Design Notes
Color. It is what gives our world variety and speaks a language all its own. It is a versatile element that is used in various professions such as art, entertainment, and even cooking. Interior designers thrive on color to express their client’s personality and tell their story. Color is also the common thread that ties other elements, like texture and pattern. Woven together, they create a sense of unity and influence the mood. It is fairly common knowledge that each color implies a mood, such as blue is calm, green represents growth, and yellow expresses happiness. The colors you select for your home can have an effect on the atmosphere, and more and more homeowners are looking to add a little comfort with color.
The Power Of Color
Color is a powerful tool, which is why designers use it in multiple ways. We react to color differently, some even based on past experiences. Certain colors can motivate, while others have the ability to calm you down after a stressful day. Choosing the right palette can help create the right atmosphere to keep your family relaxed and happy when at home. The saturation of a shade or tint of a color can also affect the meaning, such as a more muted green invokes calm, and a bright lime green sparks creativity. Each area in the home has a purpose that can be reflected in the color choice:
- Kitchen: The heart of the home should have a palette that reflects that, such as browns, grays, and even blues.
- Bedroom: A place of repose and relaxation, use colors like blue and purple, as both are in the cool spectrum and have a soothing and calm vibe.
- Home office/children’s area: Productivity and creativity are essential in this area, and the bright hue of orange makes it well-suited for this. Pillows, art, or furniture pieces are great ways to add a touch of this to the room.
Your house is yours; it is a reflection of you and should make you feel comfortable at home. Look at a swatch book of colors and get a sense of which ones you enjoy most, then build your design so that the end result matches.
The Benefits Of Color
With so much stress faced on a daily basis, it is important that we have one place to go and recharge, to let go of it all and completely rest. Choosing the right colors for you will benefit your health and create the perfect environment for you and your family. They can help you feel safe and comfortable, and even make a room feel larger or smaller depending on the need. Again, color can help us feel happy, creative, excited, or relaxed; it all depends on what works best for you, so don’t be afraid to venture out of the norm when it comes to color selection.
Nature’s Color Palette
When looking for inspiration for the perfect balance of calm and beauty, there is none better than nature herself. Since many are doing more from home, it is essential to create a space that has a pleasant environment, and nature’s color palette provides just that vibe. From the soft whites to the calming neutrals of browns and grays, there is no lack of refreshing and uplifting vibes. There are several ways to add a touch of nature or maximize what you have when planning a design:
- Mirrors: Reflecting the natural light you already have maximizes it to the fullest and gives the room a more open and airy feeling, which is great for the mind and body.
- Natural choices: When selecting decor items, think natural or more organic, like a driftwood coffee table, glass or pottery vases, artwork that has a neutral color palette, fabrics such as linen, and even the shape of furniture, such as simple curves or soft lines.
- Wood: One of nature’s top products, wood provides multiple ways to add a natural, organic vibe to the room, including built-ins, cabinets, fireplace mantles, accent walls, and more. By using wood in its shades, the room will automatically be in harmony with the other elements, and the colors will produce a calm and inviting environment.
Nature has been the inspiration behind many award-winning designs and will never be outdone. It has a timeless appeal and draw for many, which means you can’t go wrong when you choose nature’s palette.
How To Include Color
We experience color every day, from the store to a restaurant or even a quick stop at a convenience store. Sometimes, we even remember how we felt in a particular place, unaware that the color influenced our mood. Take some time to think back to when you last felt relaxed, productive, or happy; try to remember your surroundings, especially color. Recreate that atmosphere in your home by following a similar palette. You will be amazed at the results.
- Accents: A painted wall or ceiling, throw blankets, art pieces, furniture, window treatments, decor items, or a rug. These are easy ways to add color to the room without overloading it or blending color combinations.
- Flooring: Tile, hardwood, or even painting it can add color to the room in a unique way.
- Plants: Adding some greenery to your home is not only healthy but also colorful, and Mother Nature has no shortage of colors. It also comes with an added health bonus for your family.
- Variations: Remember that one color has multiple shades and tints, meaning that you can create a room designed around a monochromatic palette, which will bring unity while not being boring.
Get creative and think outside the box when it comes to color. There are so many ways to add the exact vibe you want. Check out Pinterest for some other amazing ideas and suggestions.
Greenbrook DesignThe kitchen tends to be one of the busiest areas in the home, and over the last year, it has become more than just a place to cook food. It has evolved into a multifunctional space where everyone gathers to perform a wide range of tasks. With so much at stake, planning a renovation requires careful thought and well-designed plans. Many designers caution against following the latest trends, but there are a few additional design mistakes they also encourage their clients to avoid. If you are considering a renovation or a new construction project, here are our top five biggest kitchen design mistakes to avoid.
Countertops are often underappreciated and underrated in the design world. They are the true workhorses of any space, as they are used regularly and withstand a great deal. We chop, pound, knead, spill, and more all over these smooth surfaces, yet they continue to function day after day. Unfortunately, they are not meant to last forever. Experts recommend replacing them every 10 to 15 years, especially if signs of wear and tear are evident, such as stubborn stains, chips, or cracks.
Walker Woodworking Sometimes, certain areas of home decor have been influenced by trends that are no longer in style and can make the space feel dated or even uninviting. Rooms also serve a specific purpose, and those can change over time. If your children are no longer living with you, their bedroom can be transformed into a craft room or even a guest suite. There are also some new things that are making their way onto potential homebuyers’ lists. We have done some research for you and discovered some of the top new items being used in home design.
It is always fun to watch those home improvement shows. It is always a delight to watch designers come up with a plan that completely transforms the space from drab to fab. Often, after watching those shows, you have a tendency to look around your own home, wishing you could give it an update, but a renovation is not conceivable at the moment for one reason or another. The good news is that you don’t have to undergo a renovation to give your home a lift or freshen it up; sometimes it’s the little things —the details —that can completely revamp your space and make a big impact without breaking the bank. Discover six simple ways you can freshen up your home and even make it feel completely new without going through a renovation.
Here are some steps you can take to ensure your kitchen is healthy and ready for creating dishes that are not only delicious but also beneficial for your family’s health. We know that it is not always easy to stick with the decision to be healthier, but with a well-designed kitchen, it can be. With over twenty years of experience, our design team is well-versed in planning a kitchen design that functions well for your specific needs while also reflecting the style you will love. We serve more than 15 counties and invite you to visit our 5,000-square-foot showroom, where you can walk through multiple kitchen displays to get a feel for the possibilities that await you. Connect with us and let’s start planning a healthy kitchen design.
Walker Woodworking
Greenbrook Design