Color of the Month
Color. Our world is saturated with it, from the bright yellow of fresh daffodils to the dark rusty red of an exposed brick wall; color can change the whole look of a room.
In Designer Monthly's The Magic of Color, we look at a different color each month. As you learn in the first Unit of the Sheffield Complete Course in Interior Design, a designer has available an infinite range of hues, both natural and man-made. When painting, you can combine colors to form other colors, in an endless array of shades. Manufacturers of everything from throw pillows to lampshades can also produce this vast palette. And then you must also consider the artwork that will hang in the rooms you design.
Welcome to the world of color. Everywhere we turn, there it is the deep indigo blue of a favorite old sweater, the glossy green of rhododendron leaves in a rainstorm, the rich brown of the soil as you begin to plant your spring flowers. We hope you'll join us each month on this exciting journey, as we take a close look at a color we love.
Jewel Tones
If you want to imbue your life with a posh feeling of richness without laying out the cash necessary for a sapphire tiara or a pair of ruby earrings, try adding jewel tones to your decorating palette.
Jewel tones are those shades of color that are both bright and deep. Because they’re highly saturated colors, they feel almost alive, a quality which makes them jump out from a dark background—no wonder they’re so popular when worn in evening gowns.
The jewel tones are named for their stones: emerald green, topaz yellow, sapphire blue.
Jewel tones are often popular in wedding design, because they bring out such a feeling of luxury; they also go well with a sea-side wedding setting, with the deep blues of the ocean.
In home decorating, if you want to use jewel tones beware of how wood and white will look with them; too much grey, black, or white will make the jewel tones appear cold and harsh. Instead, warm the walls with a pale yellow or deep eggshell. Jewel tones are brilliant, but they’re also often dark, so if you want to use them in wall color consider carefully first how dark they’ll make the room. You may want to opt for painting just one accent wall in the color, and painting the others yellow or eggshell.
The best way to show off jewel tones is with a neutral background. If you do want furniture in jewel tones, go for a deep yellow, which will offset the accessories. Otherwise, taupe, beige, or another neutral is best for your upholstered furniture for the room.
Once you have your neutral walls and upholstered furniture, you can splurge with the color in the accessories. This is the place to have fun not only with the colors, but also with the fabrics and textures. A row of raw-silk pillows in jewel tones will pop from the neutral background of a sofa. Drapes in amethyst will bring dignity to an otherwise drab room.
Because jewel tones speak of richness, you can play this up with extras like golden pull cords on the drapes, or golden tassels on the throw pillows. The carpeting or area rugs are also a great place for jewel tones, as are a throw or blanket you may want to drape over the arm of a sofa or chair.
By using jewel tones in a few accessories, you can have your home feeling like a castle, without breaking the bank.
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