• Follow us:

Posts Tagged ‘contrast’

Interior Design Contrasts: Using Juxtaposition to Your Advantage

Friday, July 21st, 2017

‘Notice the contrast of this Antebellum collection against the tamer backdrop?

There are many principles to talk about when discussing interior design. But when organizing and designing, it is a wonderful tool that you can use effectively. But, first, let’s define color contrast.

If you are to define contrast in interior design, this is the difference between two hues – that is all there is to it. When you’re building a webpage, though, it becomes an entirely different thing. You would want to have a high contrast between the background color and the text. High contrast between interior design elements could give a messy look. Yet black and white is the highest contrast that can be created.

Contrasting Colors

Colors may contrast in value, hue and saturation yet color theorists have come up with different kinds of contrasts through the years.

Hue contrast is as simple as saying high contrast or low contrast. This relates directly to the fusions on the color wheel. The farther each color is from each other, the higher their contrast becomes. Complementary colors have the highest contrast while the opposite is true with analogous color combinations.

A special contrast of hue is the so-called cool and warm colors. These depend much on how the eyes work. Warm colors appear closer while the cooler ones are more distant.

Contrast of value is best in the creation of bigger contrasts. Black and white is believed to be the highest contrast of value. Huge differences in lightness are pleasant to the human eye. Lower contrasts on value can be used on subtle differences.

Saturation contrast is best used in designing aspects that don’t require emphasis. Color sets with varying saturation that are set against a gray background, for instance, is seen as transparency. This is an interesting piece of design aspect.

Decide which part of your home you would like the color contrasts to take place. Imagine a pastel sofa surrounded by other pieces of furniture in jewel tones. These will make for a wonderful rendition of successful color combination.

You could be tempted to keep the walls white but try saffron instead. When combined with green tiles, the saffron wall would create a more interesting visual thing to look at.

Blue and reds, grays, oranges, greens and yellows can be combined as warm and cool tones. They can be used to balance the ambiance, to make cozy, or to create drama.

Contrast in Composition

When talking about color contrast, this generally refers to a number of color fusions yet it is not limited to these. Textures can also be contrasted with the right set of hands. Shapes can, too, though this is rarely done.  If you want to start using shape contrasts at home, then you can look for geometric or boxier pieces and start mixing them with round or curvy pieces of furnishings.

Going back to colors, you can also add a pop of color to any colorless space so you can perk it up or give it a more interesting dimension.

Dark blue walls and turquoise blue may be close on the color scale but they can still appear different. These colors just prove that even almost similar colors can be perceived differently. This example of color combo can also be used as an exciting pop of color in a room where you would want some activity and increased productivity.

Juxtaposition is also about experimenting with visual interest. This means being comfortable in mixing lighter oak with walnut or granite countertops with walnut cabinets.

A Contrast Room?

When you want a bright, white home, having a dark more mysterious room might be a far out idea. Not in a home where contrast is being set up. How about having the guest room in dark color while the rest of your home swims in a lighter hue?

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Interior Design 101 | Comments Off on Interior Design Contrasts: Using Juxtaposition to Your Advantage

The Color Contrast in Interior Design

Friday, June 10th, 2016

FFDM's Summer Home Collection: Striking contrasts are seen in different design elements here from the shiny woodworks, to nature's touch, and some metallic and ceramic elements.

FFDM’s Summer Home Collection: Striking contrasts are seen in different design elements here from the shiny woodworks, to nature’s touch, and some metallic and ceramic elements.

Have you ever tried to define the word contrast? This is an oft used word in the world of interior design. Dictionaries define this term as the combination of unlike elements such as tone, colors, textures, patterns or emotions. This can be further defined as the lightest versus the darkest parts of a photo, painting or any other work of art.

Dullness vs. Contrast

Take a careful look at most black and white photographs; these are often difficult to read since there is no color contrast to begin with. This kind of photograph often appears flat except when taken at an angle where the depth is clearly defined. If there is any contrast in a black and white photo, these are the tonal contrasts.

To further define contrast, this is the comparison of two things with respect to their differences. This can also be similar objects but with dissimilar qualities.

Are you starting to get the concept of contrast now? No?

Examples of Contrast

One example of contrast is when an interior designer would want to highlight the intricate designs of a cream-colored cabinet inside a kitchen. This can be achieved if you use a charcoal wall as backdrop. The cabinets would appear to be the star of the show once you achieve this.

This kind of contrast is what’s known as achromatic. This is the contrast between two opposing shades – black and cream.

Contrasts can also be seen in nature each day. The white sheep grazing on the green, grassy landscapes; an orange buoy in the midst of the blue sea; white snow and some black rocks nestled beneath it; and many such contrasts.

The marriage of fabric and metal in this Miles Talbott Living Room Mesa Chair JR-9440-C is perfect for any living room.

The marriage of fabric and metal in this Miles Talbott Living Room Mesa Chair JR-9440-C is perfect for any living room.

Contrast: A Composition Element

Contrast is a crucial part of composition. You can easily create contrast, more frequently with colors. At times, you can make subtle contrast with texture. Rooms can also play with different forms of shapes which can also represent a kind of contrast.

Geometric pieces like curvy ones can play contrasting roles with edgy pieces.

Above any element, you need to consider the color contrast when you are out to achieve opposition. Contrast makes objects distinguishable.

Here are seven kinds of contrast according to Johannes Itten –

  • The first type is the contrast of hue. The wider the distance between two colors on the color wheel, the higher the contrast (e.g. black versus white).
  • The second kind is contrast between light and dark. This is based on the brightness as well as tone values. An example is the yellow-violet fusion.
  • The third type is the contrast between cold and warm colors which is perfectly achieved by the orange-red and blue-green combos. Warm colors include red, orange, yellow and such. Cool colors include the likes of green and blue.
  • Complementary contrast includes colors that sit on opposite positions on the color wheel. An example is red and green. When these are adjacent, colors that complement each other mutually highlight their being luminous. Another example is the marriage of blue and orange.
  • Optical illusion relies on the Law of Complementary Colors. This states that pure color demands for an opposite color. This is its complement. If this hue becomes absent, then the eye is sure to produce it concurrently. A strong green color, for instance, will make gray sitting next to it appear reddish-gray while red sitting right next to this same gray shade will result in a greenish-gray hue.
  • The next type is the contrast of saturation. This is the contrast between dull and luminous colors. Hues are subdued when white, black, gray or complementary colors are added.
  • The last type is the contrast of quantity or extension. This involves color proportions that have been used. The pure color has two factors that will determine its eventual force – its brilliance and its extent.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »

Spring’s 5 Fundamental Decorating Tips

Saturday, March 5th, 2016

 

Punches of yellow, red and green can be seen in a neutral backdrop. Featured items are from Hooker Furniture’s Archivist Collection.

Punches of yellow, red and green can be seen in a neutral backdrop. Featured items are from Hooker Furniture’s Archivist Collection.

Going eco-friendly is the way to go this season of spring. This green design is one that is sure to stay as more and more people are getting involved in making earth a much cleaner place to live in. Nowadays, the paint to use if you consider yourself responsible is a toxic-free paint; green furniture pieces are also the latest craze; and practically every interior design shop is geared towards going green. If you want to begin this revolutionary green movement right inside your home, then consider these spring decorating tips –

Scan and Go

Have a pen and a notepad in hand as you go through every room in your home. Look quickly inside every room and spot the objects that appear to clutter the room. Remove anything that is no longer needed then work your way from there.

Learn to prioritize. You may be tempted to create a long, cumbersome list of things to do, but don’t. Just remove whatever you consider useless then redecorate.

Make a Statement

Your lighting fixtures and cabinetry should be able to help you make a statement during this season. Brushed metal hardware and chandeliers can evoke romantic feelings inside any home. The distressed look in furniture can be carried all throughout your home as a unique theme.

Sunshiny colors are in and are considered as the fashionable color palette for the spring season; however, do not overdo these colors. Just add bright and colorful accent pieces, add a dash or so of wall color, and have it seen in some of your furniture.

Playing with punches of yellow is as easy as adding a glass vase filled with lemons or pots of yellow daffodils. The yellow succulents can be placed in the kitchen where they can serve a double purpose – first as a decor, then as an ingredient in one of ‘em pasta dishes!

Spring’s most popular colors include bright yellow, violet, coral and turquoise.

White accents can also brighten up any room so go ahead and use a white wall as your canvas.

Let the Outdoors Inspire

Just think of mountains, spring beaches and the bluest coastlines and you should be filled with inspiration to dress up your home this spring. Moss green, ocean blue and, yes, just to reiterate, turquoise – are the colors of the year that you should incorporate in your home.

Mixing these bold colors with neutrals is also a surefire way to set up your spring indoors. This is the way to go if you are a tad worried about painting a whole room with bright colors. Paint the walls with pink champagne or violet gray. Have some colorful accent pieces brought in if you chose a neutral backdrop.

Nature will always be a popular theme for spring so go ahead and bring in those natural fabrics. Let them be seen on your area rugs, throw pillows, sofa upholstery, curtains, even your bedding. Sea grass, jute, and wool are just the right kinds of materials that can bring a natural appearance without being too green.

Create Contrast

Creating contrast is as easy as bringing in some metallic accent pieces. Add a framed mirror, some photos in metallic frames, metallic artworks, or metallic lighting fixtures. The master bedroom or living room would surely come to life with these metallic accents added.

Contrast is not solely provided by metallic interior design pieces. Mix colors that come from the same shade, for instance, fuse dark blue with powder blue. Use one color on three walls and the darker one as a statement wall. The darker color could also be used on the accessories that will dot your entire home.

Keep Everything Light and Airy

Lastly, spring decorating is all about the removal of heavy drapes and using sheer instead. Update your home soon, after all, spring is the best season to reinvent the look of your dwelling place.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in 2016 Trends, Decorative Elements, Interior Design 101, Spring Season | No Comments »

The Craftsman Living Space: Where Handmade Art Rules

Wednesday, January 27th, 2016

 

Living Room Uttermost Citographie Gray Linen Armchair 23168. This chair is made of hardwood and made perfect by craftsman detail right on the gray linen tailoring. See how the brass nails streamline the fabric trim giving the needed contrast to the solid oak bare frame.

Living Room Uttermost Citographie Gray Linen Armchair 23168. This chair is made of hardwood and made perfect by craftsman detail right on the gray linen tailoring. See how the brass nails streamline the fabric trim giving the needed contrast to the solid oak bare frame.

Craftsman dwellings were inspired by architect brothers Henry Mather Greene and Charles Sumner Greene. These ingenious minds worked together during the 20th century in Pasadena, California. The Greenes were quite inspired by the English arts and crafts movement and Oriental architecture. In their own promoting handmade stuff rather than those created inside factories and were machine-made.

If you want to have a first-hand look at the beauty of craftsman design and architecture, you could visit Southern California where a few bungalows from 1905 till the 1920s still stand. You will surely love this style if you like things that may be old but have got a timeless appeal.

Characteristics to look for include gabled roofs, front porch, tapered columns, partly paned doors, multi-pane windows, and a lot of earthy colors.

Craftsman houses are typically painted in any nature-inspired color. You will see a lot of browns and greens. The low-profile homes often blend with their natural surroundings. The muted palette comprising of just one or two contrasting colors are used to highlight the breathtaking architectural features.

Regardless of the style that you choose for your home, keep in mind that painting an architectural feature with a contrasting color is an effective way to highlight such feature.

Another characteristic that is unique to a craftsman home is the stone detailing. See the mixture of different materials with the siding typically made of wooden clapboard. There are some that feature shingled siding as this was a pretty common style, too, back in the day. The foundations and porch piers are generally made of stone with some concrete block, bricks or stucco used at times.

Craftsman style also comes with roof eaves, exposed beams and rafter tails. All these reflect the influence made by the Arts and Crafts movement, thus, visible handiwork was featured and were considered in style.

Living Room Uttermost Ardusin Hobby Cupboard 25589 is made from select hardwoods. It is hand-finished in worn black. The mahogany dovetail bins are solid wood and are great for your any storage needs.

Living Room Uttermost Ardusin Hobby Cupboard 25589 is made from select hardwoods. It is hand-finished in worn black. The mahogany dovetail bins are solid wood and are great for your any storage needs.

Democratic Mixing

Get a craftsman style book and mix materials that you can get your hands on. Think of cladding a little addition of brick or stone even when your home already has existing clapboard siding. The addition of exposed rafter tails or beams should not mean that you are supposed to reconstruct your home or even replace your roof. Such details are commonly decorative in nature and can be easily added below a home that already has deep roof eaves.

There is something inviting and warm about a craftsman home. It celebrates the fusion of building materials, lovely structures, and most especially, the 20th century architectural features.

So, how to begin?

Start with a view of some of the craftsman homes still in existence. Take note of the window detailing, those exposed rafters, the facade, stained glasses as decorative accents, and the overall warm glow of the place.

Consider also the kind of lighting used which mirror the exteriors. Find sconce and pendant lighting that will cast a warm, golden glow throughout a room. While this is the general rule when it comes to craftsman homes (warm lighting plus earthy colors), this does not mean that you can’t put your own personality into it. You can opt for the bright home approach where you balance the bright hues with the wooden accents which are the staple materials of a craftsman home.

Other colors that you can add to your palette are white and blue. Gray can also give your craftsman home a contemporary appeal. Include white wooden accent pieces, modern pendant lighting fixtures, and some contemporary art. The result is a comfortable and trimmed yet modern and posh at the same time.

Isn’t it fun to make historical homes appear modern inside? This can be your take on retro meets the contemporary look.Craftsman design is sure to captivate both young and old spectators.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »

Eclectic Design: Your Home, Your Style

Monday, January 25th, 2016

 

mix

This sofa from the Fine Upholstery Collection of FFDM is oozing with eclecticism.

This sofa from the Fine Upholstery Collection of FFDM is oozing with eclecticism.

Imagine finding a streamlined L-shaped couch and a lovely shag carpet in the middle of your living room. These can provide the modern side to an eclectic home while any wooden piece will lend the eclectic vibe. The eclectic design is a spectrum of many different styles. It is the gathering of different elements coming from various sources then used together in perfect harmony. This style, however, is not an easy one to replicate more so to create. You need to learn to mix and match certain interior design and decorative elements coming from different themes.

Yeah, this is not as easy as it seems since taking different elements from your favorite styles and throwing them all together is not the way to go. So whether you will design a bungalow or a much wider space, make sure that you have an eye for balance and harmony. Now going back to that L-shaped couch and the wooden center table, such pairing will become acceptable if the background features neutral or any light-colored wall or floor-to-ceiling curtains.

Though you may like different elements separately, these may not look great when brought together. If you want to avoid creating design mess, then you have to be careful about your choices. Moderation is key to creating the contrasts that you need. Variety and contrasts, after all, are what comprise eclectic interior design.

What Strikes Your Fancy?

Think of eclectic as the union of the luxurious and simple; neutral and bright; even the East and the West. The leeway that you enjoy is what makes this whole design scheme tricky. Keep in mind that the borderline between chaos and acceptable contrast is very thin. The leeway that you enjoy is what makes this whole design scheme tricky.

Do you think you have the skill to mismatch something systematically? This is the very core of eclecticism. Find enough elements that will become the foundation. This common ground will be responsible for harmonizing everything else.

Any room, for instance, can showcase wooden furniture pieces that can give your home a rustic and earthy feel. Yet they could also turn out to be overpowering or monotonously boring if you do not use them carefully. Find decor pieces that will soften the overall look of your home (bright throw pillows or colorful area rugs for instance).

Don’t bother about matching chairs. Use a narrow palette and a dash of both shimmer and silhouette.  Find artwork, accents, rugs, and lighting elements that play well with your background. Use light against the dark, flat and glossy, traditional and modern. Always look for prospects of creating analogous unions.

This inspiring dining set from the FFDM American Cherry Collection is a powerful anchor to the ornate carpet.

This inspiring dining set from the FFDM American Cherry Collection is a powerful anchor to the ornate carpet.

 

Another great rule of eclecticism is to edit as you go. It will be impossible to cram all your ideas in one room. As you go along, you will observe that finding the right balance becomes easier. Establish optical marriages of furniture and artwork, shapes and finishes, even focal point and accent pieces.

The fundamental pieces should serve as the anchor to your whole theme. Architectural elements can be repeated throughout, say, a gold-colored chair propped against a distressed white desk in your home office, all against pearly white painted walls, trim and door posts.

Before bringing any piece to a room, consider its relationship to the rest of the design elements. Will it overwhelm or become a dull addition? If this is so, then it is certain that your furniture piece should go someplace else.

Accessories Uttermost Iced Trees Abstract Art 31304 is a frameless masterpiece that spells eclectic throughout. This artwork will surely leap to life in any room.

Accessories Uttermost Iced Trees Abstract Art 31304 is a frameless masterpiece that spells eclectic throughout. This artwork will surely leap to life in any room.

Scale, composition and proportion are always important when it comes to interior design, however, they become crucial the moment they are used in a home with incongruent design elements. Pay attention to the mixture of artwork and accessories as there should be nothing unintentional in your space.

Lastly, eclectic design is also about texture layering. Create depth by bringing in on Oriental carpet onto a wooden flooring and trim. Upholstery pieces look great when paired with sleek desks. Different textures can create visual sensations that will surely excite the senses.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes, Interior Design Trends | Comments Off on Eclectic Design: Your Home, Your Style

Your Yellow Home: Living Bright and Light

Monday, January 18th, 2016

 

This neutral-colored bed from the Bergman Bedroom Collection of Jonathan Louis is perfect with yellow curtains, that yellow sofa at the foot of the bed, and yellow-striped bolster, and other yellow accessories.

This neutral-colored bed from the Bergman Bedroom Collection of Jonathan Louis is perfect with yellow curtains, that yellow chair at the foot of the bed, and yellow-striped bolster, and other yellow accessories.

 

The color yellow is a wonderful hue. It is intense, it is bright, and it can even evoke the strongest emotions. Yellow is an attention-grabbing color yet it can also become abrasive should you make the mistake of overusing it. This color can appear bright and warm but in the wrong hands, it can also be visually tiresome.

Yellow can cause eye fatigue because of the high amount of light which it can reflect. The use of this color as a wallpaper on computer monitors can cause eye strain, even vision loss for some. Though this is the case, it can also be used (in moderation) to grab people’s attention. This is why yellow is used mostly in most roadside advertisements.

Lamps and Lighting Uttermost Oratino Burnt Yellow Lamp 26476 at McCreerys Home Furnishings. This fascinating lamp comes with a crackled ceramic. You will love the burnt yellow glaze as well as the rust bronze detail.

Lamps and Lighting Uttermost Oratino Burnt Yellow Lamp 26476 at McCreerys Home Furnishings. This fascinating lamp comes with a crackled ceramic. You will love the burnt yellow glaze as well as the rust bronze detail.

The Sunny Color

Using yellow in interior design means you are ready to stage warm and happy feelings inside your home.

Color therapy makes use of this color to evoke feelings of happiness in people. In interior design, it creates coziness and feelings of warmth. This is quite a popular color for wall paints.

Splashes of yellow can be used inside your home through golden carpet hues, warm room furniture, and yellow lighting fixtures. Accessories in yellow can also make a rather dull room appear more exciting.

Yellow is a highly recommended color for decorating rooms. This is the color that can brighten up any dark, gloomy room. Painting the walls light yellow, creamy yellow or any yellowish tint on wallpapers is great for small and dark rooms.

Mix decorative items of yellow and colors that match this lovely hue. If you have used yellow as paint or wallpaper, then find a neutral color for your ceiling and floor. This should balance the looks of your interiors while also creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Yellow can be so many things – it can be juicy, subtle, even dimmed. The living room walls can be painted with this juicy shade. If used as a tint, it can be mixed with brown, cream or brick red. Speaking of duos, what could be considered as the marital pair for yellow is the color green. This is a combination that is typically used in kitchens and children’s bedrooms. Bright accessories can be a fusion of two colors: red, coral, blue, orange or turquoise.

If you want to use yellow inside classical interiors, then have it combined with white. This is a great mixture for dining rooms, offices and living rooms. These two colors can make any room look larger, clean and bright. If you used the color combination as a backdrop, then be sure to use moss-colored, terracotta, or burgundy accessories. Wooden oak furniture will also look great inside such interiors.

If, on the other hand, you decide to use yellow and white furniture and accessories, then be sure to have a more exciting ceiling to floor colors such as lilac, green, or shades of blue.

It is also safe to experiment with yellow and chocolate. You will never go wrong with this combination as it offers a warm contrast to the usual sunny feelings that yellow evokes. Mix the same color with red and you will instantly bring life into a room.

Purple is also a great combination for bright yellow. Children’s rooms often come with pastel green with purple accessories. This is never irritating to the eye.

All in all, yellow can be used in different shades and can be easily combined with many different colors. Just learn to put balance these awesome colors by knowing their limits. Just remember this – too much of anything can always annoy.

Yellow lemons – in this case oranges - can add a unique tinge of yellow on your dining table. This wooden masterpiece is from FFDM's Sunset Collection available at McCreerys Home Furnishings.

Yellow lemons – in this case oranges – can add a unique tinge of yellow on your dining table. This wooden masterpiece is from FFDM’s Sunset Collection available at McCreerys Home Furnishings.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »