Quick Color Queries and Questions

by Charlotte
(Website Editor)

A selection of quick color questions, and my replies....

Real readers' questions, all about colors - need help choosing a color? Then why not ask me for help, here on this site...

Browse through this selection of Color Q&A for help and inspiration, comment on other people's color choices...

Then if you're still stuck, feel free to ask your own color questions, here...

Color of picture frames in a bathroom

by judy
(kenosha, wi)

I have purchased a new mirror framed in white. Should the picture frames I want to use in the room be white or another color.

Comment:
By Charlotte

21 April 2011

Hi Judy

Using white on all the frames in the same room will give a more unified and streamlined look, and in general, it is a good look to aim for...

...however, it's not a hard and fast rule, and, really, you can choose whichever colors you wish for frames.

If you'd like your mirror to really stand out amongst your other pictures, using white amongst darker frames can work well.

Or you could mix a blend of paler whites, creams, light woods and silver colored frames - for a slightly more 'relaxed' and informal picture display (although if you're not careful this could soon start to look 'jumbly').

It can be good to try and look for similar styles (they don't need to be identical) so that you aren't mixing a whole 'hotch-potch' of different styles and colors.

Although a fine ornate mirror frame, (if this is what you have) can look great combined with simple modern frames, as a kind of accent center-piece or focal point (or vice versa).

If you'd just like to keep it simple, though, you really can't go wrong with also choosing white picture frames, to go with your white mirror frame.

Hope that helps, Judy.

Best wishes

Charlotte :)

---

Navy blue sofa color query

i have a navy blue sofa and i was wondering if you could suggest what colour of curtains and rug will go.

Reply

Many options....
by: Charlotte

Hi

You don't say what color your walls are, so I will have to assume they are a neutral white or cream.

You have lots of color choices to go with navy blue, depending on how you want your room to look and feel.

If it is a small or dark room, try to stick to pale colors, and cool (blue) tones to make the room feel larger.

In a room of any size, but particularly for large rooms, a splash of a bright or warm color can warm or liven it up.

To go with navy blue, you could choose other tones and shades of blue, which would give quite a restful, relaxing feel.

Or you could choose harmonising colors of greens, turquoises, teals and/or purples.

For the most dramatic scheme, choose blue's complementary opposite - orange.

The colors around orange - orangey-yellows and orangey-reds would also work well, for a more lively effect.

Why not try some fabric swatches in your home to see which shades suit your home and your own personality the best.

Hope that gives you some ideas.

Best wishes with your makeover

Charlotte

---

My Sage Furniture needs some help

by Frustrated

Don't get me wrong, I love green, but my sage/brown couches are getting boring.

I have a taupe(green undertone) color on a small wall that leads into my living room and I would love to punch up the other walls with some color.

They used to be a dark green but it became so dreary. Definately used the wrong green.

Now I switched to more of a brown color and chose the wrong color again. The swatch looked completely different than the color on my walls.

I need help!

I want to maybe try a compilmentary color. What are your suggestions?

Reply:
Hello Frustrated

Sorry to hear about your difficulties with color - green and taupe are both lovely colors, but can get a bit dull on their own in large quantities.

You are right, they do often need an injection of another color to 'spice' it up a bit! Often it doesn't need to be much - just an accent - to 'lift' it a little.

Sometimes white or cream can do duty in this way, used as an accent - but you may still feel the need for a bit more color.

The best colors to choose when you want to really liven up a dull color is one of it's opposites (on the interior design color wheel).

For green-based colors, this would be a red, red-orange or red-violet (purple with pinky rather than blue undertones).

This colors should give your color scheme some 'zing' - these are all very strong colors in their own right, so only a little should suffice.

You can mix with paler neutrals if required for painting larger areas, or introduce the color in artwork, cushions, throws, curtains and other accessories, etc.

Hope this is helpful for you - and you won't need to be frustrated with your color schemes any more...

Charlotte

---

Painting purple and green?

ideas for painting a room eggplant purple and d.green?

Comments

Inspired by nature...
by: Charlotte

Hi

Do you mean dark green?

My first thought would be that these colors could be quite dark and imposing in your room, unless your room is already very light and spacious, and you are after a deliberately cosy feel.

Take care not to use 2 such strong colors as this in equal (large) amounts. A better effect can be achieved by choosing one as your 'main' color, and using the other for accents and accessories.

Inspired by nature, these colors should go well together. If you aren't sure that your room can take such strong colors, try mixing with neutrals, or using a paler, softer shade of either (or both) of the colors.

Good luck with your decorating, it sounds quite a bold and unusual combination, so you should get some very striking results.

Would love to see some pics when you are finished

Charlotte :o)

---

Paint and dark trim

by Roxanne
(Bel Air, MD)

I am moving into a home that has beautiful dark paneling throughout the entire house.

To paint it would not only take forever, but it would also destroy the beautiful wood.

I need ideas for paint colors to keep the rooms bright and cheerful.

The wood work inludes base trim, chair railing, and crown molding. Any ideas?


I was also wondering if I could paint the chair rail only white to help break up the darker colors.

Roxanne

Comments:

Hello Roxanne

Your new home sounds wonderful, and I must say on the whole I agree with leaving the wood dark. Only if you are really sure, should you paint it, as it is much harder to strip the paint off again than it was to put it on.

Dark wood is a neutral color, so pretty much any colour will look good against it.

To create a bright and cheery room, colors like yellow will stand out well against the wood, and be welcoming.

Greens can create a calming feel, and a more 'natural' look.

Pale blues look stunning against dark wood and create a lighter, brighter feel.

Pastels, whites and creams give the largest contrast against the wood, and can lighten up your room a lot.

Darker and warmer colors, like reds or oranges, will not contrast so much with the wood, and though they create a lovely, wam, cosy feel, this can sometimes appear a little dark or over whelming.

Yes, you could consider painting the chair rail white, as this would break up the darker colors, or think about painting it in the same color as the wall itself.

Perhaps try living in your new home a short while before making any decorating decisions, that way you can decide if you want to keep the wood dark, or paint over it, and which colors you feel would suit your rooms best, taking into account how much natural light each room gets, and how dark it feels.

I hope this has given you some ideas for decorating with dark wood. Good luck with your house move, and with your home makeover.

Best wishes

Charlotte

---

Hostel Room Walls

by Moyo

I just moved into a new room with 3 of my room mates in medical school. We just purchased a lemon green carpet but cant decide the colour to paint the walls.

.............

Comment
By Charlotte
3 April 2012

Hello Moyo

That sounds a lovely cheerful color for your carpet.

Some colors to consider for your walls:
-lemon
-pale greens
-pale blues
-peach
-lilac or mauve
-greys
-beiges and soft browns

It's probably a good idea to keep the walls fairly pale - to keep the room feeling spacious, light and airy. Pale blues and greens will help with this the most.

If you want your room mainly for rest and relaxation, greens, blues and lilacs tend to be most restful and calming.

The peach, beige or brown will give a cozier feel.

If you'd like to do a lot of studying, lemon could be a good choice.

Depending on the exact shade of your carpet - you may have to be careful that the lemon, and/or greens don't make your room too overwhelmingly yellow-green - gorgeous color - but it might be a bit much!

If your carpet is quite a bright color, you might want to consider some stronger tones on the wall, to balance it.

Of course, the exact shade of your carpet will also dictate which exact shade of any of the colors I've mentioned that you use. Try a few out, first with paint sample cards and swatches - then invest in a few tester pots and try a small area out for real.

Bear in mind that your finished walls will likely appear a few shades darker than your tester patch - so go lighter if in any doubt!

I hope that helps.

Good luck with your decorating. Do come back and ask if you have any more questions.

Charlotte

Paint color schemes for burgundy kitchen

I want to paint my kitchen burgundy, but I'm not sure which colors go well together.

I have a mud room that you can see from the kitchen and I'm not sure what to paint the room so that they flow well together.

Reply:

Hello

First, have you thought carefully about painting your kitchen burgundy?

Burgundy is a beautiful color, but is very dominant in a space, and can tend to quickly make a room feel small and dark.

Of course, if you have a large and airy room, your kitchen may well be able to take it, or you may just like the dramatic and cosy effect the color will lend to the room - if so, fine...

If you have concerns about using such a dark color in your room, you might want to stick to burgundy accents - a focal wall and accessories - to still get the burgundy effect, without the impact.

Burgundy mixes well with neutrals such as whites and creams, or taupes and beiges.

It can mix well with colors next to it on the interior design color wheel, such as reds, oranges and red-violet shades...

...or you could look at colors opposite on the color wheel for a dramatic contrast - this would be shades of green.

I hope this has given you some ideas for your kitchen and mudroom makeover.

Good luck with your decorating

Best wishes

Charlotte :o)

---

Paint color for brick fireplace and a mauve carpet

I have a family room, brick fire place, cathedral ceiling but mauve carpet.

I am painting, but do not know what color to paint.

Reply:


Hi, your room sounds great.

You have quite a few options for painting:

Neutrals: you could paint with white, cream, or pale stone, browns or beige

Mauve: try different shades of mauves, lilacs and purples, to co-ordinate with the carpet

Lemon/Pale yellow: the opposite color on the color wheel to mauve is a pale lemon. This will give quite an interesting contrast to the carpet, but will 'harmonise' quite nicely with the oranges and reds of the brick fireplace too. A deeper yellow may also work well, but this may depend on the size of your room, as yellow can be quite a strong color in a room - although gives a very cheerful feel.

Greens: Greens make up the third part on the color wheel in a 'triadic scheme', with a combination of mauves (purple) and oranges/reds (for the brick). Green can be a lovely restful color for a room, very calming! Pale greens will make a room feel larger.

If you are concerned over the exact tones and shades of each color that might go, consult a color wheel to get an exact shade, which you can then match up to a paint .... or just try out tester pots of color combinations on your wall (always a good plan in any case)!

I hope this has been some help to you in making your decision, happy decorating!

---

Interior Design Advice for a Pink Room Please

by Claire
(Manchester, UK)

I am thinking of painting my bedroom pink. Can hot pink help you focus and study better?

What colours could I use too, to go with pink? I want a fuschia-type pink, and not a pale or barbie pink.

Any hints?

Reply:

Sorry Claire!- Apparently the best color for studying is yellow...!

I still think hot pink would still keep you awake and stimulated though, if that was the color you really wanted. Take care not to overdo the pink in your room though, as too much pink can be physically draining and exhausting...!

(Maybe just keep pink as an accent color? it could be combined nicely with yellow, to get the maximum benefit for studying...!)

Otherwise, I think a lovely 'hot' combination of pink, with orange (and even red!) would look lively in your room.

If you want something a little calmer, but still in deep colors, try combining hot pink with dark brown or dark blue - very sophisticated...!

Good luck with your decorating and your studying.

To take a look at the personality, mood and emotion aspect of colors click here!

---

Navy Furniture - Red oak floor - what color ?

by Jo-Anne
(Ottawa Canada)

Hi,

I need help to inject some liveliness into our front room. Our couch & two loveseats are dark navy ( leather) and the floor is red oak - overall impression of the floor is "yellow". The walls are a neutral tan - but with a slightly green undertone.

What color should I look for in drapes, area rug, cushions etc? I'm thinking bronze/copper the sort of burnt oranges, but I'm not sure. Can anyone help me out? I can't re-do the floor, the furniture is fairly new and re-painting is not really desirable ( we just painted).

Thanks

Reply:

Hi
Don't worry, I don't think you need to swap the furniture, floor or painting. They all sound great.

I do think your idea of using burnt oranges would look good, as it would tone nicely with the floor, and even the paint on the walls.

However, if you wanted something to stand out a bit more, why not consider purple for your accents. Make sure it is a bluey purple (rather than a pinky purple) to tone nicely with your sofa and chairs. It will stand out really nicely against the yellowy floor, the tan/green walls. Yellow and purple are opposites on the color wheel, so give a great contrast, (good for accents) and blue and purple are next to each other, so will tone nicely.

Purple is quite a strong color, so a little will go a long way, but I think it would look fab.

Good luck with your decorating.

---

Wanna get a color for my bedroom

by Rose
(Thrissur, Kerala, India)

I want to repaint my bedroom with suitable colour...

...our room is smaller ...so it should seem as if it is big...also should feel as if it has good lighting.......

Reply:

Hello Rose

Don't worry there are lots of tips here for decorating small rooms and dark rooms - you can maximise the feeling of light and space in your room.

Good colors for small and/or dark rooms are pale colors - and cool colors - that is colors with a blue-y tinge to them - for example try pale blues, pale greens and pale lilacs and purples.

Try to keep all furniture, paintwork, accessories and accents in light and/or cool tones - to keep the feeling of light and spaciousness.

Using textures can also help - anything glossy will reflect light around the room - think gloss furniture, glass and especially mirrors.

A good overhead light can help - perhaps one in a glass chandelier style to reflect more light around.

Don't forget to also light any dark corners with accent lighting, and illuminate areas you need to use with task lighting.

I think the pages following will help you...

Tips for decorating small spaces

Ideas for dark rooms

Fast fixes for small spaces

Get your lighting right

Hope some of these ideas help with your room makeover.

Good luck with the project

Charlotte

---