Color Theory with Blakely Interior Design
Interior designer and color queen Janelle Blakely shares tips on how to introduce new hues to specific areas of your home.
A neutral kitchen
Janelle’s tip: “Window treatments are a great way to incorporate color into an otherwise neutral kitchen, i.e. Roman shade over the sink. Tie the color palette in with a floor runner, large colorful fruit bowl or tray and countertop accessories, such as snack jars. If you have a dining table in your kitchen, use a colorful runner for an additional pop.”
A shared living or family room
Janelle’s tip: “If your tendency is to stay neutral on key pieces, bring color in through artwork and pillows. Pillows and throws are the single easiest way to incorporate color in your living room without a huge investment or commitment.”
A small powder room
Janelle’s tip: “Wallpaper! I love using wallpaper to add personality and color in a powder room. Small hand towels and a simple bud vase are a great way to bring the color palette
full circle.”
A dark room, i.e. a finished lower level or a north-facing room without much natural light
Janelle’s tip: “Keep walls light and opt for colors that have a high reflective value (RLV). The higher the RLV, the more light that color will reflect, keeping the space lighter and brighter – i.e. a sunny yellow will have a much higher RLV than a mid-tone blue; you can typically find the RLV on the back of the paint swatch.”
PLUS
Favorite color combo
“Oh, I have to pick just one?! I love pink, orange and white together – feminine, fresh and a bit unexpected. Aqua, navy and red is unexpected and balances warm and cool tones nicely. Teal, navy and plum are a great combo. Can you tell I like unexpected color combos?”
Least favorite color combo?
“Anything with peach or sage green.”
Do you believe in the 60, 30, 10 rule for color dispersion?
“I do, but also believe rules are meant to be broken at times. It’s a great way to start a color story, but as it evolves, you may land with a more complex color palette, not just three. I think it’s important to understand what your primary color is and work from there.” blakelyinteriordesign.com
