If you tend to keep the doors between the rooms in your home closed, then linking the rooms together by color may not seem all that important to you. However, most of us do not do this - so if you can see from room to room in your home, then the balance of colors between rooms matter. The way these colors relate can make the difference between having a harmonious flow between rooms and a jarring feeling of mismatched parts.
Using colors which do not work together in adjoining rooms can give your home the feeling of a confused jumble; using colors which work well together instead draws the eye from room to room and gives a pleasant, open feeling.
In a home which has an open floor plan or one where all of the rooms directly connect to each other (such as seen in loft conversions, brownstones, etc.), it is vital to decorate in colors which harmonize with each other. The difficulty is to maintain this flow while giving each room its own distinct identity.
Using colors which do not work together in adjoining rooms can give your home the feeling of a confused jumble; using colors which work well together instead draws the eye from room to room and gives a pleasant, open feeling.
In a home which has an open floor plan or one where all of the rooms directly connect to each other (such as seen in loft conversions, brownstones, etc.), it is vital to decorate in colors which harmonize with each other. The difficulty is to maintain this flow while giving each room its own distinct identity.
Use a Thread of Color
You can give each room its own identity; however, you need to create a single theme which runs throughout the home by using a common color throughout.Quite often, this common element is the woodwork - baseboards, moldings and window and door frames. You can also weave this common thread with a recurring color motif in the accessories and furniture used in each room.
A flow can also be attained by using a limited number of colors which appear in different ways throughout the home. You can use the same color in different shades and saturation to give each room a different feel while allowing the home as a whole to have a cohesive theme.
Crosslink with Color
Many homes have living rooms and kitchens which are separate by only a counter; if indeed they are separated at all. If you have a counter and wish to paint each room a different color, use this counter as the boundary between the two rooms.Create a common element by using the same colors for the trim in both rooms. You can strengthen this connection by using accents of each room's primary color in the other room. For this, it is best to use colors which are similar in value.
If you must paint two adjacent rooms in colors which contrast strongly, use flooring or area rugs which tie the two rooms together with color. These colors need not be identical; just closely related enough that they will be seen and understood as related.
Choose a Limited Palette
Open floor plans are favored as a way of making a space feel larger without increasing the actual size. However, you don't have to paint the entire home one color.You can maintain a unified look while giving each room its own identity by limiting your palette to only a few colors and using them in each room to varying degrees.
Remember that you should balance the different colors used by making sure that they are of equal or nearly equal intensity - this may take more than one attempt, but be patient. The end result will be worth the trouble.
Play with Light
It is well known that light changes the appearance of any color.The same green in a sunny room and in a room which gets little light will look like two entirely different colors.To allow your rooms to flow into each other, you should play up this difference. Use two closely related colors and use the lighter of the two in the sunniest space; this will make the room feel brighter all day.
About the Author...
For almost 40 years Leon Tuberman has been helping people with their interior decorating and home furnishing needs. He is the second generation owner of popular Los Angeles store that has been serving the community since 1945. The hallmark store specializes in American handmade oak furniture that's built to last for generations. They carry a wide selection of Mission, Arts & Crafts and Traditional furniture. Whether you're looking for an Amish made dining room set or California crafted corner tv stands they can help you with all your furniture needs.
Learn more about Color...
- Color Theory
- The best way to understand the interrelation of different colors is of course visually; through the representation of the color wheel. The primary colors are known to everyone from their childhood on - red, blue and yellow.
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