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The importance of Color in decoration and interior design

Written by fellow colleague Sarah July for furniture.smartgazer.com. Thank you Sarah!

Colors awake different kind of sensations: comfort, relaxation, coldness, warmth, etc. They also cause –subjective- associations with other times, moments and experiences. This is the reason why choosing the right color is one of the fundamentals of interior design .

It can be observed that colors in determined spaces generate harmony or contrast (in different degrees). A good color combination (with its shades, values, etc.) produces a good harmonic sensation, whereas more contrast creates a chromatic unit that is more vital and dynamic (always having in mind the creation of a chromatic unity to avoid creating chaotic combinations –unless that is exactly what you are looking for).

Besides the sensations and estates that colors can lead to, we can also add that they generate visual variations in rooms, giving them characteristics that differ from its real ones, in other words, creating visual and/or optic illusions.

When the time comes to design a space it is important to understand the values of each color and their production of meaning. Thus, it is fundamental to study each color’s characteristics to adequately combine and use, always keeping in minds the function of the room, its natural illumination and by whom it is going to be frequently occupied.

Reds and yellows (in all their shades) are warm colors and reflect vitality and energy. On the contrary, blues, greens and violets are cold colors that also produce a relaxed atmosphere but also generate distance; that is why it must be noticed that if used alone, they can create an effect of little intimacy and of sadness.

Warm colors can be used in big rooms towards the end of making the space look smaller while cold colors and soft shades allow enlarging the space and providing more light. As an example, by painting a corridor with a cold color, it will provide more wideness.