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HOW TO DECORATE LIKE A DESIGNER

Introduction

Decorating can be a daunting task, whether you have a whole new home or just

one room that needs redesigning or updating. Taking time to plan before you

begin will be the key to getting the result you want and add enormously to your

enjoyment of the decorating process.

Consider the era of your home in combination with the design style you would like

to introduce. Any combination of periods and styles can work together with a little

care, forward planning and attention to detail. Dont be limited by thinking that if

you have a traditional period home you must adhere to an interior typical of that

period, particularly if you love modern furnishing styles mix it up, its easier than

you think.

Planning goes hand-in-hand with interior design and decorating. If you can live in

your home for a while before imposing any major changes, you will gain a better

understanding of what is required.

Use this book to help you think about the style and ambience you would like to

create. There are so many possibilities; you may find it helpful to make up a mood

board, collecting images, colours and fabrics that evoke the feel of what you would

like to live with at the end of your project. This is especially helpful if you have

existing elements or furnishings to incorporate into your new look.

Above all, however, enjoy decorating and restyling your home. Discover the

satisfaction to be had from planning your decorating project, seeing it through and

delighting in the look of your newly decorated room(s).

If you find yourself stuck at any stage or just want that added confidence in your

choices, dont be afraid to call in a qualified, experienced interior designer for a

consultation. Having a good designer whom you enjoy working with is like having

a treasure trove of ideas, possibilities and practical how-to advice, plus they will be

more honest than your best friend!

Remember that there is no right and wrong when it comes to expressing your

unique tastes. Dont be afraid to show your personality in your living environment;

its your place to reflect your life and aspirations.

The sooner you start, the sooner youll be finished so get decorating!

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FINDING YOUR STYLE

Contemporary Style

Why it appeals and who it works for

The clean lines and attention to detail of a contemporary look will appeal to those

who love sleek, light and airy open spaces.

Contemporary design and decoration style is ideal for anyone who wants to

streamline their possessions with structure and organisation. Conversely, this look

is not suited to those who love intimate surroundings, a hotchpotch of possessions

on display or a cluttered array of mix-and-match furniture.

Created around a careful and considered approach to design and decoration, a

successful contemporary interior requires that every item and surface is included

in the scheme after much thought and planning.

Contemporary style, more than any other, leads to people seeking the help and

guidance of a professional interior designer. As your contemporary style relies on

a pared back look, every surface, furniture item and placement becomes critical to

the end result; this can be too overwhelming for many people.

Fortunately, if you choose to approach your project like a skilled interior designer,

you can make all your selections before making a single purchase. By taking the

time and having the patience to do this, you will be much more able to instantly

visualise the end result. Once you are happy with your choices, then its a matter

of sticking to your plan and implementing it, step by step.

Considered by many to be unsuitable for a busy family home due to its hard

surfaces, sharp edges and slightly minimal style, contemporary style can be

surprisingly practical, durable and luxurious.

A well-planned and executed contemporary interior that includes surfaces and

floors with hard, non-slip finishes is a durable, easy-to-maintain option.

The key to making a contemporary interior work well for busy people and families

is to ensure that there is ample storage to accommodate daily living

paraphernalia, including sports equipment, kitchen utensils and kids toys.

There is no need to compromise on comfort or colour when creating a

contemporary look. Clean lines and hard surfaces can be softened with luxurious

cushions, throws and tactile rugs.

Contemporary furniture and accessories are available in a riot of vivid colours,

guaranteed to add a dramatic look for those who prefer to make a bold statement

with their contemporary-style home.

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THE CONTEMPORARY LOOK

To live with a contemporary style, you dont need to have cutting-edge furniture or

bare surroundings. A contemporary environment can be taken to a minimalist or

stark look if thats your intention. It can also be adapted to combine all the basic

elements of the style but with a softer approach.

Essentially, it is the trademark open-plan layouts and seamless looks that create a

contemporary feel for any home.

Often the biggest challenge faced by my clients when choosing the fresh, clean,

uncluttered look of a contemporary style is knowing what pieces of their existing

furniture can be integrated into their new look and which items have to go.

It can be difficult being ruthless, and I have often been called on to confirm for a

client what they already know let old favourites and the accumulated odds and

ends of furniture go.

After all, if a fresh, new, cohesive look is what you want when youre finished,

better to give grandmas high-backed, carved Victorian chair with the tapestry seat

and wobbly leg to a deserving new home now.

The materials used for the finishes are of utmost importance in creating a

contemporary interior. The focal points of the style are the surfaces, walls, floors

and bench tops, along with the finishes of furniture and accessories. These

elements should all be chosen with due consideration to provide an area of

uninterrupted space.

Hardwearing contemporary surfaces, paired with sleek-styled furniture which has

clean, smooth lines will make the ideal bones of an excellent contemporary

interior. This can then be softened with fabrics and art or left in its minimal

splendor if desired.

Contemporary style demands a certain adherence for pared-down living and

hidden mess, so that the overall effect is neat and ordered.

To achieve comfortable living without being a slave to your dcor, ample storage

must be incorporated into your design at the planning stage, so there is a place for

everything at the completion of your makeover.

With effective and convenient storage, even the busiest family can enjoy a

contemporary-style home where belongings can be quickly and easily hidden

away behind closed doors. Clever storage solutions that are built into the overall

design ensure that the carefully planned layout of the room and its contents

remains clear and soothing to the eye.

Even accessories are best kept to a minimum for a contemporary-style room and

the few that are included should rely on their large scale and isolated positioning

to add impact and interest to the room.

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KEY CONTEMPORARY COLOURS

It is a forgivable assumption that pure white is the only, or best, option for a

contemporary interior. As many of the contemporary white paints contain black,

the result can often be a dirty white or, at worst, a cold blue hue. When cold white

paint is combined with floor-to-ceiling glass doors or windows (which many new

homes have in abundance), the final result can be a cold, harsh, unfriendly feel for

your home.

It can be far more effective to use softer shades of white or a tonal colour scheme

or a layered approach to colours that create a flow through the house instead of

complicating the look by adding a variety of colours.

Interior designers who are confident and accomplished in the use of monochrome

schemes often opt for palettes of taupe, grey and stone which incorporate different

tones and strengths to define areas in a room or house this creates a very

sophisticated, timeless finish.

Whether you intend to create a harmonious blend for all the elements of your

room or introduce pieces of contemporary furniture in bright, vibrant colour and

statement pieces of colorful art, a neutral background colour allows for a wide

choice in furnishings and accessories.

When opting for a tonal room without highlight colours, be sure to add interest

around the room with texture and interesting surface details, as this will counter

the possibility of a bland or uninteresting result.

Key Characteristics of a Contemporary Style

Seamless, open-plan living areas

Hard surfaces

Good storage

Streamlined simple furnishings

Neutral-coloured walls

Less is more

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FINDING YOUR STYLE

CLASSIC STYLE

Why it appeals and who it works for

If you want to live in luxurious surroundings with things displayed simply and

elegantly, then classic style is the look for you.

This is a very grown up look and demands structure and discipline to create, as

well as a desire for a somewhat formal feel to your living space. A successful

classic interior will require absolute attention to detail, the very best quality in

furniture, fabrics and furnishings, as well as a strict approach to arranging your

room.

The classic look works best in homes with some traditional features, even if this is

only represented by the configuration and use of the rooms. This look is ideally

suited to larger homes or ones with rooms with ample proportions as this allows

the space for refined placement that is essential to creating an elegant look.

Due to its timelessness and enduring appeal, a classic style can be introduced to

one room or section of a home. This can be a good option to take if you like the

look but know that you have a busy lifestyle that comes with an array of modern

paraphernalia and/or the chaos of children.

A good classic style does not need to be derived from a specific or single-dcor

period, so you are free to create something that uses all the principles of classic

design while incorporating the demands of modern-day living.

Taking this approach to your classic design will make your task far easier than

adhering to ridged rules of a specific traditional era. Allowing yourself to mix

pieces that work well together will relieve you of having to source authentic period

pieces, add architectural details or locate historically correct colours. Such things

inevitably contribute to a contrived or overworked interior, anyway.

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THE CLASSIC LOOK

The key to creating an excellent classic look is in the quality of the interior

elements, from architectural details to furnishings and finishing touches. Once a

classic interior has been designed, there is little flexibility, as each item plays a

specific role and has an optimal position in the room.

Underpinning a true classic look is the repeated use of symmetry. A pleasing

symmetrical design provides the structure on which to produce either a strong or

subtle look, as well as the essential opportunity for the quality of materials to shine

through.

Applying the basic principles of symmetry in a classically styled home can be

relatively easy. For example, a bed flanked by two matching bedside tables, each

with a matching lamp and a well-framed print centred over the bed. The effect is

simple, sophisticated and easy to achieve if you have a large, well-proportioned

room with high ceilings, uniform window sizes and some existing classically

inspired features.

However, if you are not blessed with such a room, then it is best to take some time

to gain an understanding of the potential of your rooms, lines, volumes and

proportions.

If your room is an awkward shape or size, look at it simply as a box. What is the

one thing you think would improve its proportions? Is it extra ceiling height?

Perhaps it needs a focal point such as a fire place. Or is it that it lacks a single

wall without a door, window, wardrobe or other such obstruction in it?

Once you have defined what it is that will help improve your rooms bones, you

can then use some visual tricks to achieve this. Knowing this information is vital

before starting your Classic-style dcor or colour scheme.

Any classic-styled room can include

contemporary elements, such as

modern built-in cupboards, recessed

lighting and/or aluminium window

frames, providing these elements are

incorporated using classic guidelines.

Furniture can be a mix of authentic antiques, antique reproduction or more

modern styles. It must, however, be based on classic style imposing beds, huge-

scale mirrors, elegantly shaped furniture with decorative detailing.

When teamed with an authentic or classically inspired colour palette, plain and

elegant furnishings and carefully selected accessories (all of utmost quality), these

elements will combine to create a look that will add timeless appeal to your home.

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KEY CLASSIC COLOURS

Originally, the classic colour palette was derived from natural pigments and so

produced a varied range of tones from soft, creamy whites and golds through to

shades of taupe, brown, deep red, green and the more exotic shades of blue.

While the colour palette for a classic look may be broad, rooms should be

decorated extremely simply. Sparing use of colour on walls looks best with either

a lighter or darker shade for trims, mouldings and doors. Contrast limited wall

colours with beautiful wood flooring or a superb quality, self-patterned wool carpet

as a sophisticated backdrop.

If you are incorporating your classic look into a home which has extensive

architectural features, such as panelled walls, picture rails and/or ornate cornices,

be wary of the temptation to highlight each of these features with a different or

strongly contrasting colour. This can serve to distract the eye when you are

attempting to create a considered, cohesive and structured interior.

Key Characteristics of a Classic Style

Symmetry

Architectural features

Good-quality materials

Elegant furniture

Sparing use of colour/contrast with furnishings

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FINDING YOUR STYLE

Global Style

Why it appeals and who it works for

Global style has a widespread appeal that can be applied to any style and size of

interior. It is a look that can be introduced in a variety of ways. Requiring a

confident approach to combining traditional design, vibrant pattern, bold colour

and unique creations, it is a look that can be introduced in a variety of ways and

also be subtle or restrained when a more orderly or classic approach is used.

For example, a beautifully carved Indian cupboard topped with a collection of

wooden boxes can be combined with a traditional colonial-style four-poster bed

that has a few decorative, ethnic-styled feature cushions.

The key to creating an appealing global-style interior is to choose items that are

practical for the way you live. This may require you to think of inventive ways to

use the more unusual pieces that exemplify your global look. A Thai rain drum, for

example, can make an exotic yet practical coffee table, and/or a pair of intricately

carved Indonesian printing blocks can make wonderful bookends.

With its fusion of styles, you can carefully mix items from around the globe to

make the single or mixed theme what you want (hence, the term global).

Handcrafted items, which typify the global look, are often made from unusual

materials and have a rich, tactile quality to them think of handmade woven

baskets, rough-carved furniture, the luster of Asian lacquer and the smooth

surface of marble.

If the idea of bringing the world into your home appeals, then global style is the

look for you.

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The Global Look

It has never been so easy to access a variety of furniture pieces and furnishings

from around the world. With its many regional styles and exotic looks, global style

has opened a fascinating new door to creating interiors that incorporate a myriad

of unusual shapes, textures and colours.

Perhaps as a reaction to the mass-produced furnishings of the west, global style

offers us the opportunity to return to the handmade, homespun designs and

traditional ethnic production which servers to make each item unique.

It is easy to see why global-style decorating has become popular; it is based on

creating your own style, whether you are prepared to invest in authentic antiques

or just add a few simple ethnic accessories to your existing room.

Even with its slightly bohemian look, achieving a truly inspiring global-style interior

demands more than simply throwing any mix of cheap and cheerful furnishings

together and calling it global.

The essence of a great global-style room is isolation; allowing each interesting

and unique piece the right amount of visual space so that its special intricacies

can stand out is paramount.

Whether you are starting a global style from scratch by buying imported pieces

locally or have an existing collection you want to enhance with a complete global

style dcor, never underestimate the value of the less is more line of thinking.

An interior decorator that is accomplished in global-style decorating will

instinctively know how to achieve the best collective look and colour of a global

style. However, the secret to success for home decorators is allowing a subtle link

between all of the elements in your room.

This may be a single colour that is repeated throughout the scheme; for a truly

successful global style, this approach must be extremely understated. An

overstated, repeated colour will spell death to the interest and intrigue of your

global style.

Alternatively, you may prefer to create your global look from one corner of the

world. This can bring cohesion to your look in an organic way. Try pairing pieces

from China and Japan or simply picking India, Africa or South America, each of

which has a maximum of diversity and styles contained in the one country. Either

way, contrast, detail and a naturally handmade feel are the cornerstones of the

eclectic visual feast you are attempting to create with your global style.

Global style allows for flexibility in its interpretation and can be a way to create

rooms with personality and individuality. Whether a considered understated

approach is taken or a complete transformation, including a bold-colour palette, a

global style can be a way to evoke an exotic mood and influence a very different

way of living with your interior.

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Key Global-style Colours

By its nature, global style derives its colour palette from around the entire world,

and naturally colours change and vary from country to country and region to

region. For example, you may relate global style with the hot pinks of India, yet it

can be symbolic of the deep reds found in China, or the vivid blues and whites of

the Mediterranean.

Because of the vast array of colours, tones and hues representative of a global

style, it is best to pick just a few colours that you like from the palette and stick

with these throughout the scheme; this approach will allow areas to flow together.

If you are unsure how to achieve the colour- or texture-infused scheme you desire,

dont give up and opt for all white walls; give the challenge to a trained colour

consultant and let them guide you to a result you will be happy with.

For a more classic approach to your global style, combine traditional western

pieces with global touches. Opt for a more neutral colour scheme such as off-

white, stone or beige; this will bring a sense of calm to a riot of colour, while

providing a background to highlight the global features.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF A GLOBAL STYLE

Exotic style

Ethnic/regional inspiration

Vibrant atmosphere

Textiles/texture

Wooden objects

Handcrafted irregularity

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WORKING WITH COLOUR

Colour Inspiration

The range, spectrum and possibilities for using colour are almost limitless. Within

a colour range (say red, for example), colour can range from crimson to scarlet or

terracotta to shocking pink. Used in different shades in different rooms, each of

these colours can provide a variety of looks and atmospheres in your home.

Consider, for example, a lavish, formal dining room, with rich crimson walls subtly

lit for evening entertaining. Picture how different this could be in a teenage girls

bedroom, where a hot pink wall behind the bed sets its intense brilliance against

pure white bedding, curtains and furniture.

There are several tried and tested ways to approach creating a colour scheme. If

the room you are planning to decorate will contain some, or all, of your existing

furnishings, then an easy way to arrive at a harmonious colour combination is to

start with colours from a favourite rug, vase or cushion. The colours should

already be ones that you enjoy and that work well with your intended look.

Take some time to consider brighter, deeper, softer or more earthy tones of the

colours you have chosen from your furnishing inspiration; looking for a straight

match, while logical, may result in a contrived or over-coordinated scheme its

the unexpected that can add that inspiring touch to your home.

Alternatively, if your home is brand new or to be completely redecorated, you may

well have an open scope. This can seem exciting and daunting at the same time.

To help you start your selection, a colour wheel chart may be useful. The colour

wheel shows how the spectrum of colours turns full circle, each colour graduating

into the next.

By using the colour wheel, you can see that a scheme which uses seemingly

unrelated colours, such as orange, green and indigo, can in fact result in a very

pleasing finish when applied in the right tones. Naturally, a scheme using colours

which are located opposite each other on the colour wheel will give a more lively

result, while colours that align next to each other, such as blue, aqua and teal, will

provide more subtle schemes.

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From your initial selections, begin to look for combinations of tones that you find

pleasing and combine these with one or two neutrals.

Your wall colours cannot be chosen in isolation. They must be considered along

with the many elements that will be in your newly decorated room, such as

flooring, window treatments, benches, cabinetry and furnishing fabrics, not to

mention the new, or existing, exterior colour scheme.

Many home decorators have an idea of what they would like their newly decorated

home to look and feel like on completion. However, knowing how to approach the

task is one thing and being confident to push ahead with colour selections on their

own is quite another.

If your colour scheme doesnt come together quickly and smoothly, you may find

yourself getting bogged down in too many choices or stressed from fixating on

choosing between minute variances in shade. If you reach this stage, dont be too

proud or stubborn to admit that what you thought would be fun is turning into a

nightmare and its time to consult with an experienced, trained colour consultant.

Infinitely more equipped with up-to-date colour skills than any friends or family

members well-meaning input, a competent colour consultant will have had years

of experience helping people just like you.

Its even possible your consultant may have already created a scheme similar to

what you desire, with the added advantage of having seen hundreds of completed

painting/decorating projects. It will boost your confidence to know you have

someone on hand who already knows what a colour will look like when its

covering the walls of your room or the whole house itself!

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There are no right and wrong colours, and with careful selection, any combination

can be made to go together; its simply a matter of selecting the right tone, hue

and strength to give you the desired final outcome.

Remember, too, that your consultant is working for you and is only focused on

achieving your look the way you want it. Dont turn your task over to your colour

consultant just in order to see if you like what they will come up with when left to

their own devices. If you already have colours or a style in mind, let them know

right up front, as it will help get you an end result you are happy with, as well as

saving you time and money.

Dont be afraid to communicate what you like or dont like; even if this is only

described in feelings (warm, cool, inviting, relaxed, cheerful), its up to you to

convey your ideas for your home. After all, when its complete, it will be you who

will have to live with it.

Important Choices

Your choice of colours can make a room seem smaller or larger, cramped or

spacious, warmer or cooler, brighter or more subdued. Knowing which colours to

select to achieve the precise effect you want is not always an easy task. The

secret of success lies in the skill with which the fabrics, furniture, wallpaper and

decorative objects are selected and mixed. So it is vital to look, learn and plan as

much as you can before actually buying anything.

Developing Your Colour Sense

While a natural eye for colour seems to be inherent in some people (even those

who lay claim to this as a God-given talent), it can be a case of the proof of the

pudding being in the eating.

Whatever your current level of skill, everyone (but the profoundly colour-blind) can

develop an eye for successful colour combinations and grow their awareness of

how colours and patterns can work together.

To explore your own taste and style, start to observe the colour combinations that

are around you in everyday life. Take a minute every now and then to look around

you and make a note of what you like and dont like about how colour has been

used in advertising, window displays and even clothing.

When it comes to working out your preferred combinations, try cutting out

interesting colours from magazines and pinning them up together on a board; you

will soon discover which combinations you find most pleasing.

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Some Rules to Guide You

Along with your colour wheel, here are some broad guidelines for helping you

choose colours and combinations for your home.

Emphasise a feeling of spaciousness through choosing a limited range of whites,

pale neutrals and shades of blue.

Suggest cosiness and intimacy by using plenty of deeper tones and bold colours

in the warm red range. Add a range of patterns and textures to break up large

blocks of solid colour.

Suffering from too much natural light? Darker tones will subdue a bright, sunny

room and appear to absorb the light rather than reflect it like light shades or bright

colours will.

A dull, shady or cool room can become lively, warm and vibrant when you use rich

or bright colours. Try some bold colours and strong contrast to create that inviting

atmosphere.

Looking for a calm, relaxed feel? Then cool tones and subtle contrasts will create

the atmosphere youre wanting.

All of these suggested effects for colours are dependent on the intensity of the

colour you select. As a general rule, the more grey tint a colour contains, the

earthier the effect of the transition; for example, a citrus orange with grey added

becomes a burnt orange.

Another valuable tool to tuck in your colour-selecting kit is the idea of incorporating

a variety of strengths of one colour into your scheme. Almost any colour can be

used at a proportion of its indicated strength. So if you like a colour but its too

strong for your application, then opting for a half- or quarter-strength may give you

the desired result.

One of the many advantages of this method is that by altering the strength of a

colour, you are not changing its intrinsic makeup, so you will get exactly the same

colour, only weaker or deeper, depending on if you increase or decrease the

strength of it.

This is an excellent approach to take if you want to visually alter the proportions of

a room. As we mentioned earlier, its often desirable for a room to appear to have

a higher ceiling, more width or a focal point. Subtly changing the strength of your

main colour can be an effective visual trick.

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Working with your colour scheme, you should bear in mind that deeper tones,

shades or strengths appear to be more prominent or visually come forward in a

room, whereas lighter, tones, shades and strengths are more recessive and seem

to be further away.

Therefore, if youre wanting to visually lift the height of a ceiling, consider a pure

white if your wall colour is very light; or if your walls have a moderate amount of

strength, think about using the same colour in a quarter- or even eighth-strength

on the ceiling.

Perhaps you want to highlight the wall that houses your fireplace to make it a focal

point of the room. Rather than opting for the ubiquitous and often less-than-subtle

feature wall, consider using the same colour as your main walls, applied at 150%

strength. This will make it appear more prominent in the room without introducing

an entirely new colour.

There are numerous ways to utilise this effective, elegant and low-cost way of

creating your colour scheme. Consider using lighter strengths on the walls in

hallways or rooms that dont receive a lot of natural light. Perhaps your home has

a picture rail. You may want to use a different strength on the section of wall

above the rail before the ceiling. Alternatively, you may wish to add extra definition

to a kitchen. Often, in rooms where there are lots of cupboards, it is possible to

simply increase the strength of your main wall colour to give more impact without

having one room be a different colour to the rest of the house.

The key to a successful colour scheme that includes one or more changes in

colour strength is to keep all the door and window frames, as well as skirting and

doors, in one uniform colour and strength. This provides continuity to act as a

bridge in unifying your various strengths of colour.

When considering the use of multiple strengths in your colour scheme, be aware

that very light shades of white only contain the most minuscule amounts of tinter.

Therefore, if you are only purchasing a very small quantity of paint, it may require

fewer tinters than can be calibrated by the tinting machine, and in these cases

half- and quarter-strengths are not possible.

Despite all these rules, using colour is a very personal matter. Like music, colour

varies enormously in the mood and atmosphere it creates. So allow your own style

to develop as you plan, and have confidence in whatever colours appeal to you.

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Colour Overview

Reds, Oranges and Yellows

Warm colours will make a room seem cosy and intimate, but use with care

because if the colour values are too strong or bright, the result can be

overpowering even claustrophobic.

Red

Red is the colour of vitality, passion and energy it is bright, exciting and

dramatic. As it is also the strongest advancing colour; it can be overpowering and

will make a room seem smaller if the stronger hues are used.

When red is tinted, it becomes pink. Often regarded as a feminine colour

associated with love and romance, pink is in fact a very versatile colour with many

different shades.

Warm pinks, like shell and salmon pink, help thaw the chill of cool rooms and are

a good background for large, visually heavy timber furniture in traditional homes.

Although pinks bring warmth to a colour scheme, cool pinks are those with an

element of blue in their makeup; for example, raspberry pink, fuchsia and pinky-

mauve a mysterious, sophisticated colour, ideal for bedrooms.

Deeper tones and shades of red are more subtle; for example, rose, plum and

claret. These create an elegant look in traditional living rooms, hallways, dining

rooms and studies.

Orange

A warm, friendly and happy colour, orange is almost as strong and advancing as

red and can be used in a similar way. It can be highly stimulating, especially if

combined with black, grey, white or blue, which are its complementary colours.

These are combinations that can work successfully in childrens playrooms,

bathrooms and kitchens.

Tinted oranges become peach, coral or apricot delicate, feminine and romantic

colours that work well in bedrooms. When it is greyed down, orange becomes

terracotta, tan or chestnut brown, producing very versatile decorating colours that

can be used with white or cream to create an elegant, warm, inviting scheme for a

hall, living room or office.

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Yellow

Yellow is a joyful colour associated with sunshine, warmth and summer. It is also

the colour of the mind, intellect and creative energy. Bright yellow will bring light

and sunshine into the darkest room but it is highly stimulating, so use with care.

Neutral backgrounds and the classic Scandinavian mix of yellow and blue will help

to ensure that it is not overpowering.

Yellow is a good colour for hallways, bathrooms, home offices and childrens

playrooms. Yellow, in the form of rich creams or pastel shades, is often a popular

choice for nurseries when the gender of the baby is not known in advance.

Greyed yellow becomes mustard, rich gold or subtle honey brown. These are the

colours to use in sophisticated schemes for traditional drawing rooms, bedrooms

and studies. A yellow with a hint of olive green can be elegant but take care as it

can look grey or lime chartreuse under artificial light.

Pale yellows are highly reflective and will make a small space seem larger and

brighter. When they go towards green, they become lime, which can be

stimulating and works well as an accent colour.

Use Reds, Oranges and Yellows to

Warm up rooms that feel cool or uninviting, like bathrooms and kitchens or any

south-facing rooms.

Promote a cosy and intimate atmosphere, for example in bedrooms or dining

rooms.

Make walls and ceilings advance into a room, thereby making large rooms look

smaller or high-ceilinged rooms look cosier.

Make rooms such as hallways appear inviting and welcoming.

Counterbalance or add warm contrasts to cool colour schemes.

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Greens, Blues and Violets

Greens, blues and violets are on the cooler side of the colour wheel, but often

appear far from cold. Many of them mix easily together and there are fewer

strident colours, making them a safe choice on which to base a scheme.

Green

Lively and invigorating, true green is the balance colour, halfway between the

warm and cool colours of the spectrum. In all its many guises, which allow it to be

a restful, vibrant or zingy colour, its an easy hue to live with and an ever-popular

choice for decorating schemes. The colour of nature and guaranteed to suggest

outdoors, green is a particularly good choice for city apartments or dull

townhouses where a sense of having the outdoors indoors is desirable.

Some greens can be very cold, but when mixed with warm, natural timber shades

in polished wooden flooring or furniture, they come to life and create a stunning,

serene room.

Pale tints of green create a very spacious look for small bathrooms and bedrooms,

and when green goes towards blue, it becomes minty, which is very refreshing in

a kitchen. Developing into aqua and teal, these green-based blues are ever-

popular for bathrooms, helping to arouse feelings of an aquatic setting without

needing to slavishly create a marine-themed bathroom.

Dark shades of green are rich and sophisticated deep malachite or forest green

work well in traditional styles of dcor or in more formal rooms of contemporary

homes, such as studies, libraries or games rooms. Used as the main colour, they

work best in rooms with bright, natural light and need balancing with white or

cream and reflective surfaces.

Greyed values of green can be very subtle. Sage, rosemary and olive greens are

always elegant and adapt to a myriad of styles, such as classic hallways, modern

kitchens or country-style sitting rooms.

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Blue

Blue is the colour of harmony, peace and devotion. It is associated with the sky

and wide vistas and creates an impression of space. Because it is basically a cool

colour, use it with care or you could end up with a cold, dreary or uninviting room.

Blue is relatively low in reflective light value; it will soften and diffuse strong

sunlight and thus calm down over-bright rooms. However, clear bright blue can

also be very cheerful, which makes it ideal for childrens rooms or basement living

areas.

The pure values of blue, especially as it starts to go towards green, peacock or

turquoise, can be very demanding, so are often best used in small amounts,

particularly if the small is small. Lightened to aqua, its freshness works well in

bathrooms and kitchens.

The greyed tones and shades of blue can be subtle. They look very effective

tamed with crisp neutrals white or cream or warmed up with contrasting

accents of orange, yellow or bright pink.

Violet

In its strongest value, a regal purple, this is a vibrant and demanding colour that

needs neutral contrasts. It works particularly well with its adjacent colours on the

colour wheel blue, blue-green and pink-violet.

The pale tints of lilac and lavender are delicate and feminine, giving a romantic

feel to a bedroom or sophisticated look to a living room. Lilacs, teamed with lime

greens, are very contemporary and evoke a fresh, timeless, summery feel.

Greyed lighter tints give subtle shades that are changeable in different lights, while

the darker shades offer us rich plums and aubergines. These deeper colours work

well in period settings when teamed with golds, rich creams and pale yellows.

Use Greens, Blues and Violets to

Alter the perceived dimensions of an area; cool colours in pale values make walls

and ceilings appear to be further away.

Balance the feel of a room that receives a lot of light.

Evoke a feeling of a marine environment.

Add contrasting cool accents to a warm colour scheme.

Create a calm and relaxed environment.

Cool down rooms with expansive areas of natural warm timber, such as polished

floors or panelled walls.

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WORKING WITH NEUTRALS

The No-colour Colours

The only three true neutrals are white, black and the in-between of grey, but there

are also the accepted neutrals or naturals the broken whites, creams, beiges,

taupes and soft browns of stone, undyed linen or wool.

Just Neutrals

Neutral colours on their own create a harmonious scheme and are often effective

for a very contemporary look, and with so many hardwearing, washable paints and

fabrics, are now an option for families and pet owners.

A basic rule of interior design is to consider the practical alongside the aesthetic. It

would be impractical, for example, to decorate a hallway in pale cream with an off-

white carpet and expect it to cope with the regular flow of visitors, muddy feet

and/or bike or baby buggy wheels. On the other hand, such a pure, simple colour

scheme would provide a pleasing atmosphere of calm in a main bedroom or

formal living room.

Black and white, especially when used together to form a pattern, is the most

stimulating and disturbing of neutral combinations. This combination should be

carefully planned and considered before being introduced to a room.

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Neutrals and Texture

If using neutral colours on their own in a room scheme, a good mixture of

contrasting textures smooth, rough, hard, soft, shiny and matt is important for

providing visual interest and stimulation.

Untreated wood, bamboo, rattan, wicker, bare brick, rough plaster, natural floor

coverings, unglazed terracotta, paper lampshades, undyed muslin and faux fur are

just some of the textural possibilities in neutral colour schemes. Smooth and shiny

textures to enhance your neutral scheme can include stone or ceramic surfaces,

leather furniture with a high luster, laminate flooring, polished wood and gloss

paint.

Neutrals in a Mixed Scheme

On their own, neutrals can be rather boring, so it is a good idea to enliven them

with contrasting accents. Follow the basic rule of relating these accents to the

overall style of the room, and choose warm or cool colours according to the

atmosphere you want.

Simply adding bright red to your all-white room by way of a red cushion, red bowl,

vase of red flowers and a picture of a red rose on the wall will fail to create a

scheme and does not work well even as a method of applying accent colour.

While popular, this approach usually creates too much visual tension in a room.

The room cannot be viewed as a unanimous whole, as the dots of red decoration

are distracting to the eye and compete with each other, preventing the eye from

resting automatically on the focal point of the room and then moving naturally to

view the highlights.

With a predominantly neutral scheme, you could use several different accent

colours, mixing cool and warm, or different tonal values of one or two colours.

Neutrals can also make a major contribution to other colour schemes. They

provide a good background for printed fabrics and wall coverings and provide an

element of quiet contrast, often unnoticed.

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When White is Not White

Many so-called neutrals (especially near-whites) are actually very pale tints of a

stronger colour. Creams can have tints of yellow or pink, while greiges

(grey/beiges) and browns can have undertones of warm orange or cool blue.

These origins may not be apparent until placed near another colour or neutral.

Pure white woodwork can make an off-white carpet look dirty, or a subtly shaded

woven fabric can just appear to be grey in the company of other neutrals.

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WORKING WITH PATTERN

Choosing Patterns

Like colour, pattern can serve many functions. It can be a focal point of a

backdrop and it can alter the apparent dimensions of a room. Patterned wall

coverings can soften angles and are more effective than plain surfaces for

disguising an odd-shaped room or uneven walls.

Where to Start?

When choosing a pattern, consider how effectively a large area of pattern will

complement, or contrast with, your existing or proposed colour and design

scheme.

Mood and Function

Patterns influence the mood of a room, so start by thinking about the way in which

you wish to use the room. Large, bold patterns like deep, rich colours are

intense and active; they work best as focal points in large living areas. Small,

subtle patterns like pale, neutral colours offer a less challenging backdrop.

The predominant colours in a pattern influence mood. Reds have a warm,

welcoming quality; blues are restful and calming; browns and oranges are warm;

yellows are bright and reflective; greens have a natural, cool and spacious feel.

Patterns in pale, neutral tones of these colours act like texture to add depth and

interest.

Colour Scheme

Think about the overall colour scheme of your room and consider if you want your

pattern to contrast or harmonise with your dcor. If the pattern is small with muted

colours, it will take on the appearance of a single colour when seen from a

distance. Similarly, a large pattern with very subtle colour variation has more

ability to integrate in a room than does a large pattern in a deep, bold, bright or

high-contrast colour-way. Again you can use your colour wheel to work out where

your patterns/colours fit as elements of your overall scheme.

Style of Pattern

A common mistake is to choose a pattern that is either too dark or too fussy. Dont

forget to consider both the lighting and the size of the area you are decorating. If

you are not certain what pattern to use, opt for one with an off-white background

and colours that subtly contrast with, or complement, the other colours in the

room.

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Balance

Balance is all-important and is one of the essential elements most often

overlooked by home decorators who become consumed with having exactly

matching colours, shades and patterns.

Such an approach will result in a lack of variety and interest, creating an

atmosphere of control and lifelessness. Conversely, and just as importantly, not

enough balance in a room can make it look chaotic. The human eye

unconsciously gravitates to seeking out repetition or grouping like items together.

Without the ability to do this in a room, we are left with a feeling of uneasiness or

disturbance. Worst of all, without adequate balance, your room may take on the

appearance of a last one left bargain shopping spree at the local bazaar and not

reflect the time, care or expense you have put into selecting its contents.

Types of Pattern

Just as there is an infinite range of colours, there is a vast variety of patterns to

choose from. Patterns are either static or dynamic. A static pattern is one where

the eye remains within the design geometric checks, or a small, repeated motif,

for example. With dynamic patterns, the eye is constantly travelling from one part

of the design to the other these include damasks and branching floral or leaf

designs.

Stripes

Depending on the combinations of colours used and the width of the stripes, a

stripy design can be subtle (like candy stripes) or bold (like deckchair stripes).

Stripes work well on walls, floors, upholstery and soft furnishings. The key to

success with stripes or combinations of stripes is to use the correct width of stripe

for the size of the item or area.

Regimented stripes in two contrasting colours can provide a formal look; this is

particularly effective on walls or tailored blinds. Stripes with a greater irregularity,

blurred lines and muted or blended colours will create a very different, more

relaxed effect when used in the same way.

Stripes are highly effective in altering the perceived dimensions of an area. For

example, bold, vertical stripes increase the apparent height of a room, while

horizontal stripes make walls appear longer and lower and can make a narrow

room appear wider. A striped hall carpet looks smart and welcoming as it draws

the eye into the room.

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Checks

Checks can vary in size from large-scale bold squares and trellis-style diagonal

checks to a miniscule two-colour check design that gives the appearance of a

solid colour from a distance. Checks work well with both solid colours and stripes.

Gingham, which is white checked with another colour, most commonly associated

with country kitchens and homemade jam, can look surprisingly good in modern

rooms.

Gingham can provide an edgy juxtaposition by challenging preconceived ideas.

When its teamed with materials not usually associated with it, like stainless steel,

or put in an unexpected room, like a bathroom, this tiny check can create a big

impact.

Spots

Bold spots work particularly well on rugs and

furnishings, while spots in subtle colours can look

good on the walls in a childrens room or family

area. Spots provide a light-heartedness when

applied in playful or bold colour combinations, and

even in formal settings a dot can stop a room

being too visually stuffy or serious. Spots and

stripes work well together when there is a

common colour to link the patterns.

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Geometrics

A regular geometric pattern is any regular design

other than stripes, checks or spots. Such patterns

tend to be static and formal; they are particularly

good on rugs and in rooms where a prevailing

masculine feel is desired. Bold geometric patterns

can make a strong statement, so need to be used

carefully if you intend to mix and match patterns on

walls or fabrics.

Pictorials

Pictorial designs range from French-inspired toile and traditional chinoiserie

patterns to oriental-style prints and fun themed designs associated with bathrooms

or childrens rooms. Pictorial fabrics can make wonderful roller blinds, as the

absence of pleats or folds allows the design to be fully visible when the blind is in

use.

Florals

Floral patterns range in size from small, busy sprigs to huge, dramatic flower

heads and encompass both traditional and modern styles. Ever-evolving interior

design trends will always ensure that one style, version or variety of floral is

constantly in favour.

The combination of florals, smaller stripes and plains

is timeless and can be adapted from the most

traditional period room to the ultra-contemporary

pared back minimalism. Repetitive floral patterns give

a sense of movement or flow, while structured florals

provide more of a geometric feel.

Floral wallpaper, while softer and more organic in its

patterns than stripes, still needs to be applied with

care or it, too, can be overpowering. A strong floral

can be more ideal when used on a feature wall or in

an entry where no constant day-to-day living takes

place.

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Abstracts

This is an extremely wide category which includes ethnic patterns, faux animal

skin prints, plus anything else not covered above. An abstract pattern often works

best if its the main or focal pattern in a room. A strong, colourful abstract pattern

can be a great starting point for a room scheme.

ebook cover3.pdfHow_To_Decorate_Like_a_Designer via Datasearch adj by me.pdf