Colors To Chase Away The Blues

Winter seems to have but two moods in my part of the world, sparklingly sunny and glorious, or gloomy, overcast and dank. When winter gets into its blue mood, suddenly color is stripped away and landscapes are viewed in black and white. After several days of this foggy funk, you begin to crave color. You seek it out to warm your soul. So when you finally spot the pink lines of a sunset in a gray sky, you want to shout, ah, color!

In winter, a blast of color somewhere, even if your style preference is for monochromatic, tranquil, barely-there color, seems to be an essential ingredient in home décor. Monochromatic purists may deny the need for anything other than neutral gray, beige, taupe or whiter shades of pale but who can deny the welcome seduction of a glowing yellow fire in the hearth, a red-blossomed plant or the perky brilliance of a pitcher of fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Dynamic personalities can get away with black/white color schemes or they favor those colors that only semi-precious stones and gems can claim as naturally their own: turquoise, amethyst, ruby, sapphire, peridot or emerald. Tranquility is expressed through colors of the ocean: blue, blue-green, lavender, celedon, and light gray. Nurturing types might prefer those colors that even sound warm and fuzzy: peach, honey yellows, warm rose, cream, and baby blue.

If you aren’t sure of the romantic color moods, listen up, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. You’ll be sending the right message if you indulge your valentine with shades of pink, rose, sage green, lilac, antique white or cameo blue. Then, when you want to kick up the heat, these sensuous colors-- warm red, mango, purple, hot pink, gold, and deep blue, accompanied by some food, wine and music, should help create a Valentine’s Day to remember.

I, personally, have always favored contemplative colors for the more private spaces in my home—beige, taupe, neutral gray and off-white on which to build a foundation for my interior design. Color accents are also neutral, the white of an orchid blossom, the soft pink of a seashell or the honeyed browns of a tortoise shell. However, I do like black accents to stand in contrast to those neutral colors, the black of a set of lacquered boxes, metal painted, black tole urns and desk accessories, or the celluloid black of an old telephone. In the more public spaces of our home—the foyer, family room, powder rooms and library/entertainment room, my tendency is for more traditional colors—plaids, earthy reds and burgundies, and greens.

People use color to express their moods. Mood changes may signal the need to repaint the kitchen or put new carpeting in the family room. Or, people create different moods for different areas of the home as I did with our public and personal spaces. (All this is good news for the manufacturers of paint, wallcovering and fabric.) For instance, in our library/entertainment room, when I get a chance to sit in there to read a book or view a video, I am relaxed and have the need to feel cozy, sheltered and safe. For me, the comforting, familiarity of rich, burgundy-painted walls and multi-hued paisley throws tossed over our upholstered sofa creates just the mood I desire.

Knowing that color reflects mood and attitude does not answer the question of what color scheme is right for you in a specific room. Moods are fickle and fleeting, how can you accurately express yourself with color without constant changes?

In choosing a color scheme get inspiration from something you love or something that touches an emotion, make you feel good, happy, safe, calm, or excited. For instance, some people build a color scheme from the ground up—colors in a rug they bought in Greece that will forever remind them of the pleasure and joy of the azure skies and turquoise seas experienced during their vacation. Wall color may be plucked out of the blue stripe in the rug and furniture matched to the casual feel of the woven cotton. A color scheme may be also found in a painting, an upholstered chair or in a favorite transferware platter that you inherited from a relative.

If you, like me, have many moods and want constant variety and change in your home décor, then use tranquil or contemplative colors as the background. Spice up your life, as the mood or season strikes you, with variously colored accessories-- pillows, throws and area rugs to make bold color statements.

As I write this, it is another black and white winter day. But wait, a cardinal just landed on the bird feeder outside my window. That flit of color may be enough to satisfy me until lunch when I plan to eat a green salad, some carrots and a cup of tomato soup while curled up on my chocolate colored leather chair. Enjoy color wherever you can find it!