Guest Post: Texture and the Color Red Used in the Bedroom

11 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Guest Posts, The Home

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bedroom, bedroom decor, blinds, color, curtains, decor, drapes, fabrics, flowers, harlequin, house of frasier, lighting, linea, linen, linens, london, pillows, red, sanderson, texture, toile, vases

This is The Design Inspirationalist’s first guest post, written by Michael Turner, an enthusiast in home improvement, technology and design. Enjoy!

Bedroom decor is a challenge in itself, aimed at creating an interesting yet relaxing ambience at the same. The play of color, texture, and lighting will all have to be precisely balanced to set just the right atmosphere of calm and intimacy, neither too minimalist nor too ornamental. Muted shades of color, diffused lighting, and soft textured fabrics characterise the ideal decor of the bedroom. How exactly does a bold color such as red, fit into this picture without really being loud? Red does make the space more attractive when used in discrete splashes and unique textures.

Shades of Red

Different shades of the basic red color can be used either by themselves or in combination with other shades of orange, yellow, white or beige to simply break the monotony of an otherwise vibrant color. Patterned or differently textured quilts, headboards, and wall papers spruce up the space to make it more interesting. It is certainly not advisable to paint all the walls red, unless one is confident of toning down the color by alternative design ideas.

Decorative Pieces

Red colored vases, flowers, designer lamp fixtures with shades of red all add to the glamour of the room. The placement of decorative objects and the lighting will have to be carefully planned to avoid a sense of clutter.

Blinds and Drapes

Delicate or heavy blinds, drapes or curtains, either patterned or plain ensure privacy of the space while also adding to the intimacy of the setting, especially when in shades of red. Choice of fabric serves to accentuate the atmosphere.

Bedding

Beds and bed linen obviously form the focal point of the room and hence it is essential to choose the right shade of red, and preferably a luxurious texture such as silk or micro suede for the linen. Personal preferences on the texture, prints and styles play an important role in the selection of bed linen.

A comfortable array of throws and pillows, ideally of different shades of red or other complimentary colors add a neat yet cozy look to the bed. Pillows of different shapes and sizes add variety to the space, and pillow covers made from fabrics such as paisley, velvet or chenille too can serve to incorporate texture variations to the setting.

Traditional yet simple wooden bed frames, or wrought iron frames and sleek furniture pieces compliment the looks of a bedroom that showcases red as the predominant color.

Red, though a bold color, is indicative of energy and vigour and when used intelligently in a bedroom setting can make the space relaxing and exciting. Feng Sui also favors the use of red in bedroom decor as it is considered a symbol of energy, passion, luxury and richness, representative of the power of fire, which has both positive and negative impacts. However, it warns against an overdose of red because it can cause restlessness and anger, disturbing the calm of an otherwise intimate space.

Experiment with red decor in the bedroom by using simple decorative pieces and move on to more elaborate use of the color only when it improves the ambience.

Understanding How Color Affects Your Space

03 Sunday Jun 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Art & Design, Color Inspiration

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color, color theory, color wheel, complementary, design, interior design, texture

Color theory lessons are intense and long. When I was in art school, the course was divided into two sections and each were seriously hard. I think we had five or more assignments due each week! Combine that with four other courses of BFA work, and it’s enough to make you go nuts.

However, as much as there is to know about color theory, there are a few tips that can help with everyday design. It is essential you understand the basics of color in order to create a finished and beautiful piece of work. Whether it’s interior design or a painting, color is one of the main, if not most important, element of the complete design.

The Color Wheel

Remember the color wheel? Well, it’s a nifty little tool to help with all types of design work, especially when designing a space in your home. It’s good to know which colors compliment each other, so understanding different palettes is essential. A good way to teach yourself is to use objects in your home. By using items you’re familiar with you should pick up a sense of color in no time.

How Do Colors Make You Feel?

This is a very important element when creating a design. Colors are an extension of who you are and express emotions with clarity. What do you want out of the space? Do you want to evoke energy or have it more relaxed? Is the space for everyone in the home or just you? Knowing whom the space is for is the first step, then using color to create a personal palette of style is next.

Warmer colors like reds, oranges and yellows create intimate spaces that, although may be bright and colorful, are homey and alive. These colors bring energy to the room so they’re good for living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms where people often gather to eat, play games or hang out.

Cooler colors like blues, greens and purples are best at creating relaxed spaces that are soothing and calm. They work great for bedrooms, kids rooms and bathrooms since you sleep and relax in both. However, if you are like me and love to have a crisp, cool and open space, then cool colors are your best bet. If you’re worried the room will look too cold, there are many ways to warm it up with textures, furniture and accessories.

Both warm and cool colors can open a space but in different ways. Cool colors help give a space a clean, airy and modern feel. With the help of whites, it’s refreshingly brightened. Warm colors stimulate a space so the energy they create make a room appear larger than it is. On the other hand, they can also make it seem smaller if the room is already tiny because it adds weight to the area.

Color & Extra Elements

Once you have chosen the main color palette for the room, it’s time to figure out other colors that will go. You do this through window treatments, rugs, furniture and accessories. This is the fun part, but it’s important to know how colors react when they are together.

Mixing warm and cool colors is fine as long as you do it successfully. This is when complimentary and analogous palettes come into play. Complimentary colors like yellow, purple, pink and green are opposite each other on the color wheel.

Analogous, on the other hand, are colors side by side such as yellow, green and orange.

So if you have blue on the walls, whether light or dark, to keep it cool you can use grays, whites, browns or greens. These neutral colors will accent the space but not change the feel you have created. Adding pops of orange, black and pink will bring more energy into the space.

If warmer colors surround the room, then darker neutrals like browns and greens will work. Adding whites will allow the space to pop even more while dark blues and oranges spread the energy throughout the room. An easy color scheme to work with is picking one color you love, say blue, and then just add white. Using different tones of the main color will add depth and interest without creating friction.

Accessories: Textures & Patterns

Use patterns to bring in style and personality. Have fun and get creative. Whether it’s stripes, plaids, floral or illustrative design, adding these elements will complete the space. Adding colored pillows to a white couch warms it up while a rug can add weight to a room. The lampshades on lamps, curtains or blinds and fabric on seating can all make a big difference in a space.

Adding texture to a design is important. You don’t want a room to feel flat or dead. Texture can be found in window treatments, rugs, fabrics on furniture, blankets and accessories both on the wall and throughout the room. Just don’t overdo it because too much texture can feel stuffy. You want just enough here and there to add depth and warmth.

So, get a better understanding of color and you’ll see how your world changes for the better. Living in a space that is poorly designed can really take its toll, even if you don’t realize it. I’m not saying everyone has to be an amazing designer, but with a few easy tips and practice, you can proudly say you designed your home with confidence.

Just remember color creates life and energy, but it can easily make a space feel dead and cold. By using different tones and hues, you can experiment to see what you like and how colors make you feel. The most important thing about a house is that you feel like you’re at home.

Redefining Space – Design Ideas for Your Home

28 Monday May 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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balance, color, design, interior design, nature, rugs, small spaces, space, texture

Here is another collection of ideas that will help you redefine spaces in your home. Sometimes it just takes a few tips to get you started and then you are set to go. There are easy and simple ways of accomplishing successful design. You just have to keep the space in mind and figure out what works best.

Have a stairwell in need of some love? Hanging photos or artwork on the walls will usually do the trick but what about the corner of the stairwell? Don’t think you can’t do anything with them just because it is a small space. Shop around for a corner piece of furniture or place a plant on a plant stand. Two ideas that will solve the problem and look beautiful. You can also dress up the stairs! Get creative and have some fun.

Corners in a room are very important. In my previous apartment I had glass bookshelves in the corner which looks great but still seemed a little empty. I happened to have a big branch that I found in my backyard that I felt would be perfect for the spot. I already had it in an oversized vase on the floor but it wasn’t doing much where I originally had it. This corner was the ideal spot. Not only does it fill up the space, it brings a natural and whimsical feel to the room.

Bringing natural elements into your home is one idea I always recommend people do. The Earth is such a beautiful place and it gives us so much to work with. This is one thing you can take for granted because most of the time it’s free and best of all, it enhances your everyday life in the process.

For natural elements, look around your local parks or even around your backyard. Remember not to settle with an item just because you want to get the project out of the way. Bringing in plants and flowers will always brighten up a room. Your home is an extension of who you are so allow it to represent your style and personality to the fullest.

Another problem I feel people have with defining space is understanding ways to open it up. If you have a small room, you shouldn’t bring heavy, dark furniture into the space. It will just make it look smaller. That doesn’t mean you can’t use browns and darker colors, it just means you should watch how you combine the elements in the room. It should always feel balanced. Knowing your measurements should help solve that problem.

You can have a big, lofty room and still have it feel relaxing, airy and warm. If you want to fill up the space nicely and can use large furniture, then go for it. For big spaces you can choose from many colors that are warm or cool. It’s just a matter of how you want the space to feel. Color plays a big part as well. The warmer the hue (reds, oranges and browns) the space will seem cozier. The cooler the hue (whites, creams, blues and grays) the space will feel more open and airy. But as long you have a nice balance between color, furniture and texture, you can create the space of your dreams.

For my living room, I chose a cool blue/gray palette on my walls and included a lot of white. I balanced that out with metal and dark gray furniture. Although its nice to have a lot of light neutrals in the space, there should be some weight to help balance everything out. This is why I chose darker gray metal pieces with a mix of wood to fill in areas.

Textures also play an important role when balancing a space. Again, if you are stuck with a small room, brighten it up with a high textured rug but don’t hide it with a heavy coffee table. To show the rug off you want to purchase a table that you can see through or has a very light feeling.

Try to be creative when it comes to furniture. You don’t always have to buy something already made. Make it yourself! A year ago I purchased several crates from Etsy and stacked them to make shelves. Once I placed some of my vintage accessories on them, it stood out brilliantly. Keeping a collection together is more dramatic than spreading it around so try to pair up pieces by style, form or color.

For vintage crates and things of that nature, stop by garage sales in your neighborhood. You never know what you will find. There are a lot of things in my home I found at yard sales and for a very good price. Don’t forget about antique shops too! Get creative and work with the space you have. It’s all up to you to make it functional and beautiful.

Hope you all have fun playing around with some of these ideas. Remember, it’s easy to design your space and balance it out. Just keep these tips in mind and DIY your way to brilliance.