DECORATING IDEAS
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN SERIES

Elements of Design
Point -*- Line Form Flow
Scale -*- Texture & Pattern

The best Decorating Idea ever is understanding design elements - the focus herein is on elemental color concepts

Click to art printsThe concept here may seem 'off the wall', but represents a most important basic inherent characteristic of color. Understanding the premise of the nature of color will ultimately enhance the use of it.

I have never forgotten the teaching of a grade school science teacher that has continually served to revolutionize my approach to colour.

He said, "Color is not Color"

Do you believe it?! Maybe you already know this, but perhaps because I learned it so early, I am often surprised to realize that a lot of people don't.

Once you understand how to learn to see color, there will be nothing to stop you from designing your heart away, decorating ideas flowing from your pores into your Living Spaces - and beyond!

Color selection & coordination becomes second nature when you understand its elemental principles . It takes you beyond 'matching' to true coordinated selection. Choosing paint colors , fabrics, accessories, all pull together so very naturally.

Many people try so hard to pull color together in their home interiors. Too hard in fact. When you learn to really see color & understand its composition, it makes much more sense.

Now Down to This Radical Concept!

Red is not Red??? Color is not Color!?

Click to Fine Art Prints This is it. White lacks color because it is the reflection of all colours of the spectrum. Ever wonder why there are so many different whites? I mean aside from the tints they put into the paint can! When it shows some pink hue, it's because the particular material is retaining some of the red rather than reflecting all of it.

Black is all spectrum colours absorbed to varying degrees. Black is really the most intense because of the total absorption. look closely at black. Do you see a bit of green? Brown? Red?

Each color is really not itself.

Red is the absorption of all spectrum colors except red! A blue red is throwing off blue to a lesser degree. When you begin to see hints of blue, violet, yellow, brown, etc., you begin to understand composition of color. Therefore you learn how to coordinate it.

TRY THIS - ANALYZE COLORS IN NATURE

I spent a contemplative month walking along Washington Ocean Beaches. I think it was the first time I realized that grey clouds were not grey, but in fact you see shades of purple, or blue, etc. I saw why people become creative when they go to the sea, it inspired me to paint seascapes. Black is seldom black in nature. Look closely & you see purples, greens, etc.

Pay attention. Learn to really see what colors you're looking at. It will help you to design & decorate your home interior creatively in unique new ways.

It will inspire you in art selection. Matching art to your interior will become a thing of the past. You will learn to choose instinctively coordinating art and accessories. Putting an end to matching colors in fact broadens the excitment of variety in decorating ideas, brightening & lighting up your home interior. Understanding this concept is really foundational to formal color instruction in art & interior design

This is the last page of the Series on the Elements of Design For more valuable information on color, the page Choosing Paint Colors is very resource rich.

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