DESIGN PROBLEM – HOW TO CHOOSE DECORATING COLORS
Choices are generally a good thing. But when you are trying to choose house colors from the plethora of options out there, it can seem overwhelming. There are lots of colors I like, lots of colors that could invoke the vibe I’m looking for in a certain space. Yet I don’t want my house looking like an exploding paint truck, so how much is too much?
DESIGN PRINCIPLE – NATURE’S GOLDEN RATIO RULE
Relationships between mathematics and nature abound and can be applied to interior design as well. In this post, I mentioned the Golden Ratio rule for determining size and location of décor that is visually pleasing. You can use this same rule when choosing house color schemes. I am going to get a little nerdy here for a moment. The Golden Ratio is loosely derived from the Fibonacci ratio which relates to a mathematical connection we see in patterns repeated in nature time and time again. Even nature sticks to the ‘keep it simple stupid’ approach.
Golden Ratio in plants Golden Ratio in animals Golden Ratio to
visual Rule of Thirds
What It Means For Décor Color Schemes
An approximation of this number is the 60:40 ratio (find out more details for the spatial design aspect by getting access to the Style Library resource guide). Needless to say, a color scheme of two colors is a bit boring. In comes another mathematical association to the rescue – odd numbers are visually appealing as they force eye movement, making it more interesting. So, a tweak to the 60:40 Golden Ratio for color design is 60:30:10. As the largest portion, the 60% should be identified with items that are more permanent like wall color. Next, your furniture, window treatments, bedding, and most of the accessories will encompass the 30% portion. Finally, the 10% portion is an accent within some of the above mentioned items as well as stand-alone accessories that can easily be changed out with the seasons or simply a change of mood.
HOW I APPLIED THE GOLDEN RATIO RULE FOR HOME DECOR COLORS
Do you always find yourself drawn to the shabby chic or farmhouse styles that are light, bright, and airy? I am too! I think because it feels spacious and clean. I’d had a few years to train the Hubby on what clean really meant. However, with two young boys (4 and 7 years) I knew it would not work for our house, regardless of how stain resistant some materials are these days.
Prairie/Craftsman/Mission styles try to incorporate nature. So it’s not surprising that I am drawn to warm colors in an earthy green, yellow, and red. I also tried to maintain as much of a neutral undertone in the many woods used throughout in case I wanted to switch to a cool color scheme at some point. Do you have more of a neutral, monochromatic color scheme that’s so popular these days? Then this is even more important to keep in mind as the neutrals ARE your color. Canva (not an affiliate) has a great tool for picking colors based on what inspires you.
Make Sure to Mix It Up
I talk a lot about making your whole house space cohesive even with repeating patterns. Likewise, that means having a whole house color scheme using the same colors throughout. Most importantly, when using the 60:30:10 color rule the colors you choose SHOULD NOT stay in the same ratio in every room. Notice above how the living room is 60 Green: 30 Yellow: 10 Red and the foyer below is 60 Yellow: 30 Green: 10 Red. Besides adding visual interest, different areas of your house get different amounts and type of lighting and have different functions that may call for the use of a different predominant color.
GOLDEN RATIO RULE WITH TO COOL COLOR HOME SCHEME
“Rules are meant to be broken” said someone, somewhere, at some time. So, I did. Color psychology tells us that cool colors express the calm vibe needed for better sleep. Moreover, Hubby would have the windows cracked open during the Midwest winter if I let him. Here, my predominant bedroom color is a cool grey-blue. 60 Blue: 30 Yellow: 10 Green
Want to know more about how and why I successfully broke the 60:30:10 color rule in my home? Get access to the Style Library freebie that explains it all!
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