Decorating with Color

My carpet and walls are cream color. Someone said you should choose your drapes by the same or maybe a little darker than your floors and walls. Is this true. Do you have any suggestions as to a color and fabric I should use at my windows. By the way I like this section of decoration cleaning and tidbits.

Diana, there’s really no rule about choosing the color for your drapes. But think about it this way, the lighter the drape, the more light will be let in. If you like a bright room, a lighter color drape would be best for you. The opposite for a dark drape. If you like both, you can do a lighter liner with a heavier or darker valance or swag. Think about the overall color scheme you want in your room. Just make sure you don’t clash!

My upholstered sofa and chair are a dark brown and I need to keep them for now. My woodwork is painted white (includes a fireplace and built in bookcases) and I have a light beige carpet. I want to change my wall color. I’m thinking a taupe or gray - any suggestions? How about accent piece colors? Thanks for your help.

This has really been an inspirational article. No where have I seen such intense study of color and the meanings/feelings associated with them. I truly appreciate this article and hope my new landlord will agree with you and your suggestions. Thank You very Much Indeed. Rosa

I really enjoyed reading the different rooms that you can paint by color…. that is kinda strange that I ran into this website, when I began to pick colors for my living room I didn’t have any idea what color I was going to use, so I told my hisband let’s try pink and see what it will look like when we get done with it well I’m here to say that we both love the color and it also goes with my furniture that I have and it is a multi-color and it has a lot of pink, burgundy, green and many other colors and it is perfect…  and we are so glad that we decided to use the pink color….  Thank you for sharing the colors on the internet….

Vernita

This is great stuff. Thanks for this information. Now I have a better understanding of what colors to paint my walls, what curtains and linens to buy and which colors bring out the best in people.

WOW lol my bathroom is pink and my boys room is blue and that goes with the color chart now it just helps me choose what to paint the rest of the house thank goodness lol

i tink your right about the color yellow its in my kitchen and its a wonderful color it brings alot of peace joy and happiness to lif inside the kitchen

I think that you site is very helpful and I am glad I looked at this before I started shopping for my new apartment. Thank you

Diana, you should choose a goldish color. I think that would bring the cream color out.

Hi I recently moved into a new apartment and I am now confused about something. I love blue… it’s my favorite color, however, I want to do my kitchen in sunflowers and blue backgrounds is that so bad? Also want ideas on how to flow this color into the living room but not make it so yellow or so blue? Help!!! How do I do this?

I am in love with the SOUTHWEST theme. The golds, browns,reds,black.these themes im wanting for my living room which would extend into the bathroom. Would ou happen to have any suggestions as far as the base wall colors to start my SW theme and furnishing ideas? Any and all help in getting satrted would be appreciated. Signed Sir Desperate.

Melanie–I think sunflowers and blue backgrounds are a great combination! Yellow and blue usually look good together IMO, and one being energetic while the other is calming seems like it would create a good balance.

As for using the colors in other rooms, if you want it to be “not so yellow or so blue,” you could tell the paint store salesperson that you’d like a color that’s the same “hue” but a lower “saturation.” Basically this means that it’s like the exact same color but with grey mixed in (light grey* if it’s a light color, dark grey if it’s a dark color). Or you could do something where you got the same color and toned it down yourself, like sponge-painting yellow or blue onto a base coat of light grey*, but try this out on a piece of white posterboard or something like that before you do it to your walls to see if it turns out how you want it.

(*Beige will work instead of light grey if you want a warmer color scheme.)

As my dining room is an alcove off my living room and thereby shares the bay window what is your suggestion for color of curtins/shades/blinds, etc., I have not decided what of the three I will use. My main color of living room is 2 shades of blue (periwinkle blue and a dark teal blue) and the main color of my dining room while not yet decided has a table/chairs/dresser in light oak and white. The dresser and white portion of the chairs is destined to be painted originally white but I am flexible if it helps incorporate the two rooms. In addition when seated in the dining room you can see my kitchen which is using yellow as its primary color. For clarity, questions are “What color for bay window and what color for the chairs and dresser that I am planning to paint”. Thank you for any suggestions. Also must the two room match because of the bay windows placement.

My wall in all the rooms are white (help)what to do even my kitchen and it looks dark even when i open the curtain tell my what colors to use my favorite is red but i wouldn’t want no red walls.

hi, i have recently rented an apartment and somehow have ended decorating my living room in the shades of brown. although brown is a neutral color, it has given a bland theme to the room. can anyone suggest a color to combine with it so that my room can provide a warm and lively atmosphere. would really appreciate suggestions. thanks and have fun decorating ur homes

This is great stuff. I never thought choosing the right color would be so easy. Thanks for all the tips!!:]

Hey i cant find a color for my living room, any suggestions?

I just moved into a new 2/2 condo on the harbor with huge windows and sliding glass doors.Im having a difficult time decorating. Not one room in the entire condo is square. EVERY room is extremely odd shaped! All the walls are white, blinds are tan, and carpet and tile are tan. Its very blah! I have all dark furniture! Any suggestions would be appreciated! PLEASE help!
xoxox

My question is actually, will the landlord / landlady actually let you paint the apartment? I am about to move into a townhome which has a cream colored paint scheme, but I would like to paint my daughter’s room. I have some wonderful ideas for it. I have only spoke to the landlord a few times, and this is not a question that I would have ever thought to ask. I figure that the answer would be a definite “NO”. I really would love to do some painting in there. I dont mind if there is an extra deposit, or if I have to repaint it when I leave. I plan to be there for a while so i want to make it feel like home.

I am painting a wall that flows from my living room into the dining room a deep red. There are lots of windows and I am unsure of what color of drapes to use besides white or cream? Any suggestions?

I am painting a wall that goes from my dining room into my living room. I also have a chair rail up and I have baby blue carpet. I need some ideas on paint color. Please help I would like to paint soon. Thanks

My living room has hardwood flooring with white walls…what would be the best color to paint the walls? I want an inviting area for company. This is my first place on my own and am no expert on decorating.

My wall color is light cream. which color can i combine with it for my unborn baby girl?

What a great article! Helped me solidify some of my own feelings about different colors. My BEDROOM is in browns/black/gold with some turquoise accents. Furniture is dark, like a mahogany, and feels very elegant. I LOVE being in there, it feels SO relaxing.

im about to move out with my husband and i want to decorate my apartment to were it seems relaxing and cool
so any ideas for color or decorations

THANKS!The article was great and on time considering I’m in the process of moving into my new apartment and don’t have a clue on a color scheme. KUDOS 2 YA