Monday, June 1, 2015

Color Matters

Color is a powerful tool that can make a room feel calm, cheerful, comfortable or energetic. We asked a few top designers to share how they incorporate color into their designs.

Color is unexpected in this modern living room as designer Diane Hancock uses a yellow ceiling paint against a stark white wall to draw the eye up and emphasize the ceiling height of the adjacent room.

"The first question I ask a new client is – what colors do you like? Do you want to be bold with color and saturate the room or just add a pop of color against a neutral background? Color is one of the biggest influences on the human mind. It affects us aesthetically, emotionally and psychologically. Color even impacts our perception of the size of the room. Colors are all around us and have a voice: green with envy; in the pink; feeling blue. Because they affect both the mood and the interior design of a space, color is my first inspiration when designing a room." – Linda Shears, ASID, Linda Shears Designs

"Use of color is as individual as the person using it. It can be the “personal stamp” on a room. What are your favorite colors? Do you want to use color on the walls and/or main pieces in the room, or only as accents? Do you have a favorite item that you love (a rug, piece of clothing, scarf, etc.) to use as inspiration? Color can create great impact and drama in a room, and should be used thoughtfully, but fearlessly." – Sharon Kory, Sharon Kory Interiors

"Inspiration for color can come from almost anywhere. Whether in the form of nature with a new spring leaf green, or a purse or coat with a fuchsia and pink fabric lining, the possibilities are endless! The living space pictured was actually inspired by computer technology, specifically, an Apple iPad box. The use of silver came from the device itself, while I incorporated white as an accent on the fireplace, mats on the framed art and the wooden spools in the étagère." – Margaret Skinner, Allied ASID, Margeaux Interiors

To learn more about the impact color has on design, be sure to attend MDC’s “Color Matters” event on Thursday, June 18. Linda Shears will host a discussion about the psychology of color in the Marie-Howard Showroom, while Margaret Skinner will transform MDC’s lobby into a vibrant and relaxing space inspired by color. Click here for more info!