You might gravitate toward certain colors, but it's a different game to combine multiple shades and tones to create a cohesive personal palette. Enter decorator Emily Henderson, who has helpful guidelines you can follow.
Her first, very logical tip is to start with your favorite color. For her, this is indigo; for me, it's teal. For you, it might be red or emerald or yellow — Emily suggests looking to your wardrobe if you aren't sure of the answer.
Next, she suggests adding complementary highlights and low-lights to the mix. Finally, make sure you've brought together cool and warm tones so that the end result is balanced. On her blog, she includes helpful images to show how an all-cool or all-warm look goes awry.
For more details, read the full post at Style by Emily Henderson.
(Image: Style by Emily Henderson)
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The photo here is beautiful. I love the gold, whites and blues. A great balance
Sigh... must I wander around seeking "Joy's" house for further detail on that couch seat cushion... and the panda cushion....
Anyone have a source for that rug? It's just gorgeous.
@lepidoptery
here you go:
http://www.stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/a-kid-friendly-baby-proof-yet-stylish-living-room-ohjoy-20.html
@ScuttledCuttle
"Rug: Madeline Weinrib, 8x10, $1800"
@kittykatofdoom
Thou art a kind soul!
... of coooooooourse it is a one-off fabric, SIGH. I have actually considered the "custom" fitted sheet idea before for single, long, rectangular cushions. I may still do this, considering I don't have enough purple in this apartment. Being my favorite color. To bring it back to the point of this post.
Funny but my wardrobe says nothing about my favorite colors in decor.
I'm with you, PooinBaby. I know I look good in cool tones, and I like them on me. But I hate 'living' in cool colors. I need warm, sunny interiors. I think it's better to find your favorite interior colors based on what makes you ooh and aah in magazines, blogs, pin, etc, as well as real-life interiors that strike you and make you feel at home.
And what about folks who wear mostly black?
The full blog post is super helpful (and she mentions: if you wear a lot of black you'll probably want to disregard that tip!). I'm currently living in a high-energy, lots of color environment that is slowly driving me crazy. I am a high-energy, lots of color person, but I have learned, painfully, that it is draining to live with it surrounding me every second. A serious re-do is in order and the linked post has some solid tips, especially if you're like me and you need to walk AWAY from your first impulses!
Emily, I so agree with the idea presented here. Being a slave to the Color-of-Moment Syndrome never really helped me create an atmosphere I loved for anything more than a short time. Wardrobe didn't provide insight for me either so recently I took inspiration from my beloved set of Mid Century dishware to create the palette for my home. I've never grown tired of the results.
I disagree with how to pick your palette. I better idea is to pick out a painting you adore, or a fabric you love with a minimum of about 3-5 colors in it and work from there. Starting with a multicolored fabric or wall art is easy and always a good place to start.
@Pooinbaby
I agree. I wear mostly black and when I am bored with it or attempting to appear more festive, I accent with bright colors. But I'm not looking at myself. What I want to look at is almost exactly the opposite. I like white. I like off-tones. I like calming colors. But I have no desire to project that as my personal image to the world.
kushkush,
...that would be me....! lol
Thanks, kitty! Yikes on the price, though. Rugs are always so expensive. *sigh*
There's a rug on Overstock.com with an almost identical pattern and color for far less money. Name of the rug is "Handmade Luna Moroccan Trellis Rug" and a 7'6" x 9'6" rug is only $341.99. It's acrylic, not wool, but it looks almost as lovely. I'd prefer a wool rug, but I agree, $1,800 is a lot of $.
How nice it would be to design my home after my personal colour pallet! Light pinks, Maude's, whites and off whites and golds... That my partner and his comic book style would hate. But Godspeed to those with total control.