splash some color on!
Summer is finally here. Finally, everyone has shed away their layers of clothes and embraced brightness. Happy faces everywhere (especially on weekends!!) The best of nice bright summer rags are out of the closet… Colorful clothes everywhere… But when its time to get back to work, on comes the safest (most boring!!) choice of neutrals. Only the most daring and rebellious dare to add only a splash of striking contrast. Why do we shy away from experimenting with colors? This play-safe attitude is also reflected in our selection of interiors, be it walls, furniture or accessories. In the name of elegance, we often embrace boredom.
One of the first things we related to as children were colors. My two-year old niece has assigned one to everyone in her circuit. Hers is yellow mine is peach… her dad is red and mommy is green… All of us have associations with colors. So if we bring the same colors in the space we live in, we lend a bit of our personality to it. Define your space instead of the space defining you.
Color therapy is instrumental in Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui institutions as well. The colors have power to influence our moods and stimulate our minds. As per astrology, certain specific colors are related with certain planets and are believe to provide additional benefit to the residents by balancing energy and increase harmony. The flip side is that certain colors may be completely unfavorable to your stars. So, if you want to go that route, always seek professional help of trained vastu or feng shui consultants… (because, if even one door swings the other way, god save you… just kidding!!). On a more serious note, if one believes in accommodating vastu or feng shui to interiors, professional help is prudent. Another branch of color therapy is called chromotherapy. It is a simple method of treatment where colors are used to provide some relief from certain ailments. Each of the colors in a rainbow is related to one of the seven chakras. For example, green connects to lung and heart, blue connects with brain aiding in meditation and yellow connects with stomach and liver. So, infusing some the suitable colors in the interiors as well, after professional chromo-therapists’ advise, may promote one’s mental and physical health.
In my last course, I was assigned a project to design a living room. I chose a beautiful light walnut wooden floor, dark chocolate cabinets, and fabrics in light olive green, steel blue with slight touch of deep hot pink. So far so good… all happy... my classmates & my instructor & moi… Now came the time to pick wall color… I painted the room in golden olive color with a deep yellow tinge. I was so proud of myself and so excited to show my creation! Reaction from the instructor “How long before you start taking drugs in this room?!” :O (did she just say that out loud… in front of the whole class?!.. yes she did!!) All I could say in my defense was “Why not?!” And then it was shown to the rest of my class… common reaction “I love those walls”… When we laid out our final projects in a row, all I saw was “beautiful” walls in shades of beige and neutrals… and then was mine in green-glory… everyone loved it and the guest celebrity designer loved my bold use of colors… and so did my instructor (possibly due to public & celebrity pressure…!!)
This brings me to a very valid question, “how much of a color should one use in a room?” The answer really depends on the feel one is trying to attain. If the room needs a softer and calmer look, you can use softer shades on walls or furniture and touches of striking contrasting accessories to bring in some drama and add some focal points. On the other hands, colors may be used boldly to define the mood of a space. A room with lot of activity may use bright vibrant colors boldly, whereas as resting room like libraries or bedrooms may use deeper colors for relaxation. For example, shades of blues and greens are very soothing to the eye and remind us of skies and open fields. They maybe a good selection for outdoor, bathrooms etc. White is a very tricky color. If used just right, it has a very calming effect, but if it is builder white overdone, it is outright “blah!!!” Red is a very intense color and different shades of it reflect different emotions ranging from love and passion to anger (so if you notice more aggression than passion, maybe you picked a wrong shade!!). Earthy tones of browns bring in warmth of earth. The list is endless. One thing that we must look out for is the shade of color we intend to use. If one uses softer color on furnishings, a bright dramatic wall or contrasting accessories can spice up the room. Word of caution: Too many focal points may sometimes lead to a chaos. But if done in harmony, it can be a treat to eyes.
Colors create optical illusions. Using darker colors can cozy-up a space and lighter colors can open it up. So using Dark color furniture or rugs or wall paint for a smaller room will make it appear even smaller. However, using the same in a bigger room, will help in lending the warmth of small comfortable space. Using one single color is left unnoticed, unless it is compared against a second color. This is the reason, why you would see the walls of a different (mostly darker) color than the ceiling.
Different colors tend to have varied effects on different people, based on their gender, ethnicity and experiences… but I firmly believe… To Each Their Own… The trends will come and go, but the people will continue to stay in those spaces. So people, lay out your color palette and rediscover YOUR colors. Play with them… splash some color on!!
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