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What ever happened to Color?
Why is builder beige the norm-how to break away and find your colors
Interesting facts about the Color Blue
hints to help with color by Candis
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WHATEVER HAPPENED TO COLOR? When did the standard for our homes become lacking in color? Builder beige, vanilla, off white, taupe….the list is long. Today it seems the only way to introduce color into a space is through artwork or accent pillows. To have a red sofa or envelope a room in lavender, is another issue entirely; hard to believe that beautiful, natural color was not always banished from our homes. Historically, nothing is farther from the truth; mankind has always been fascinated by the colors of nature and tried to recreate them in his interiors. The Greeks & Romans created colorful glass mosaics & pottery; in medieval & renaissance times there was a focus to create new colors from nature into clothing dyes and paint pigmentations. Victorians used intense color and varied patterns with wild abandon, they never worried that rooms would look too busy or the family would tire of the colors quickly. There are more choices and varied ways of having color in our environments beyond any other time in history, why waste it? Science has given us the gift of knowing how color affects us psychological and emotional levels; history can give us color references through the centuries to influence our homes today. Why do we still choose to live in colorless homes? I think it’s for several reasons, too many choices, too busy, afraid of making a bad choice…… The fact is that just choosing a color from a swatch that looks nice is not the best way and that’s what most of us do. Choosing colors for your home becomes much easier when you choose it based on something that has meaning or appeals to you personally; instantly the choices are narrowed. Start with the simplest option; what is your favorite color? If you are not sure, a good place to look is your closet. My favorite color is teal or any shade of blue/green. I have loads of it in my closet along with the neutrals black, white, brown, navy, grey and gold. Other colors in the closet are orange, grey/lavenders, pinks and a little red. They are all great start to combine several ways to create a palette for the house. Another way to find your colors is to notice what color combinations inspire you. As long as its inspired, the source could be anything, material patterns-new & retro, plates, paintings, photos, anything in fashions of any era, periods in history or signage. You may want to create a certain feeling with your colors, warmth, romance, creativity or relaxation that narrows down the choices significantly. When you choose to start noticing colors its doesn’t take long to figure out which ones you favor, cause they always catch your eye first, you will naturally levitate toward them. Once you find your colors look to combine them with others that complement your favorites. There are lots of color palette sources to give you inspiration. When you surround yourself in the color that means some thing to you, it affects your mind, body and soul every day and enriches your life in the simplest of ways. Your home truly becomes a reflection of yourself and we all know that none of us are really a Builder Beige.
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THE COLOR BLUE
Blue is America’s favorite color and appears that it is a universal favorite across the world. Blue is the color of the sky-ephemeral and transparent but always there; the color of consistency, truth and heaven itself. As far back as 4500 BC in Mesopotamia blue was used as a decorative color. Bright blue threads have been found in Peruvian embroideries dated from 800 BC. For early Christians it implied divinity, peace and tranquility. Christ was often painted with a blue mantle and the Virgin Mary was invariably clothed in blue. For many cultures blue was used for protection against evil forces. In Greece a piece of blue cloth was attached to a baby’s underclothes to protect it from harm. In ancient times, a blue star sapphire was believed to provide protection from witchcraft, the 3 crossbars that radiate from the stone represented faith, hope and destiny. In the Southwest, Native Americans painted the doors of their adobe houses a bright blue to keep evil spirits away. To the Japanese it symbolizes the productive world of the sea as an eternal and spiritually calming source. Blue represented immortality to the ancient Chinese; today it’s the conventional color of clothing in mainland China. The French knights under the Bourbon dynasty, wore blue ribbon badges, today it denotes individuals that are the best in their fields, blue ribbons proclaim the highest award in many cultures. Blue can bring tranquility. Physiologically, when blue is viewed, it creates a calming effect; studies show it reduces blood pressure and slows the heartbeat. The Tibetans often use indigo blue in prayer scrolls and associate it with the serene quality of night; creating a restful state of mind good for study and contemplation. Blue can also be dynamic as it is associated with electric blue charges or a blue hot gas flame. Mostly we associate blue with the sky and sea, its calm consoling effects, the coolness of it associated with ice and water.
Blue in your home: Bright blues are always good for a little boy’s room but it’s not written in stone. If you have a child that bounces off the walls, maybe a calm serene blue might be preferred. It’s a favorite choice for adult bedrooms because of its relaxing affect. Bathrooms are a natural for blue as it is associated with water and cleanliness. For family rooms the use of a green-blue might appeal to everyone more than a solid blue; dens and libraries are perfect for deeper shades of blue for they encourage meditative and contemplative moods. Classic blue and white kitchens have never lost their popularity and dining areas which are classically red (for it stimulates conversation and appetites) can become a soothing space with pale blues and neutrals. With all things, we seek balance and equilibrium, Blue must be balanced with other warm colors. Too much blue can become chilly and uncomfortable and put you in a blue mood. A vase of red roses can bring cheery warmth to a too-cool room.
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