Soothing Colors in Home Decorating

When decorating, you have a variety of colors and hues at your disposal. Each of
these can have a dramatically different meaning and effect on the nature of the
space. Between an inherent symbolic value, and the overt level of tone and shade
cast upon the environment, color can have a huge impact on a room, and it’s up
to you to understand those effects so that you can properly control them.

The first element that you should understand is matching. Some colors compliment
one another, contrasting or flowing with the nature of each others hues. However
many simply clash outright. These are tones which are not congruent with one
another on the color wheel. The presence of clashing tones can instantly add an
unbalanced, chaotic feeling to a room, making it impossible to create a sense of
harmony within the space. If you have trouble telling which hues clash with one
another, you can use the rules of the color wheel to guide you on how to
proceed.

It is also important to understand the nature of dark versus light tones. Darker
colors tend to be calmer and subdued, while lighter, brighter tones often evoke
a sense of exuberance within a space. This mirrors ideas of daytime versus
night, with people naturally reacting with more energy to brighter stimuli
within an environment.

However when it comes to the energy level of an environment, no color lives
alone, and elements of contrast and compliment are going to be very important in
determining the eventual nature of the space. Black, the darkest tone possible,
actually evokes a lot of vigor when used in contrasted designs such as white on
black checkerboard patterns.

The subsequent flip side to this is that complimentary patterns and designs are
going to be more subdued and less dramatic. This can be done by using several
layers of similar colors, all cascading upon one another throughout the space,
creating a hazy, gentle décor, which can give a space a tranquil feeling.

One of the biggest ways that colors can take on symbolic value is through an
association with natural elements that everyone is familiar with. For instance,
green tones tend to generally make people think about nature, whether it’s a
softly flowing meadow, or a deep tranquil forest. In these examples, the colors
will inevitably lend a sense of calm and peace to a space. However in the case
of a deeper, more tumultuous green, it may make the room feel cold and
foreboding. On the other hand many lighter, sickly colored greens can give a
frenetic, uncomfortable feel to the environment.

Blue is another good example of this effect. In general these tones tend to make
people think of either a cloudless sky on a sunny day, or the infinite depths of
a gently lapping ocean. Either way, this color is one which can instantly cast a
spell of serenity across a room, bathing it in a cool, relaxing atmosphere.

Creating tranquil spaces using color decorating is a powerful way to affect the
underlying nature of your environments. It is important to understand clashing
and contrasting effects, as well as the nature of each individual color in
relation to the natural world. In this way you can see the underlying meaning of
a room’s artistic style, and use that to make it more energetic, relaxed,
exciting, or subdued.

This article was written on behalf of PebbleZ.com’s multicolored marble vases and
natural stone home accessories, all crafted from real, mountain born natural
stone. The article itself was written by design expert Joey Pebble.