Tearsheet featuring photo of design elements including fabric and wallpaper swatches, tiles, string of natural beads, seafoam green and succulent. — There is so much to consider when deciding on a color palette. When thinking about color in any given room, we have to consider the flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures, window treatments, walls. It’s no wonder it becomes a bit overwhelming for homeowners. Photo: Cambria

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • May 1, 2021

Color. It’s at the heart of good design. And understanding how to use color in our homes changes everything. Get the colors right and the decor flows. Make a mistake and well, we’ve all been there.

When thinking about color in any given room, we have to consider the flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures, window treatments, walls. It’s no wonder it becomes a bit overwhelming.

From the time I was given my first box of crayons, I’ve loved color. It’s my passion. A fan deck is always within arm’s reach because I never know when I’ll find a new palette and need to match the colors. It can happen anywhere. On a bike ride. At the farmer’s market. The beach. A park. Swimming in a pool. At the Kravet showroom in Naples. In my car. Daydreaming at my desk.

And like most passions, it’s as Claude Monet said, “color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.”

Sometimes color cries out to you. It can stop you in your tracks. A sofa, a purse, a dress, a piece of fabric. A sunset. When you find your color, you know it. And you want to carry that feeling home. Because it gives you joy. And joy is what we want to feel in our homes.

As a Fort Myers interior decorator, I spend a lot of time helping my clients discover their color and how to create the flow of color from room to room so it will make them happy when they walk in the door.

Think beyond brown sofas and beige walls

Let’s be realistic: there is nothing wrong with a brown sofa, which I see in almost every home. Especially in the yummy cognac leather that is trending now. And there’s nothing wrong with beige as a neutral. But here is the truth: beige is easy and doesn’t require a lot of stress. But there are so many other colors to select from. Be fearless. You know there are colors that you want to try. Like a sofa in your favorite color.

Trends

Coming out of a year at home, there are lots of color trends. Mustard yellow, orange brown tones, corals and cognac which is especial nice to warm up white walls. Plenty of earth tones with forest greens and blues. Floral wall coverings and painted ceilings. Green kitchen cabinets are a big trend now.

Color palette categories

· Exotics that say “take me away.” Inspired by someplace you have visited or want to visit.

· Fearless colors that you have always wanted to try.

· Nostalgic colors that evoke emotions.

· Classic colors that are still current.

· Timeless colors that never get old.

· Water hues for baths and powder rooms.

· Neutrals that are versatile when layered with texture and patterns.

· Earth and nature tones. You can never go wrong with these.

· Dazzling colors that say “wow” when you walk in the door.

Color is not just for the walls

Paint color is important but remember that a color you love can also be used in other places throughout your home. If it’s a little overwhelming, try it on the ceiling. I did this recently for a client who loves purple. Instead of an entire room, we did the coffered ceiling in the master bedroom and carried the color into the master bath with towels, rugs and accessories.

Other ways to put color into your home:

Flooring/rugs

Artwork

Wallcoverings

Sofa, dining chairs, barstools

Bedding/linens

Lamps/pendants/Chandeliers

Fabric/window treatments/pillows

Accessories

Plants/flowers

My best color advice:

Make a plan for the room (or house) before you look at color. You have to start somewhere when designing an empty room and that should not be with the paint color. Select furnishings, fabric, counter tops and other finishes and even a few accessories and THEN look at color. I have clients who call and ask me to have an entire new home painted by next week before they select furniture. You may love that pretty coral paint but what happens when you fall in love with a sofa that doesn't relate to the color? Answer: you have to repaint. We want to avoid that costly mistake!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solves decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

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Beyond beige: color changes everything in a home

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