Welcome to the “My Nest Is The Best” blog! With the launch of the new website, the start of a new journey in blogging seemed fitting. I have so many ideas to share and realize that not everyone has the ability to visualize and design spaces in their homes. Blogging about my ideas, projects, and overall design process seems like a great way to share my knowledge and empower others to create spaces they love. Home should be a place that not only reflects our style but makes us feel like we are wrapped in an embracing hug each time we walk through the door.
This inaugural blog is all about COLOR! I absolutely love color and choosing a color palette is one of the first things I do when designing a room. Just how do you choose colors? What goes together? What clashes? Well, it all starts with a basic color wheel.
The color wheel is comprised of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Within each color on the wheel, there are different shades and tints (think dark vs light) which are created when a color on the wheel is mixed with either black (dark) or white (light). The color tone can be further changed with the incorporation of gray to reduce the colorfulness while keeping the hue (another name for the pure color). Ever heard of the term “color saturation” or “intensity”? That is a catch-all name when refering to how shade, tone, and tint effect the vibrancy (or lack) of a color. Color undertones also come into play when two colors are mixed. For example, ever notice that some reds appear bluer and others appear more orange? That is the undertone. Ultimately, selecting a winning color palette comes down to creating a visual harmony of colors by taking in account the base color’s shade, tone, tint, and undertone. Here are a few basic types of combinations:
A monochromatic color palette includes different shades, tones, and tints of one color. You really can’t go wrong with a monochromatic color palette! So how do you create a monochromatic color scheme? Pick the main color, for example- blue, and then select colors that are lighter and darker than the main color selected. When picking colors pay attention to the overall saturation and undertones of the color. Does the color have more green undertones, or more red? If it doesn’t jump out at you, compare the main color to the pure form on a color wheel and the undertone should be apparent. Keeping the undertones consistent within a monochromatic color palette creates the most visually pleasing outcome. This type of color palette is great to use if you are looking to create a space that feels clean, bright, or minimal. Think modern chic and farmhouse style.
- Credit- Modern Living and Domino
An Analogous color palette incorporates colors adjacent to one another on the color wheel. This type of color palette is great if you want to use different colors but with minimal contrast. The results can be either minimal and almost monochromatic to vibrant, depending on the saturation of the chosen hues. Many modern designs use analogous color schemes to create a bold space without being too overwhelming. Start by selecting the main color, for example green, then select a color directly next to that color on the wheel. Shade, tone, and undertone and are important and should always be considered when creating an analogous palette.
A Complementary color palette uses colors that are across from one another on the color wheel. This creates a color palette with more contrast and is a great method for those looking to add “pops” of color to a room. Complementary colors are great when choosing accessories like accent pillows, throws, bed linens, and wall art. This type of color palette is very popular because it is so easy to liven up neutral spaces while keeping the cozy and inviting feel. As with the other color schemes, selecting a main color and using complementary colors as accents is the best bet, along with sticking to the same shade, tone, and undertone family.
To sum it up, almost all colors can be used together to create amazing spaces. The key to harmony is first selecting your main hue, then selecting other colors based on the shade, tone, and undertones of the main color. When in doubt, sites like Pinterest are full of inspiration. Check out color palette generators like Coolers (https://coolors.co) to discover new and exciting combinations. You can even upload photos and use their color selector tool to create custom palettes, which is what I did for the images in this post. Most of all HAVE FUN! Our world is full of color and inspiration. Simply take a moment every day to soak up the beauty of life surrounding us and you will be amazed at how creativity will follow.