The Power of Color by Jeani Ziering
Today I am happy to welcome guest blogger and interior designer, Jeani Ziering, to My Design Secrets. This is Jeani’s second contribution to our website. Jeani is the owner and lead designer of Ziering Interiors in New York. She has been designing interiors for residential, corporate, and hospitality projects for over 20 years. She has also has written for and edited design magazines and publishes the Dr. Decorator Series on her site.
Enjoy! ~ Lorrie
We are all weary from the stressors of today’s economic climate. Bad news seems to be all around us. In troubled times like these, finding sanctuary in your home becomes more important than ever. And when money is tight, we have the creative challenge of figuring out how to enhance our home décor without breaking the budget. The use of color provides an easy solution to this problem. Color is one of the best decorating bargains available. The power of paint allows us to transform our living environments at minimal expense. Your paint brush is your decorating magic wand. Change the color of your walls and you can create a new room without changing any of your furnishings.
In the beige wall version the room is calm and classical.
Take a tired room with a huge beige sofa, beige rug and beige accessories. Paint the room a contrasting color and… Viola! You will feel like you are living in a brand new place. For the slightly more adventurous home enthusiasts, the use of a boldly colored contrast wall will make your furnishings “pop” and give your place instant drama. This is illustrated in the photos above and below. The art deco styled sitting room designed by Jeani Ziering and Jennifer Huson of Ziering Interiors shows how the same room looks with different wall colors. Same space. Same furniture. Different color. Different mood. The only thing that changed is the wall color. Neither color is right or wrong; they are just different.
In the red wall version the room becomes bold and dramatic.
Color can also be used to camouflage architectural problems. Dark colors protrude and light colors recede. Take a long narrow room and paint the end wall a dark color and you will create the illusion of a wider space. If a ceiling is too high, it can be visually lowered by painting it a darker color than the walls. Conversely, if the ceiling is too low, it can be made to feel higher by painting it a lighter color. A trick for small rooms is to paint the walls and the ceiling the same color so that the space will visually expand. In rooms with angled ceilings, the use of the same color on ceilings and walls will make the angles disappear. Paint can be used to make a small space feel larger or to make a large space feel cozier.
White and black are not colors. White is the presence of color and black is the absence of color. However, black and white are important decorative tones. They add drama and definition and enhance the colors around them. White trim and ceilings are a decorating constant. Touches of black are a popular decorative element regardless of the decorative style. The combo of black and white provides decorative drama and always tells an exciting design story. When mixed with a colorful background or accent colors such as bright yellow, lime green, lilac, pale blue, or other tones, this high contrast design combo is always a sure fire decorative hit.
Silver is not a color but a metallic tone. Black is not a color but the absence of color. The mix of non-colors of black and white as well as the use of metallic tones create very potent design schemes. This is illustrated in the headboard and night table by Andre Originals where black and silver are combined for a very dramatic visual effect.
Paint is also a wonderful way to update tired furniture. An old wooden dresser can get a whole new look when painted black or white or a pretty pastel tone.
- Furniture painted white will look clean and crisp.
- Black paint will make your furniture look classic and elegant.
- Pastel colors will impart a soft, romantic mood.
- Weathered colors create a cozy cottage aura.
- Metallic tones are another exciting way to enliven beat up old pieces. Silver paint can give your old goodies a new “glam” identity. Gold paint or touches of gold on dark wood furnishings will create a sense of elegance and formality.
Color can also change our moods and create an emotional affect. Colors have their own personality.
- Beige tones have warm and creamy qualities that make them versatile neutrals and timeless favorites.
- Browns are rich and deep.
- Grays are cool and neutral.
- Green tones are calming and restful.
- Blue is cool but also warm and is one of America’s favorite colors.
- Red is rich and energetic.
- Yellow is cheerful and uplifting and makes a room feel like the sun is shining.
- Pink and peachy tones feel fresh and enhance people’s complexions.
These colors become even more exciting when used in combinations with each other. When selecting a color for your home, select the colors that make you feel good. Choosing a color is like choosing a housemate. Some are easy to live with and some are not. Reactions are totally individual. What makes one person feel good can make another feel gloomy. There is no such thing as a good or bad color. The objective is to select the color that is right for you. And don’t be worried about the commitment. If you don’t like your color choice once you see it on the wall, just do it again. After all, it is only paint.
Learn more about Jeani, Jennifer and Ziering Interiors!
Win this Gorgeous $32o Lamp!
Tags: color, decorating tips, guest blogger
