How to Use Color, Pattern, & Texture in Home Decorating

Have you ever given a room a new coat of paint and felt the difference it made?  Color can instantly change the look and feel of any room.  Paint is where you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to decorating.  It also is a great way to infuse a room with personality.  Color can be a huge challenge for some people because of its striking result.  Ease into the world of color with the use of a color wheel. 

A color wheel is a great tool when considering what colors to incorporate into a room – it lets you see what colors will work well in combination.  You may also want to consider playing with different shades of the same color tone.  If you do use more than one color – which most people do – make sure to stick with the same intensity; in other words, don’t use deep colors and pale pastel colors together. 

If you know a few tricks, color can work magic!  Every color has inherent evocative characteristics.  Examples are:  Red is stimulating, so it would be a good choice for a dining room where you want lively conversation.  Blue is restful which is why it is a popular color for bedrooms.  Your individual response to a color is personal which is why it’s important to select colors that you love in your home décor.

The color wheel includes all of the primary colors – red, blue, and yellow – and the secondary colors which are made by combining primary colors – green, orange, and violet.  Tertiary colors, which are a combination of primary and secondary colors and they are included on the color wheel as well – an example is turquoise, which is created by mixing primary blue with secondary green.  Look at the color wheel to get an idea of how colors relate to each other.

A harmonious (also referred to as analogous) color scheme involves colors that are neighbors on the color wheel that share an underlying hue.  Select a dominant color, and then pick accent colors from adjacent colors on the wheel. 

Contrasting – or complementary – colors (like blue and orange) which are opposite each other on the color wheel often work well together.  You will need to play with various shades of complementary colors; however, to make sure they don’t overpower the room.  Involving an additional set of opposite colors from the color wheel is referred to as a double-complementary color scheme.  An example would be green-blue, red-orange.

A scheme that’s monochromatic can be boring unless you use several shades of the same color – but be sure not to use too many contrasting values of the color. 

Introducing pattern to a room energizes it. If you want the feel of drama and strength, use the same pattern throughout the room.

For a more lively effect, mix and match your patterns. When mixing and matching, always select a recurring color or theme. Avoid using more than one pattern of a similar scale; pair a large motif with a small print.

Using pattern throughout a room can make it a lot of fun.  Sort of like warm colors advance, large patterns fill a space and make it feel cozy.  Patterns also create a lively atmosphere.  Large patterns work well in small areas, too, but make sure to stick with one pattern and use it throughout the room – but don’t overpower the room with a pattern that’s too bold and way out of proportion.

Small-scale patterns appear to recede, so they could make a room feel larger.  The effect of a small pattern, however, is minimal in a large room since it’s hard to interpret from a distance.  A great rule of thumb is to use large patterns on large furnishings, medium on medium, and small prints on small things such as accent pieces. 

Texture doesn’t always have an extremely obvious impact on a room, but it can help create a sophisticated room in a subtle way by adding another layer of complexity.  Layering contrasting textures of fabrics, floor coverings, wall finishes, and window treatments gives a room character.

Texture provides depth and dimension to a space.  You can easily incorporate texture into a design with fabric – brocades, damask, chenilles, tweeds and some other fabrics with texture can work well.  Tactile interest can be brought in with other objects, too – like materials that have surface texture such as smooth, hard, soft, matte or shiny.  Coarse and matte surfaces (like stone, wood, stucco…) absorb light and sound.  Glossy and smooth surfaces (metal, glass, silk…) reflect light.