Bring the Spring

Today marked the first day of spring, so that means it's time to spruce up your decor with some spring color!

Pantone has announced the "it" colors of Spring 2008 and although they relate their colors to fashion, I've found home decor from Ikea in all 10 colors. With that many options you're sure to find at least one color you can incorporate to bring in the spring!

Last year I talked about how easy and inexpensive it could be to change a few accessories each season, or even pick your favorite season, and change out things in your decor to renew the look and feel of a space.I also showed some pictures of my "spring update" Ikea is a great place to buy those accessories, they have great prices, fun colors, and they are WORLDWIDE! You can't always have items shipped to you, but check for an Ikea near you, believe me the deals are worth the drive.

The above items can provide a change in your space from something as small as a candle, or as large as a sofa; with prices ranging from $3.99 to $599.99. Check Ikea out and start your spring update!

We are fam i ly...

The next two color theories we'll look at will deal with color "families", they are analogous and monochromatic schemes. Analogous colors are those which are next to each on the color wheel. A good way to identify an analogous color scheme is take one color and look at each of the colors on both sides of it. While monochromatic schemes are created when one color is used in various tints and shades. Just as before looking at this diagram should help make things a little clearer.



Now on to my favorite part...room examples! Although the two rooms shown below are very similar in color, they display two different analogous schemes.

The room pictured above has a color scheme based on violet as the middle color flanked by blue-violet and red-violet.

In my opinion the room below is a color scheme of red-violet flanked by red and violet, because there is no blue in this room.

I could go on and on finding pretty pictures so I'll move on to monochromatic.

I think a lot of people hear monochromatic and think neutral colors so I went the total opposite way and choose rooms full of COLOR to display monochromatic color schemes.

I can't decide if the image below is a blue or a blue-green monochromatic palette, I keep referring back to my color wheel and I'm leaning towards blue-green, what do you think?

The next two images I really had fun with finding. I wanted to display how easily going from one monochromatic scheme do the next could alter the way a room looks and the colors used in the room.

Below we have a room that has a monochromatic scheme built on yellow-orange (top) and one built on orange (bottom) TOTALLY DIFFERENT!

They also look different because the rooms vary in style, but there is no denying that the color difference is dramatic from one to the next.

Ahhh the joy of color.

If you still hadn't found a combination of colors that you like...don't fret, I'll post about another theory tomorrow.

Catch ya'll later!

Opposites Attract!

According to color theory, colors which are directly opposite from each other on the color wheel come together to form a harmonious color combination known as a complementary scheme. I've found photos of some spaces that execute that concept beautifully, but first check out an example of the color wheel to see if there's a combination you like.

This first bedroom has shades and tints of red, pink, orange, and green. It reminds me of a delicious sorbet, and the look that's pulled off is quite yummy! The space also features a headboard that's reminiscent of a technique called trompe l'oeil (French for "trick the eye") in which an item is painted to look sort of three dimensional. This headboard is not quite as elaborate as most trompe l'oeil examples but pretty none the less.

Here are two more examples of the red/green complementary scheme...

Next lets explore the combination of violet and yellow, I must admit it's not my favorite but I think the designers who put together the rooms below did an excellent job. The first bedroom features rich eggplant purple walls with hint's of yellow for a tropical feeling. The wood used in this room also has strong yellow undertones adding to the complimentary color scheme.

The second bedroom featuring violet and yellow combine the colors in a more subdued manner, using lavender and a pale yellow almost taupe color.

Finally we have the blue-green/red-orange combination which I think is very fab! The first room is so nice I had to show you twice (two different views of the same room).

This last room was featured in Domino's magazine and was submitted by one of their readers...I love it!

Images courtesy of Domino, Sunset, and House Beautiful.

We'll continue our journey through color theories with more posts throughout the week, until then...happy decorating!