Three Reasons Why the Color Wheel Should be Your Friend

Are you intimidated by the color wheel?  Feel like you are making it more complicated than it should be?  I've decided that in order to do a better and easier job decorating with fabrics and colors that I need to get friendlier with the color wheel and remind myself why it is such an important decorator's tool.

Can't we be friends?  Why the color wheel should be your decorating friend:

1. It just wants all the colors to get along.  Want to go for high-contrast color? Use a complementary scheme.  Like things soft and neutral?  A monochromatic scheme is your friend.  The color wheel wants to make you happy.  It was born to show you how to make your colors get along.  No need to stress about whether that Yellow Green pillow you picked out will work in your bedroom, just ask the Color Wheel.

2.  Just like potential friends, you'll be in sync and have a great time with some colors and others will annoy you by their intensity.  Use the color wheel to test how varying shades of colors will work together before you put them all in a room.  It's like carefully reviewing your seating plan before a dinner party so you don't put hard core, outspoken Republican Uncle Billy next to your introverted Vegan friend, Jenny... someone's not going to have a good time.

The three primary colors can be jarring at full intensity. But lowering the intensity can be more calming. Try navy, which is a darker version of blue or wine which is a darker version of red.  If you use the full intensity of red and green, it will look like Christmas year round.  As an example, my Dad had painted our little seasonal cottage white with Christmas green trim and it had a bright red metal roof.  After I purchased the cottage from him, I darkened the green to the historic color Benjamin Moore Tarrytown Green and it totally changed how the little cottage looks. 

3.  You want to ski but your friend wants to swim, can you still plan a trip together?  Why, yes you can...  The color wheel will show you what cool and warm colors work together.  Your friend who likes the warmth is drawn to a yellow orange, while you like the blue purple.  You'll be a vibrant duo for sure.  The left side will show you the cooler colors while the right is the warmer. 

 

Using only one Color - A Monochromatic Scheme

If you're feeling intimidated by color at first, try monochromatic scheme. It's simply one color in varying intensities from light to dark. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add some more color - Analogous

Dip your toe in the color waters with a two to six color scheme.  These colors sit next to each other on the wheel so we know right away that they can get along.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Colors — Triad

A triad scheme is bold but very balanced. It's made up of any three colors that form a triangle in the center of the wheel.

Photo:  http://www.homesynchronize.com

 

Complementary Color Scheme

If you are feeling brave try a complementary scheme which includes hues that are directly across from each other on the wheel.  Examples include using yellow with violet, blue with orange, or red-violet with yellow-green. There is a lot of contrast between the two colors.  The color schemes are a lot more vibrant.  They are at their full intensity when combined with white. This can be a fun color scheme that works great in children's rooms or more casual environments. If you're looking for something for sophisticated, warm or cozy than try grayed or softer versions of these colors.

 



Photo - Newport Coast Interior Design

 

I have a refreshed appreciation for my friend, the color wheel.  I'll be taking her along on all my decorating adventures.  I would love to hear any experiences that you've had working with the color wheel and trying some of these color schemes.

How to Design a Traditional Garden Landscape on a Small Budget

Mrs. Whaley's Charleston Garden ~ Classic Garden and My Favorite! http://designinspiration.typepad.com/design_inspiration_planet/2008/07/mrs-whaley-and-her-charleston-garden.html

It is possible to create a traditional garden landscape on a small budget if you keep in mind the design elements that go into formal gardens.

While Mrs. Whaley's garden is my all time cozy favorite, I realize that I do not have the space or the funds to recreate her garden in its exact form.  What I can do is get the same feeling by understanding the elements that go into a formal or traditional gardens and incorporate as many as I can within my budget

If you have an inspiration photo of a garden you absolutely love, try to pick out the parts that appeal to you the most.  You may not be able to have everything you want but you can be creative and add some statement pieces to your garden.


Photo - The Enchanted Home

For example, when I look at Mrs. Whaley's garden what appeals to me is the privacy, the white fence, the outline brick shape around the grass and the focal point of the statue at the far end.  I also like the shrubs mixed with the roses and potted flowers that add color against all that lush green.

Keep in mind that most formal or traditional gardens have the following three main elements:

1.  Classic accessories such as:
Urns or ornate planters -  Use one as a focal point or use two or more symmetrically.
Statues -  Always a favorite of mine in a beautiful garden.  Statues offer a higher level of sophistication to a formal garden.  You can have it as a focal point like Mrs. Whaley's garden or in another area surrounded by boxwoods.
Fountains or bird baths -  If you can't afford a fountain consider a cement bird bath.  Some of the large home improvement stores are carrying them and they are an inexpensive way to add interest to a section of your garden.  The little birdies will love you for it!
Garden Screens, Arbors or Pergolas - If you have the budget for these items they can really make your garden feel like a separate room.

2.  They are tidy and orderly:  Think clean lines.  You can create this by making a path out of inexpensive crushed stone or pavers.  Just be sure to keep the lines around the paths edged and clean looking.  You don't need to add brick or metal edging around your gardens but learn how to edge your gardens yourself to save money.  Turns out it is very easy and there are a lot of YouTube videos on edging a garden (I've included a link to one below).  You probably already have the tools to do it since all you need is a flat ended spade or you can buy a half-moon edger at your local hardware store.  Properly edged gardens are beautiful.  I tend to like them better than the ones that are too busy with stone, metal or horrible plastic edging.  Save all that extra work for your pathways.

This Old House Video on How to Edge Your Garden

3.  Balanced:  When you look at most traditional gardens they repeat plantings.  You'll see lines of boxwoods and symmetrical plantings across walkways or seating areas.  You can keep you cost down by watching for sales at the end of season sales on hydrangeas, boxwoods, dwarf spruce to add the outline to your garden space.  For example, consider using large cement or black urns at each end of a garden bench.  Plant each urn with a dwarf alberta Spruce surrounded by white impatiens or petunias.  Then continue the white with a couple of hydrangea bushes.  This balance and symmetry can make small gardens feel larger. 

                

 

 

Photos: Pinterest

 

Photo HGTV

 

 

One last point to keep in mind on your garden landscape budget is to spend the most you can afford on the permanent fixtures and focal points such as a pergola, urns, statues and walkways.  This is the same way you would treat your home decorating budget - spend on the big impact items first.  Even if you have to buy one item each season, you will save money in the long run and will have a space you truly love.   Creating a beautiful, traditional garden space on a budget is very easy to do as long as you're willing to do some searching for bargains and a little gardening work yourself. 

 

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