Get Color Savvy

Boost your color and pattern quotient—and make choices you can live with

By Lisa Skolnik | Photo by landmark photography and design

You wanted monochromatic Zen modern, and you got it. Except now your place is so sedate it puts you to sleep. Or...you splurged on really wild red toile wallpaper for your dining room, and it’s so intense you see an afterglow once you leave the room.

Probably all of us have a similar faux pas or two in our pasts. Color and pattern are the most basic and versatile decorating tools. But, precisely because of their unlimited potential, figuring out how and where to use them—and what really works—can be daunting. Who hasn’t anguished over what color to use or which pattern to pick for some spot in their home?

Instead of letting indecision, fear of failure, and actual flubs keep you from using these tools, heed the advice of experts.

Ask yourself: what do i really like?

Create your own “look book”: It will help you understand your preferences, as well as convey them to designers or retailers when using their services. “Rip out pictures of rooms or furnishings that really move you from home design magazines, and paste them into a large, spiral-bound artist’s sketch pad for a few months. When you page through the book, a picture will emerge of the patterns, colors, and pieces that really strike a chord in your heart,” says Dylan Landis, author of the Elegant and Easy Rooms series (Dell Publishing).

Know what you like: It helps you narrow down the options and decide what you can live with. “Become an observer of your surroundings. Visit trend houses and snag pictures when you can. Think about what really works and doesn’t in your own home, and write it down,” says Carol Salb, principal of Reddington Designs in Chicago. But, don’t be fooled by your wardrobe preferences. Your current favorite may be a purple and green silk paisley blouse, but it won’t be long before you put it aside for the next great thing. “Wearing a color or pattern is very different than living with it everyday on your upholstery or walls,” cautions Leslie Harrington, a Greenwich, Connecticut color consultant.

Be cautious: Decide if you can live with the colors, patterns, or style you are choosing—especially if it is a real departure for you or currently trendy. Do you really want a gothic dining room in dramatic deep purples? Rather than taking that plunge, “You can use the color, pattern, or style in question in a small way in your home with accessories—lamps, pillows, slipcovers, and things you can change out easily and quickly,” suggests Doty Horn, director of color and design at Benjamin Moore & Co. in Montvale, New Jersey.

But not too cautious: If you fall in love with a bold color or a faddish pattern, use it in measured doses. Chicago interior designer Shelly Handman returned from a trip to Italy enamored with orange, so he indulged his color lust in his bedroom with striped linens and an orange throw on the bed. Try a color or pattern by using it in huge pillows for a sofa or chaise, a set of filmy curtains to layer over neutral drapes, or seasonal slipcovers. “This doesn't represent a huge outlay of cash, so you can be fearless but not foolish,” notes Handman. “Just get rid of these things or put them away for a while when you're moved by a new color.”

Or, take chances with paint: “Paint is so easy to use and economical that it’s an almost foolproof decorative tool. If you don’t like it, change it,” says Salb. The same principle is a bit harder to apply to pattern, since wallpapers and textiles are far pricier than paint and more difficult to install or trade out. If you absolutely have to gratify your lust for something busy, bold, or bright, do it in a small room where it’s easier and cheaper to take chances, such as a powder room, guest room, tiny den, or even the pantry, laundry room, or inside of your closet.

Mix and Match

Set limits: “Color schemes work well in threes,” says Leatrice Eiseman, renowned color forecaster, author, and executive director of the Pantone Color Institute in Carlstadt, New Jersey. Choose a dominant color first, a secondary color next, and an accent color last. “You can even use two accent colors, but only one dominant and secondary color,” she notes. Or, use colors from a piece of fabric or wallpaper that offer you “a tried and true color scheme,” suggests Horn.

Balance: When picking patterns, remember that opposites attract. Your largest- and smallest-scale patterns should be opposites, says Highland Park interior designer Stephanie Wohlner. “Balance curves with straight edges; large-scale motifs with small ones; and bold designs with subtle ones.” Some perfect pairings are lush florals with simple stripes, sweeping paisleys with dense plaids, and precise geometrics with free-form circles or curves.

Equalize scales and shades: When using several patterns or hues in a room, “remember the concept of positives and negatives. Ground very light colors or subtle patterns with stronger ones, or vice versa, to maintain a balance in the space,” says Wohlner. To achieve room-to-room flow, make sure each room has the same balanced mix of bold and subtle patterns and colors. Or, use one neutral color as the foundation in every room, and integrate colors and patterns as accents, suggests Handman, who says, “I use these tools as delicacies or side dishes, but not the main course.”

Create unity: You can use a variety of patterns or colors on upholstered pieces in a room, yet give them unity by welting them all with the same contrasting color, says Stephanie Wohlner. “Or take a hodgepodge of pieces, such as mismatched dining or club chairs and cover them all with the same pattern. In this case, a pattern works better than a solid because it creates a similarity between the pieces.”

Putting Concepts into Practice

Do trial runs: Colors change with the light throughout the day, affecting everything in the room. Try out a large sample of the color you want to use before making any commitments—never rely on those tiny color cards! Paint a whole section of wall, or cover your whole sofa with a huge piece of cloth to see how the color will relate to everything else in the room—day or night, sunny or cloudy.

Give patterns a grace period: Apply the same principle to pattern by getting a large swatch of your wallpaper or fabric and putting it in place for a few days. If that’s not possible, “take snapshots of the patterns you want to use and put them together to see how they work together,” says Salb, who uses the same tactic with pieces of furniture before making purchases. Either strategy helps you see whether small patterns seem to disappear into a single blob of color, if busy patterns make your eyes swim, or if large patterns drown out everything else in the room.

Consider the size and shape of a space: Color and pattern change the way a space feels. In general, stronger colors and larger patterns will make a room seem intimate, energetic, and rich. While lighter and subtler ones can amplify a space, neutralize it, or make it tranquil and airy. The former conditions can also enhance a small space, giving it an unexpectedly interesting demeanor, while the latter can be effective in large rooms that serve several purposes.

Keep room usage in mind: You can be more adventurous in rooms where you don’t spend a lot of time. “That way, dramatic colors or patterns won’t drive you nuts, but you’ll still get your fill of them,” advises Roger Castino, president of Castino Painting & Home Services in Northbrook. Bold, domineering patterns and colors often work best in dining rooms, foyers, and hallways. Or, try them in small or plain spaces that need visual interest—powder rooms, for example. “The rooms you use the most should be more neutral, especially since they tend to cost more and take longer to furnish,” maintains Handman. “It’s expensive to change the wallpaper in your bedroom or re-upholster a sofa, but it’s not hard to have a wardrobe of patterned linens and throws.” MH

Lisa Skolnik is a Chicago writer specializing in architecture and design.