色彩！家裏選什麽顏色？

Buy a can of the color and test it on the wall in the room where you want to use it. If you are afraid of color, try putting it in a small space such as a powder room. If you can afford to hire a decorative painter, paint the color as a glaze rather than as flat or plain paint – glazed colors are more luminous than plain paint. If you don't want to commit to color on the walls, then use color in the decorations. Fabrics and carpets in a variety of colors, or in shades of one color, may be easier to live with than the total commitment required by a color on the wall. Whether you prefer strong color or quiet neutrals, there should be balance and harmony. Too much of anything is unsettling – leave the theatrics to Barnum & Bailey. Try several nice, big samples on the wall before you take the plunge. When selecting a paint for your interiors – especially bright colors – I advise that you lighten up! The color that looks just right on the paint fan will probably be too intense once you begin painting. That’s because the effect of color intensifies about 60% when applied to a wall. I advocate selecting a color that is a shade or two lighter than your original choice. When people think of color in terms of a residence, they initially think of wall color, often making a commitment to the envelope without considering how all interior contents can present in terms of color as one's space evolves. A neutral palette (in terms of envelope) – which does not, by definition, mean insipid – allows for the development of blocks of color introduced through artwork, textiles, ceramics, etc., enabling an environment to evolve over time. This provides an aesthetic flexibility in which spaces can be reinvented by incorporating these objects. Go for light colors in well-lit rooms and for dark colors in rooms where the quality of light is not so good. Soft, pale colors have more longevity. Strong colors are tiring to the eye, unless it is your most favorite color. When painting a ceiling, always make it blend with the paint color on the walls. Never make it stark white. I see that all the time – the ceiling is treated as the poor cousin, when it is one of the main elements in a room and should be treated as such. Color families: everything relates and is compatible when all viewed as a whole. No sudden shifts in value or color except as a dark accent. Don’t be afraid of dark accent colors, but those should be reserved for powder rooms, libraries or entry halls – also small anterooms or sitting rooms off of larger bedrooms – and don’t overdo them in any single residence. The dark accent should feel special and be a pleasant surprise, not startling. I tend to make most colors soft pale beige and grey combinations, kind of an oyster color. Complex and fresh, but not bright, like off white. At the beach we tend to use colors slightly darker because of all the reflected light off the ocean. White walls at the beach require sunglasses inside the house. Don't be afraid to use color throughout the house – nothing gives a home more warmth than some strong colors. But I almost always add a little grey to all of the colors I use to tone them down a bit and give a more subtle and complex feel. Select a single voice of neutrals for the basic furnishings and backgrounds. Add color accents in accessories only. The foundation scheme and materials should remain timeless, the accents easily changed with fashion.