Color Blog - Page 10

Creative Halloween Decorating Ideas: Beyond the Classic Orange and Black

Next to Christmas, Halloween is the most celebrated holiday in the United States, and most families can't wait to start making their homes and yards festive for the occasion. Although you can't change the fact that orange and black are inextricably linked to this event, with a little effort and imagination, you can create a variety of low-cost special effects that do not require painting your house to look like either a pumpkin or a casket.

If you happen to already have an orange-toned accent wall in your home, you have the perfectly prepared background for your favorite accessories. Pantone's popular 2013 fall colors such as Koi (orange), Linden Green, Deep Lichen Green, Turbulence (charcoal, and Acai (rich purple) are ideal accent wall choices, and if you have a natural affinity for these warm colors, you may already have the biggest part of your decorating done. Just bring in the pumpkins and candles, black throws and rugs, and even black bedding and towels. You'll soon be ready to entertain.

On the other hand, if your personal decorating style is much different, don't try to make big, expensive changes. Throw orange or black throws over furniture pieces and group them together for more impact. The living room or dining room is usually the most adaptable space. Consider changing out the curtains, pillows, and the lampshades temporarily. Layer a large clear vase with bands of Halloween candy for a striking statement. Use black rugs and black decorations generously. Halloween word art can be made and framed cheaply. How about a Halloween tree with clear lights and orange and black trimmings? Find cheap dinnerware at a dollar store and paint it with ceramic or glass paints. Don't forget a themed tablecloth and napkins as well. A colorful Halloween wreath on your front door or a spooky outdoor display reminds visitors and passersby that you are in the mood to celebrate.

Interior Color Palette Guide: Tips and Trends for Choosing the Perfect Scheme

Whether you want to spruce up a tired room or to design an entirely new look for the whole house, getting the color scheme right is the first and most essential step. Creating a home atmosphere that is both comfortable and appealing requires thoughtful choices and some basic knowledge of the theory of color. A standard decorator's color wheel can be a huge help.

Since you will want your home to have some sense of consistency and flow, start with three or four bold colors and then narrow the choice down to your favorite two. If you are having a problem getting started, check out your own wardrobe. Do you spot any trends? Perhaps you see more sedate navy blues, cheery reds, warm browns, or soft pastels.

If the wardrobe does not present any answers, look around your home at pieces of art, patterned rugs and furniture, or floral arrangements. Chances are, you already own something whose color combination appeals to you. Check in magazines and online for sample styles and room designs. By collecting your favorites in a scrapbook, you should begin to see your own personal tastes emerge.

Don't be afraid of color. The wonderful thing about paint is that it can be a relatively inexpensive change-out. However, to avoid big, unwanted makeovers, consider the following interior color palette tips:

Importance of Color Schemes in Web Design: Trends and Tools

I have often witnessed an extraordinary design concept with poor selection of colors. All designers must remember is that a great web design is a perfect combination of typography, layout and, of course, color schemes. As a designer, if you are capable to make these aspects work and complement each other, you will give birth to a perfect web design. Color schemes definitely play a vital role in designing any interactive website. I personally believe that it can also serve as a means of communication. We all know that whenever a visitor visits any website, color schemes are one of the first things he notices.

There are multiple reasons to why color schemes are super important and take a big role in any design process. One of the reasons is that colors can deliver your message across. Not only this, your color scheme will also affect the mood of your visitors. Effective and good color schemes will influence your visitors in many ways. You can imagine the importance of color schemes with the fact that multi-national corporations are investing millions of dollars these days to decide a perfect color scheme for their brand, packaging and of course websites.

The web is undoubtedly chock-full of so many color scheme tools that will help you in making the perfect color scheme. Obviously, not all tools will bring the same mesmerizing effect but yes, these tools can help a lot. In order to make things convenient for you, we have compiled a list of some of the great tools for selecting color schemes for your website.

Interior Color Trends for 2013: From Coastal Calm to New Traditional

Choosing the right colors for your living space is an important decision. Although your personal tastes are always the first criteria, for style-conscious home owners, there are identifiable trends each year. Home interior color schemes are drawn from the world of art and fashion as well as interior design. They reflect current moods and interests; and while they offer great possibilities, they remain only suggestions from which to create your own special living space.

For 2013, Benjamin Moore has identified four interior color schemes that share some similarities. Brighter, more saturated colors are being used right now. However, they must be tempered with whites or other balancing neutrals. Because men are making meals in the kitchen and taking a more active role in the house, they are becoming more aware of their surroundings and want to have input in paint colors and furnishings. Look for lots of grays, blues and earthy tones. Women, on the other hand, have expressed a desire for classic warmth and beauty in their homes. There is a current tendency to shy away from futuristic, sleek looks and to draw from the earthy, invigorating colors without becoming too feminine, "countrified" or dated.

As a result, decorators are pulling lots of blues and greens into their interior color schemes this year. Imagine a coastal palette of seashore blues such as Benjamin Moore's tranquility (AF-490), van courtland blue (HC-145) and stratton blue (HC-142) balanced with simply white (OC-117) and lemon sorbet (2019-60). These colors create a sense of calmness and harmony. They are easy on the eyes. In the kitchen, pairing yellow and blue against distinctive white cabinetry creates a clean, fresh look. In the living room, consider choosing one wall for a deep blue accent and let other colors pop out. Don't forget the ceiling. Painted ceilings are very popular today.

Website Color Schemes: Top Trends of 2013

Savvy Internet users have their own sense of style and trendiness. Currently, there are four popular basic color schemes for websites for 2013, and they all have one attribute in common: The beauty of any web design is really in its readability. According to design expert Kim Krueger, "Designs must enhance a site's reading experience and complement the structure that best lends itself to readability, rather than distracting from the content." This principle holds true for website color schemes as well.

One popular and effective new trend is a full-screen, grayscale background with pops of two or three bright accent colors. This design easily highlights important information and interactive elements, and users find access friendly and uncomplicated. It is a simple, direct presentation that gets the job done. One such bold color scheme is demonstrated by www.lotuscars.com. A black sports car sits amid grayed scenery. Limited use of bright yellow and bright red creates a striking impression. The message is clean and uncomplicated.

Muted pastels are also popular for 2013 website color schemes. Mixing soft neutral tones and a variety of light pastels creates a friendly, inviting screen. Because none of the color tones are too bold or overwhelming, a larger number of muted shades can be added. This color palette tends to invite hand-drawn, organic typefaces and charming, folksy illustrations.