Use Colors Like the Pros, Part III: Create Excitement with Color
Last week we talked about using color to create calm. This week, let’s take a look at creating excitement with color! This is the 3rd and final part in our series on “Using Color Like the Pros” based on tips from Fawn Chang, Director, Color Certification, PP&G, who brought the program to Exciting Windows.
To create excitement in a room, let’s revisit the color wheel that we used last time.
Complimentary colors, colors that are opposite of each other on the wheel, create vibrancy when paired together. When you think about it, sporting teams frequently use opposite colors for their team colors.
If you want to add vibrancy, use warm colors. In particular, Red is a color of action or activity. Helen Arabanos, our newest Design Consultant, and Feng Shui Expert, adds that a lot of red in a bedroom may be too intense for sleeping. Also, too much red in a dining room can lead to hurried meals (think fast food restaurant) and/or digestive troubles.
Yellow, another activating color, is referred to by Fawn as the happiest color. This photo certainly shows the truth in that statement! This bright yellow certainly brings energy to the space, whereas a paler yellow would bring a more peaceful vibe.
She says that orange is a social and energizing color; it combines the characteristics of red and yellow. This space looks amazing for socializing and family time, but it certainly wouldn’t be a restful color choice for a bedroom.
Tips on Using White
According to Fawn, white activates our senses and our creativity. She cautions against using white with upholstery or carpets that may be worn/in need or replacement or needing to be cleaned. She also notes that white based colors, referred to as “clean” colors, don’t work well with muted colors. Adding to this, Helen points out that white is a color that can be cold or aloof – think hospital – so it is not good for a couple’s bedroom.
That home is an example of a room with a di-chromatic color scheme. Fawn tells us the blue-grey and the warmer pink-beige offer the muted background. Excitement is added by the vibrant accents in blue and pink. Notice that the blue and fuchsia in the accents are white-based colors. Thus making them stand out while making the soft, muted tones of the furnishings and walls look more subdued.
So to summarize, when adding excitement with colors, it’s not just about the color itself but what it is combined with that really changes the feeling. Either way, don’t be afraid of adding some brighter colors to your home with window coverings, accent items or even furniture and paint!
If you’d like to speak to one of our designers about adding some excitement with color to your space, give us a call!
