Harmony
in Color
By Paulette Rossi
Just when you
think you have a handle on all of the terminology when it comes to
choosing a simple thing like a color for a room in your house words
like monochromatic and analogous are added.
So before you
select a color scheme, recognize that no color exists in isolation.
In nature all colors exist in harmony. The Earth is a colorful place.
The human eye can distinguish more than ten million colors. Faced
with thousands of paint colors most people will play it safe buying
paint in shades of white.
There is nothing
wrong with neutral colors. Neutrals are perfect for show-casing vibrant
art or exciting home furnishings. Neutral walls make it simpler for
prospective homebuyers to “see” their furniture in a room.
But when you want a room to reflect your personality or to have character
select a color that you find attractive not one that is convenient
or currently in fashion.
In your home,
painted surfaces will interact with light, texture, and unpainted
areas. Adjacent rooms and hallways should also be considered.
|
Recycled
Paint From Metro
Technicians
in Metro’s recycled paint program see value in re-using
harmonious colors. The usable latex paint collected through
Metro’s household hazardous waste program are separated
into color categories. The volume of paint created in each color
category makes Metro’s twelve standard colors very consistent
between batches. Customer’s can achieve more harmonious
colors by mixing Metro’s standard colors together.
Many paint
companies produce colors that reflect nature. MetroPaint’s
100% consumer latex actually protects the environment. Since
the program began in 1992 Metro has kept nearly a half million
gallons of good paint from landfills. For more information on
MetroPaint call Metro Recycling information at 503-234-3000
or log onto www.metro-region.org/paint. |
An easy designer
touch is to create color “flow” from room to room with a
monochromatic color scheme. Monochromatic color schemes are popular
because continuity and spaciousness is created by using varying intensities
of one color.
Every primary
color is a base for a monochromatic color scheme. Pastels are colors
that are made paler or lighter (less intense) by adding white. Shades
are colors that are muted with either gray or black. White is the
unifying color in all pastels and gray or black is the coordinating
element in all shades.
Another way to
achieve a harmonious color scheme is to select analogous colors—colors
that are next to each other on the color wheel. Often referred to
as kissing cousins or kinship colors, analogous colors work because
they share a common hue. Popular choices include: blue, blue-green,
and green; red-purple, purple, blue-purple; green, yellow-green, yellow.
To
keep analogous and monochromatic schemes from becoming boring or static
select one color to be dominant, used in two-thirds of the room and
two related colors used in lesser amounts. Using a contrasting or
complementary color from the opposite side of the color wheel can
bring a room to life. For example, small amounts of red trim in a
green decor or yellow accent in a blue color scheme add drama.
And, yes white
can be a bridge color between rooms. Trim and molding done in white
can balance warm hues and defuse bright colors.
Paulette Rossi
is a Certified Master Recycler promoting the use of Metro Recycled
Paint available in a rainbow of colors. She can be reached at: rossip@metro.dst.or.us
or 503-797-1827. |
