a room. Its sources are central lights, concealed pelmet lights, floor lamps, spotlights, etc. The level of brightness in general lighting sets the desired mood to compliment the décor and it should not create deep shadows or strong high lights.

Task Light in Interior Design and Decor

Task light, as the name suggests, is directed light that aids specific activities like dressing, watching TV, studying, shaving, etc. Task light includes fluorescent tubes, a down lighter or wall-light fittings.

Decorative Light in Interior Design and Decor

Decorative light can transform a dull area into a focal point of a room – for example, a spotlight that accentuates a decoration piece, concealed lighting built into a display cabinet, a downlighter to enhance handwork or a painting on the wall.

A well decorated room or home results from the balanced interplay of all these lights. In order to avoid monotony and improve utility in your room design, make sure there is a comfortable level of general illumination, adequate task lighting, intriguing highlights and shadows created by a variety of lighting sources.

The next article is about the different types of light sources you can use to decorate your home.

Basic Principals to Achieve Color Harmony - Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:08:00 +0000

This is the fourth of a post series on the interaction between light and colors in interior design and decor. The last article was about the role of lighting in interior design. Feel free to browse through other post series about interior design.

How to Achieve Color Harmony in Interior Design and Decor

Here are some tips that can help you create color harmony in your home design:

Avoid using a bright color only once in an interior. Try to use it again in the same room.
Use color in different proportions, contrast a warm color on a small surface with a cool color on a large surface.
The color of the floor, curtains, upholstery fabric and accessories must all coordinate to balance a room.
Two or more rooms can be linked using a common color. You may use the same wall-to-wall carpet or flooring in both rooms to lend unity.
Choose colors carefully. The bedroom should be a restful place, the dining room should have a refreshing environment and consider making the living room lively.
Use your family’s favorite colors in your color scheme to reflect your personality and please your home's inhabitants.

The next article talks about different categories of lights in interior design and decor.

Designing a Nursery For Little Angels

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:14:00 +0000

With the arrival of a new baby, the first thing that comes to mind is decorating the baby’s nursery in a way that it's cozy, tranquil and simply beautiful. Try making your nursery in the sunniest part of the house because nothing beats natural sunlight.

Make sure the nursery is painted several months before the baby is born to prevent your little one from being exposes to the toxic contents of paints. But that's not the only way to keep your baby safe - you may use wallpaper with a variety of designs patterns, colors and pictures. When choosing colors for your nursery, consider pastel colors and accessorize it with bright and cheerful colored items to stimulate your child's sense of sight.

Before your baby's arrival, spend time making your nursery baby safe by installing safety plugs and securing all loose wires. When purchasing accessories, go for rugs, carpets, and cushions with non-slippery backs and furniture with smooth edges. Be sure to buy a comfortable chair in which to feed your baby and create plenty of a storage space for your baby's clothes, toys, lotions, etc.

Here are some design ideas for your baby’s room, courtesy of various websites, duly acknowledged.

Via Best Decoration Ideas

A harmonious use of pastel colors makes this nursery quiet arresting. Plenty of closets, drawers, shelves and baskets on top of the cupboard are not only practical but also pretty to looks at. A comfortable rocking chair is a valuable addition.

famousinteriordesign.blogspot.com

Rosy pink walls with white furnishing and accessories in pink and white is an adorable nursery theme for baby girls. Notice there is plenty of room to store baby items.

wdesignstudios.blogspot.com

This is a cool and restful nursery design with pastel blue colors and a and touch of red. A comfortable rocking chair is handy for the mother trying to sway the baby to sleep and it looks good too.

thedesignfile.net
The multicolored circle train gives this nursery a bright ambiance, enough to keep the baby interested in colors and a variety of textures.

Amousinteriordesign

The fabric is draped artistically above the cot, making it an inexpensive and easy way to lift the style of this room and make it special for a baby boy.

Famousinteriordesign
This red and white color scheme suits both baby girls and baby boys. I love the profusion of shelves and the way red cushions compliment the grey rug.

femtalks.com
This is an extremely pretty modern art design with a fantasy-like wall décor and an enchanting baby cot. A comfortable sofa chair and foot stool is provided for nursing the baby.

trend-dir.net
Another attention-grabbing pretty pink nursery; all lacy and frilly to cuddle the little princess.

Role of Lighting in Interior Design and Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:46:00 +0000

This is the third part of a new post series on the interaction between light and colors in interior design and decor. The last article was about about the effect of surface and light on colors in interior design. Feel free to browse through other post series about interior design.

Lighting up your home

Lighting is a necessity and one of the most flexible tools an interior designer is equipped with. You can alter the ambiance of the entire room with proper use of lighting. When there’s not enough natural light (such as, at night) the chief purpose of domestic lighting is functional for every activity which will take place in your home, such as reading, stitching, cooking, or watching TV.

Furthermore, a decorating scheme is only complete with proper lighting. During the day, make use of sunlight. You can do this by developing a décor scheme to accommodate natural light so that nature controls the lighting during daytime. But at night, you control the artificial lighting and its effects on the whole ambiance of the room.

As mentioned earlier, the main purpose of domestic light is functional. The other purpose is to enhance the room design and décor - perhaps to enlarge or minimize the effect of an accesory or to alter the wall color.

So in other words, light determines the size, shape and color of furnishings by possibly transforming a dull area into a focal point, thus creating a new harmony.

We can divide lighting into three categories, each of which we'll discuss in successive posts:

General light,
Task light, and,
Decorative light.

In the meantime, be sure to read an article on tips to achieve color harmony in your home's decor.

Zebra Stripes Here and There!

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:54:00 +0000

This post is written by a guest author, Jessica, from Arcadian Lighting, a blog that provides lighting fixtures and interior design.

Hi there! I'm Jessica, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, and I've put together a collection of interiors that feature a fun and versatile pattern – zebra stripes. In the wild, zebras' stripes are unique to each animal, like a finger print, and using this beautiful, natural pattern in your home gives it an equally personal twist. Enjoy!

Zebra print wallpaper used throughout a foyer, like the one above, is a wonderful way to make a great first impression when you have guests over. The monochromatic pattern is chic when combined with neutral rugs and gold accented lamps and mirrors.

This zebra print chair is an eye-catching and fun addition to an all-white bathroom. The pattern makes an otherwise plain bathroom much more interesting.

Colors and patterns mix beautifully in this home office. The warm gold and brown tones set off the bright blue throw and zebra print pillow.

An eclectic mix of traditional, modern and exotic styles give this living room a wonderfully unique feel. The ceiling light and zebra skin rug is an unexpected, tribal accent.

Zebra print may be a bold choice for your headboard, but the combination of patterns in this room work well to support such vivid stripes. The pale lavender wallpaper goes well with black and white, and the zigzag throw pillow is just the right pop of color.

Zebra prints don't only come in black and white. These teal and white pillows are a more subtle way to add zebra stripes to your home décor. The light color gives this room a more casual feel.

The zebra print rug in this indigo room helps soften the effect of using such a dark color in a smaller space. The wall sconce above the window seat stands out particularly well, inviting a reading session.

I love the zebra photograph in this living room. The image draws your attention to the beauty of the animal as well as its lovely stripes. The black and white is a perfect contrast to the cool green and blue tones used throughout the room. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

What do you think of zebra stripes? Do you prefer these chic, eclectic stripes to be more subtle or bold? For ways to light up your own zebra decor, check out Arcadian Lighting's large selection of pendant lights.

Effects of Surface and Light on Colors in Interior Design

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:47:00 +0000

This is the second part of a new post series on the interaction between light and colors in interior design and decor. The last article was about the effect of colors on one another. Feel free to browse through other post series about interior design.

When light strikes an object, certain waves of light are absorbed by the object. The other waves are reflected back to us. These light waves, which are reflected back, determine what color we perceive the object to be. In a dark room, we do not see colors but as the light increases, the same object will appear to be in different colors under different degrees of light.

archdeco.net

vi.sualize.us

A blue wall will appear almost blue-black in dim light but as the light increases, the wall appears increasingly blue. In other words, the intensity of the color we see is determined by how much light is reflected back to us. As the presence of light increases, more light bounces back from the object.

Similarly, some surfaces absorb more light waves, resulting in lower intensity of colors, while other surfaces absorb less light waves – resulting in high intensity of color.

Generally, the smoother the surface, the more it will reflect and the more intense the color will appear. The more irregular the surface, the less it will reflect and the lesser the intensity of the color will be.

A nubby fabric will look a slightly less intense compared to a silky fabric of the same color against the same background, because silk will reflect more color than a nubby fabric. Both natural light and artificial light vary considerably from one location to the next.

There are so many factors which influence the final appearance of the color that you can’t always count on the color rules to guide you. You must normally rely on your trained eye to tell you whether a particular color scheme works in a particular situation.

The next article talks about the basic principals to achieve color harmony in interior design and decor.

Effect of Colors in Interior Design and Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:56:00 +0000

This is the first part of a new post series on the interaction between light and colors in interior design and decor. Feel free to browse through other post series about interior design.

When colors are placed side by side, they can be made to look brighter or duller, cooler or warmer. When two colors of the same value but different hues are placed next to each other, their common boundaries seem to vanish.

Playstation.com

This effect is useful in camouflaging unwanted or unappealing artefacts, such as an unattractive fireplace that cannot be removed or an unwanted or poorly shaped sofa or chair. The sofa can be placed against a wall or curtain with the same color value and the two will merge.

Home Interior Inspiration

Interior Design and Home Decorations

A color can be made to look different by placing different colors next to it. For example, beige looks different next to red-violet compared to the way it looks next to blue-green because of the after-image effect.

Similarly, two colors can be made to look more alike by placing different colors next to them. For example, two different shades of red can be made to look alike if you place the darker shade next to orange (to cool it down slightly, and placing the lighter shade next to blue-green will warm it up slightly.

This effect is used to unify different colors in a room - the vibrant color red is separated with a neutral color to cool it down, thus achieving a pleasant combination.

The next article talks about the effect of surfaces on light and color.

Interior Design and Decor for a Thanksgiving Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:38:00 +0000

The origin of thanksgiving goes back to the seventieth century when the first-ever Thanksgiving Day was observed in the year 1621. This event is attributed to a lady named Sarah Josepha Hale who campaigned to have the event recognized as a national day, which is aimed to celebrate domestic tranquility, encourage gatherings for the family and other near and dear ones, and be grateful for all that we have.

via savingsangel.com

via decorationideas.org

Colors and Textures for Thanksgiving Interior Design Accessories

The most popular dishes on the menu for Thanksgiving dinner are turkey, corn, pumpkin, pies, cranberries, etc., along with chocolate & wine. A must for dinner table is harvest colored scheme of warm yellows, gold, burned reds, browns, oranges, and greens. With a little extra imagination you can create pretty table setting ideas.

via decorationideas.org

Just get some gold glitter glue markers, harvest decorations, gift papers, assorted shape and size beakers or glassware, some fresh or dry flowers, candles and create your own personal and special Thanksgiving décor.

Via hometrendesign.com

Use a collage of colors with fruits, flowers, candles, golden sprayed pine cones and dried corns for a colorful center piece. You can also use autumn flowers such as pink amaranthus, vibrant coral chrysanthemums, white aster and bright color roses for flower arrangement.

epicurious.com

Napkin holders can be made using colorful ribbons, tied bunch of fresh or dried herbs, flowers or berries. You may use yellow- orange autumn leaves glued on top of the napkin holders.

via curbly.com

For a candle stand you may take a small sized pumpkin, make a hole in the center and insert a colored candle or you may use different sizes of clear glass containers and fill them up with colored grains, lintels, or beans and insert candles.

Tips for Setting a Formal Thanksgiving Dinner

Via wellappointedhouse.com

It would be great if you use pumpkin gold, burgundy or any other harvest color tablecloth, which is at least six inches bigger to allow side drops. But then again, if you own a wooden dining table, you need not decorate it further with fabric. Then comes the placement of mats, crockery, cutlery, etc. You may place soup bowls on top of service plates, dinner knife and spoons on the right side of the plate, whereas salad and dinner fork will go to the left.

via tidystuff.com

You may place wine glasses and goblets on the top right corner of your plates and place welcome cards either on the side or top of them. You can also create your own place card as simple as guest’s name pinned on a small fresh or dried pumpkin or use gold glitter glue to write on an artificial autumn leaf.

Use the above decorations and accessories to pamper your dear ones with a sumptuous Thanksgiving treat.

Neutral Colour Scheme in Interior Design and Décor

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:01:00 +0000

This is the eighth part of a post series on color schemes in interior design and décor. Part seven was about triadic color schemes in interior design.

Using Neutral Colors in Your Home Design

Neutral colors are sometimes considered 'no colors’ such as, black, grey, white and toned down brown and beiges. If these neutral colors are handled with care and skill, they can produce exciting result with a brush of sophistication. In the neutral color scheme you should use a wide variety of textures for upholstery, curtains, cushions, different surfaces like, wood, glass, metal, wallpaper, etc., to create interest.

These neutrals are compatible with all colors in interior design because they are obtained by mixing complimentary colors so they carry a bit of every shade.

Neutrals can be used to separate and harmonize otherwise incompatible colors in a room design and offer relief from strong colors. Neutral colors can be used as a background in interior design or a scheme in themselves.

willetdesign.com

A sophisticated atmosphere has been created in this lounge by using a neutral colour scheme. A modern setting using metal table with glass-top and white table lamps has been used in this home decor.

cottagehomedecorating.com

Another sophisticated modern bedroom created by using the neutral colour beige. Different textures are used for curtains and bed linen.

The next article talks about effects of colors in interior decor and design. Browse through more articles on colors on interior design and decor or sift through different articles about interior design.

Effects of After-Image in Interior Design

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:42:00 +0000

http://www.avfpaint.com

To achieve pleasant combinations and to minimize unpleasant ones, we should have knowledge of how the colors affect each other. After- image of any color is the vibration created when two complimentary colors such as red and green, are placed next to each other. They intensify each other. The vibration is in a smaller area, but if you use it in a room décor, it would create a disturbing effect.

There are two solutions – one is to tone down the color, and the other is to separate the vibrant colors with an area of neutral colors. Another effect of the after-image is seen on neutral colors. A gray wall appears faintly purple when a yellow-green sofa is placed against it.

The next article talks about neutral color schemes in interior design and decor.

Triadic Colour Schemes in Interior Design and Décor

noreply@blogger.com (Tehmina) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:30:00 +0000

This is the seventh part of a post series on color schemes in interior design and décor. Part six was about double complementary color schemes.

tigercolor.com

What is a Triadic Colour Schemes in Interior Design and Décor

Triadic colour schemes in interior décor and design are created by using three colors that are equally spaced from each other. That idea probably sounds familiar because we have already discussed two triadic colour schemes such as the primary colors, red, yellow and blue and the secondary colors, orange, green and violet. To create a harmonious effect in your home’s design, you should lower the intensity and values of triad colors, if not all colors, then at least one. Of course, lots of other triad color combinations can be formed on the colour wheel, such as red-orange, blue-violet and yellow-green.

Creating a Triadic Color Scheme in Your Home's Interior

www.budgetwisehome.com

The triadic colour scheme in this interior design uses primary colors, blue, yellow and red. The color blue has been used to its full intensity while yellow and red have been toned down to create a lively children’s bedroom.

www.belightsoft.com

Here’s another example of triadic colour scheme in interior design using yellow-orange, blue-green and red-violet to create a bright environment.

The next article talks about neutral color schemes in interior decor and design. Browse through more articles on colors on interior design and decor or sift through different articles about interior design.

Split Complementary Scheme in Interior Design and Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 07:46:00 +0000

This is the fifth part of a post series on color schemes in interior design and décor. Part four was about complementary color schemes.

What is a Split Complementary Color Scheme in Interior Design?

tigercolor.com

Yet another color scheme consists of a color combined with the two colors on each side of its compliment - this is called a split complementary color scheme. You may have observed that split complimentary colors do not clash with each other as vividly as do the colors in complimentary color schemes in interior design.

These colors do not vibrate with each other and this makes them much easier to work with and easier to control. For example, the compliment of blue-green is red-orange, but the split complimentary of blue-green is orange and red. Similarly, the split complimentary of yellow is blue-violet and red-violet. As with complimentary color scheme, you can lower the values and intensities of these colors.

Designing a Split Complementary Color Scheme in Your Home

color.interiordezine.com

The split complementary color scheme this room design incorporates green, red-orange, and red-violet. The values and intensities have been modified to create a harmonious scheme. The cushions and upholstery consist of different intensities of green and its split complement colors, making the room design bright and pleasing.

The next article talks about double complementary color schemes in interior decor and design. Browse through more articles on colors on interior design and decor or sift through different articles about interior design.

Double Complementary Scheme in Interior Design and Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:44:00 +0000

This is the sixth part of a post series on color schemes in interior design and décor. Part five was about split complementary color schemes.

snap2objects.com

What is a Double Complimentary Color Scheme in Interior Design and Décor?

A double complimentary scheme in interior design is yet another variation of the complimentary scheme. It consists of two adjacent colors in the color wheel and their complementary colors, e.g. red and red-violet and their complements green and yellow -green would comprise a double complementary color scheme. These four colors must be controlled carefully and are especially suitable for open-plan houses. You may use all colors in different areas of your home to achieve both variety in interior design and smooth blending of double complementary colors. This color scheme is truly flexible and gives feelings of unity and belonging to each area of the home.

Application of a Double Complimentary Color Scheme in Your Home

beinteriordecorator.com

In this photo, you see a well designed double complementary color scheme where the colors used are yellow and yellow -green and their complements, violet and red-violet. Some colors have been toned down to create a harmonious yet lively atmosphere.

The next article talks about double triadic color schemes in interior decor and design. Browse through more articles on colors on interior design and decor or sift through different articles about interior design.

Complementary Colour Scheme in Interior Design and Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:17:00 +0000

This is the fourth part of a post series on color schemes in interior design and décor. Part three was about Analogous Color Schemes.

What is a Complimentary Color Scheme in Interior Design and Decor?

A complimentary color scheme consists of two colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel (click link to see the color wheel), for example, blue is complimentary to orange, violet is the compliment of yellow, and so on. This can work with color pairs too, like blue-green is opposite red-orange.

You need not use colors at their full intensities when designing a complimentary color scheme because it can get a bit too bright. For instance, red and green (two complimentary colors) can make each other more intense when used side-by-side. In other words, the red looks redder and the green looks greener and that make be too powerful and unsettling for most people.

However, you can distribute colors at their full intensity as small accents (in accessories) in the room and use neutralized or greyed colors in large patches to create balance, rhythm and unity in the complimentary color scheme.

For example, you could keep the walls of the room a neutral color and reserve the strong complimentary color for fabrics of curtains, upholstery and accessory.

Creating a Complimentary Color Scheme in Your Room

color.interiordezine.com

blog.curtain-wizard.co.uk

In these complementary scheme lounges, the colour used is blue with its complement color orange. Together, they create a pleasing colour scheme where cool and warm colours are used very carefully side by side, although the colours have not been used to their full intensities all over. Instead, bright colors are only seen in cushions, accessories and flower arrangements, while shades, tints, and tones of both the colours are used to create balance and unity in the room.

The next article talks about split complementary color schemes in interior decor and design. Browse through more articles on colors on interior design and decor or sift through different articles about interior design.

Analogous Color Schemes in Interior Décor and Design

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:40:00 +0000

This is the third part of a post series on color schemes in interior design and décor. Part two was about monochromatic color schemes.

Designing an Analogous Color Scheme in Your Home

Remember the color wheel and how certain colors lie next to one another?

imagearts.ryerson.ca

When you use two or three colors that are near each other, you create an analogous color scheme. For example, the following colors are called related/analogous colors:

Blue – primary color
Blue-violet – secondary color, and
Violet - intermediate color.

Read article about primary and secondary colors in interior design. Working from the color wheel, you can design a great variety of pleasing analogous color scheme. You can go to the other side of blue on the color wheel and design a scheme from:

Blue - primary color
Green - secondary color, and
Blue-green - intermediate color.

The values and intensities can be modified to create a harmonious analogous color scheme with combinations such as red, red-violet and violet. For example, a light value of less-intense red will harmonize better with violet than a strong, intense red.

So go ahead and experiment with the intensities and values of these colors to achieve the best possible effect in your analogous color scheme.

The photo (credit: bladocs.com) shows an analogous color scheme comprising of colors ranging from red to yellow. Two neutral colors, white and gray, are used to separate various values and intensities in the room.

This is a modern style bedroom - read about different design styles. The next article talks about complementary color schemes in interior decor and design. Browse through more articles on colors on interior design and decor or sift through different articles about interior design.

Monochromatic Color Schemes in Interior Design and Décor

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:26:00 +0000

This is the second part of a post series on color schemes in interior design and décor. Click the link to read part one.

Design a Monochromatic Color Scheme in Your Home

You’ve probably heard of the term ‘monochromatic’ several times and may know that monochromatic schemes consist of any one basic color of the color wheel with its many intensities and values. You may think it sounds a bit boring and bland, but monochromatic schemes can easily be set off with patterned and textured accessories to make them interesting. In fact, you need not stick to one color – you can add neutral tones such as beige, black, white and greys to make the room less monotonous.

You can use these neutral colors as backgrounds or to separate various intensities and values of monochromatic schemes. Make sure you use a diversity of patterns, shapes, accessories, and textures to your furniture and room to add variety and appeal. For example, you could design a blue color scheme (my favorite color) in which the area carpet is in navy blue, and the sofa is a lighter value of blue and white with a different pattern, and the walls are an even lighter hue. Let cushions and accessories be white, beige or grey and splash different colors in your room by placing indoor plants.

At the end of the day, whether the basic color is warm or cool, you can create a pleasant and restful monochromatic room.

In this photo (photo credit: dutchboy.com), you'll notice that a monochromatic color scheme creates restfulness by using blue (the base monochromatic color) and white (the neutral color).

In the second photo (credit: archzine.org) the color scheme of the lounge revolves around tones of orange from apricot to peach, to create a warm and cozy ambiance.

The next article talks about analogous color schemes. Be sure to subscribe to get e-mail notifications! Browse through more articles on colors on interior design and decor or sift through different articles about interior design.

Color Schemes in Interior Décor

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:55:00 +0000

Now that we have discussed in detail the importance and role of color in interior design and décor, as well as different design styles you can choose from to decorate your home and office, it’s time to look at color schemes.

There are at least seven different types of colour schemes that you can play around with:

We’ll look at all of them in detail in the next few posts as part of this post series on color schemes in interior design and décor.

Intermediate Colours in Interior Design and Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:18:00 +0000

This is the continuation of a blog post series about the role of color in interior design and décor. The last part talked about the color wheel’s role in interior design and décor. This article talks about intermediate colors present in the color wheel, and how they can be used to design and decorate the perfect room.

Credit: color-wheel-artist.com

There’s a third set of colors in addition to the primary and secondary colors, known as intermediate colors or tertiary colors. These are formed by mixing primary colours with nearby secondary colors. For example, if you mix the primary color blue with the secondary color violet, you obtain an intermediate color blue-violet.

Although equal quantities of primary and secondary colors are mixed together, the name of the primary color comes first as in red-violet, blue-violet, yellow-green, or blue-green. Since the color spectrum is a continuous band of color, there is a marvellous range of color that results from mixing these and from lightening/darkening each one.

The subtle color change that results from varying tints, shades and intensities provides an unlimited range of colour scheme and, if used carefully, create a miracle of differences in decorating results.

This was the last post in the series about colors in interior design and decor. The next blog series talks about different color schemes in home design.

The Color Wheel in Interior Design and Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Credit: rewaj.com

This is the continuation of a blog post series about the role of color in interior design and décor. The last part talked about how a color’s intensity influences interior design and décor. This article talks about the color wheel, and how it can be used to design and decorate the perfect room.

You may have seen this band of colors before – they are found in a light spectrum (see article about the light spectrum in interior design) and are twisted into a circle to form a color circle or a color wheel, where red and violet next to each other.

Notice how the primary and secondary colors are placed - yellow, red and blue form a triangle, while green, orange and violet also form a triangle. Agreed, there are more colors in between; they are intermediate colors, which we discuss in the next article.

Application of the Color Wheel in Interior Design and Décor

Not all colors go together naturally or complement each other; indeed, some colors clash and you can use that to add character to your home. As discussed in our last article, some of the methods for achieving a well-coordinated and pleasing scheme for your room involve using tints, shades and varying intensity of primary and secondary colors.

For instance, if you place blue in a room, yellow would complement it well. So if you’ve selected a yellow sofa, consider using purple or blue cushions to increase the intensity and contrast of your room, which will make it livelier.

Be sure to experiment with the color wheel to design an optimal color scheme.

The next week’s article talks about the third set of colors in the color wheel – the intermediate colors.

Intensity of Colours in Interior Design and Décor

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 17:17:00 +0000

This is the continuation of a blog post series about the role of color in interior design and décor. The last part talked about how the hues and values of color influence interior design and décor. This article talks about the third dimension of color in interior design – intensity.

You may have guessed that the intensity of a color refers to the amount of dullness or brightness in a color. Some colors of high intensity, such as blue and red, are described as strong, rich and vivid but you can reduce their intensity by adding certain colors. This mix and match depends on the color wheel (covered in our next article) which shows that a color can be toned down by adding its compliment.

For example, if you wish to lower the intensity of blue or purple, add their compliments - yellow. The reverse applies if you wish to raise the intensity – in other words, place blue and purple together. See the color wheel in detail next week.

Application of Color Intensity in Interior Design

When deciding the colors of your room, make sure you balance your colors by altering the intensity. Generally, the larger an area, the less intense its color should be and the smaller the area, the less intense the color could be. So, in a room, the exciting and restful areas should balance each other by maintaining equilibrium between the area of “color excitement” and the area of “color repose and rest”.

Muted colors are used in larger background areas like floors, walls or ceilings. Bright colors are used in small areas such as cushions, vases, paintings etc. To make a vase stand out in a room, place it against a wall of contrasting value. The effect will enhance the contour of the vase.

The next article talks about the color wheel and how it helps in making the right decisions for designing your room.

Dimensions of Colour in Interior Design and Décor - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 17:15:00 +0000

This is the continuation of a blog post series about the role of color in interior design and décor. The last part talked about the impressions given by various colors when used in a room. This article talks about two of the three dimensions of color – hue and value.

You may be surprised to know that color, in itself, is a vast subject and it had three dimensions, namely:

Hue
Value, and
Intensity.

Hue and Value of a Color in Interior Décor and Design

You often refer to colors by their names - red, green, blue and so on – those are actually color ‘hues’. And when you talk about lighter and darker versions of these colors – light green or dark blue – you are dealing in color ‘values’.

Value is the amount of darkness or lightness in a colour and it ranges from white (the lightest value) to black (the darkest value). It takes no scientist to see that light values are achieved by adding white to a color and these are called tints. Similarly, dark values are obtained by adding black to a colour, and are called shades.

Application of Hues and Values in Interior Décor and Design

The proper uses of similar or contrasting values are very important in interior design and décor. Every room needs some value contrast to make it interesting but extreme sharp contrast gives a very dramatic effect which sometimes seems gaudy.

Light color values, if used in a room, make the atmosphere more active and lively and makes a small room appear larger. Darker values induce a serious and somber feeling into a room and make large spaces seem smaller. To achieve a visual balance, you should consider using smaller areas of dark value to balance larger areas of lighter values.

Remember, there should always be a balance in the color scheme of a room so as to make a room liveable, and as discussed earlier, that depends on the interior design client’s personality. In that context, closely related values make a quiet atmosphere in a room whereas strong, contrasted values make a lively atmosphere.

The next article in this blog series about ‘color in interior décor and design’ talks about the third dimension of color - intensity.

Colors in Interior Design and Décor - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 17:14:00 +0000

This is a continuation of blog series about colors in interior design and décor. The first part of the series was an introduction to the importance of colors in your home.

Rainbow of Colour

Credit: school-for-champions.com

You probably know that when a ray of sunlight passes through a prism, its broken into a spectrum, or a rainbow of colors. Back in school, your teacher may have taught you to memorize these colors in order by remembering the term ‘VIBGYOR’ (violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red). These colours of the rainbow represent primary and secondary colours.

Primary Colours in Interior Design

Red, yellow and blue are primary colours and all other colours are a result of their combination.

Secondary Colours in Interior Design and Decor

You can make secondary colors by mixing equal amounts of two primary colors. An equal mix of blue and yellow makes green; red and blue results in violet and yellow and red make orange. These three colors (violet, green and orange) are secondary colors.

Impressions of Warm and Cool Colors in Interior Décor and Design

You can divide the colour of a prism into cool and warm colours and this knowledge is very helpful if you want to add a bit of warmth to a cool interior design scheme or cool down a warm scheme.

Credit: aberdeenquest.com

List of colors and their impressions:

Red: strongest, most stimulating
Blue: serene, cool
Violet: impressive, stately
Green: restful, calm
Orange: cheerful, warm
Yellow: sunny, bright

Colors in Interior Design and Décor

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:33:00 +0000

This is the first post of a blog series about colours in interior design and décor. The last blog series gave an introduction to various types of interior design and decor styles.

Color is everywhere, and in home designing and interior décor, colour is the most important factor in creating moods of a room. The impression begins as soon as one steps into a home and notices the colour scheme of the entrance, the lounge, the kitchen and all other rooms.

Role of Color in Interior Design and Décor

Colour unites furnishing, minimizes architectural faults, and creates a visual illusion of the room as well as its moods and emotions. The proper use of colour makes a room alive and it can even be made to appear bigger or smaller.

Color is vital is because our minds, moods and emotions respond to colour in different ways, depending on our personalities and experience. If a person is outgoing and flamboyant, he will prefer warm, stimulating colours associated with fire and sun, like yellow, orange, red etc. On the other hand, pastel shades of blues and greens associated with sky, forest and water, are preferred by someone with calm and peaceful personalities. As a result, color helps fulfill psychological needs in interior designing.

And of course, you can make a brightly painted room sober by mixing and matching a variety of colors to create the perfect space.(Read more about design styles here.)

The next blog post talks about the light spectrum as well as the impression left by each color in interior design and home décor.

Art Deco Style in Interior Design and Décor

noreply@blogger.com (Markaz) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:16:00 +0000

This is the tenth and final part of a blog post series about types of interior design styles (click to read part 1). The last article talked about the the Mediterranean style in interior design and decor.

What is the Art Deco Style in Interior Design and Décor?

The art deco style flourished in the early 1920s and is influenced by African, tribal art and Aztec architecture, all of which made interesting history subjects. Accessories in the art deco style are mostly glassware and lacquer work reflecting cultures of islands in the Far East. The furniture includes glass and metal tables, which are given an earthy touch with black lacquered surfaces and geometrically designed carpets.

Accessories include oriental ceramics and figurines but cut-glass ornaments which are usually colorless go very well with this interior design style. However, this interior design style is not completely void of colors - bold and bright hues and shades of dark orange are used for soft furnishing and daring African prints are incorporated through cushions.

Creating the Art Deco Style in Your Home Design

The photo (credit: homeaway.com) shows a small lounge decorated in the art deco style. Notice the influence of the color brown in the furniture and fabric, as well as the traditional tribal prints in the cushions and upholstery. A geometrically designed lamp and mirror are used to accessorize the room but you could also go for flower vases and glassware.

The next post series talks about the different color schemes you can choose from when designing your home. Browse similar articles about interior design or read about other interior design styles.