Interior Design Tips & Trends…Insider Secrets for Home Design Enthusiasts

Luxe Magazine asked me to answer a few questions that might be of interest to you.  The article came out in early February, and with all publications, only part of the article was used.  Here is my version prior to print:

Why do bright colors tend to generate positive responses?

Color does evoke emotional responses.  Some people are extremely sensitive to certain colors and may react in an interesting way.  I actually had a client that could not stand red rooms because she and her husband would fight when they were in a red room, so the responses aren’t always positive.  If you like strong colors, they do not have to be used for the walls or dominant furniture pieces.  They can be used for accents or smaller furniture pieces and can create a counterpoint to the rest of the room’s palette.  Punches of bright colors add interest and drama to a room.  Blues, greens and violets are cool, soothing and relaxing.  We think of reds, yellows and oranges as exciting, happy, passionate and bold colors.  The brighter colors usually have less black and white mixed in, so the color is more intense and pure.  Black is the absence of color and white is all colors.  An interesting side note from an interior design class, some prisons use pink to keep prisoners calm.

Why do you think that black and white color combinations are making a comeback?  What types of designs are they popular with today and why?

All trends go in cycles, so it is inevitable that some of these classic combinations repeat themselves.  The style trends today are toward clean and modern.  Black and white provide a great neutral base for other colors that are popular.  If you start with a great neutral, just changing the accent palette can totally change the appearance of the space.  You can create any style of room around these two basics.

What type of impact does a monochromatic room make?

Monochromatic colors in a narrow value (little variation in lightness or darkness) evoke a feeling of serenity and calm - some might think it is boring.  If the intent is to showcase great art, monochromatic is a perfect backdrop for most styles of art.  The starting point for design should be the focal point of the room.  If art is your passion, this is a great way to go. 

If you want to create a monochromatic room, are there any rules that apply, or certain elements to incorporate a uniform look?

Here is one rule that applies to monochromatic - your palette should be made with shades of the same hue.  Generally, the chroma would be changed by adding black, white or gray to the base color.  Texture is extremely important in monochromatic rooms.  Fabrics are a great way to create a visual and tactile texture.  Using fabrics such as mohair for a sofa with silk pillows creates a stimulating result.  Also, matte fabrics used with lucious silks can create another look.  Monochromatic themes are often safe, but to bring a real elegance to the look, it often takes experience.  What I love about a monochromatic look is the subtlety and nuance in the design.

What are the best colors to use in a monochromatic room? 

There really aren’t any “best” colors.  It depends on your preference, and it depends on the result you want to achieve.  Many people think of the neutrals such as beige, taupe, white and gray.  You can also use a color for the base. 

How can you use one main color in a space and incorporate different hues of that shade to create depth?  Should you add in other colors with accents and details?  If so, how?

Using one main color is always a good starting point for a scheme.  What you add to the main color depends on the direction you want to go with the scheme.  Take care not to add to many colors or hues because it detracts from the composition.  If you think about the color wheel, you can use opposing colors such as red and green to create interest.  These colors can be tempered with a mixture of white, black or gray.  The can also be altered by adding a touch of the adjacent color on the wheel.  For instance, you could use red with a touch of blue or yellow.  Some designers use the 60/30/10 rule - 60% main color, 30% secondary color and 10% accent.  Being a rebel, I rarely follow the rules except for the golden mean.  My observation about rooms designed by people without training or experience is that they try to follow the rules too closely.  It is always good to have something in the room that is not a perfect match.  It makes the room more interesting.

How should you treat the ceiling in a monochromatic room?  Are there any treatments that you prefer that give an extra punch of drama?

Ceilings are very important and often overlooked in design.  White has been the standard for years since it works with any color, it is easy, and reflects the light.  Boring!  It is great to see visual interest through color or texture on the ceiling.  If you use a dark color on the ceilings, it will feel heavy and the ceilings will appear lower.  This is a good trick if you have extremely high ceilings, but it must be balanced with the right value on the walls…they should’nt be too light.  If you use lighter colors, the ceiling will appear lighter.  Be careful with your color selections, because the plane of the ceiling adds gray to any color that you choose.  You need to try a sample on the ceiling and look at it at all times of the day.  I like to use 1/4 to 1/2 of the wall color formula on the ceilings and trim.  It unifies the colors and doesn’t look too bright against the main color.  I have also used textural paints such as Lusterstone, murals, texture added through patterned drywall mud - you use a stencil and apply mud to it.  This can be painted with a different color, or just a different sheen.  Moldings are a great addition to any ceiling.  At a minimum, crown molding is great for all styles of interiors.  If you have a traditional home, there are many more details you can add.

When most people think of a typical monochromatic colored room, what color do they tend to think of?  Why?  If you wanted to break the mold, what are some of the other colors to use?

Builder or realtor beige is what comes to mind (no offense).  Greens, blues and grays work well for monochromatic schemes although they may feel cool to most people.  Shades of white are extremely hard to maintain for most people, and they tend to feel too pristine and unwelcoming.

A final note - today’s palettes are becoming more global in their influences.  Some of the acid greens and cinnabar or deep red colors are interesting and can be added to many design styles.  With the trendier colors, it is best to use those as accents if you want your home to feel current.  Trends change quickly, and as soon as you see one palette you like, the next month’s magazine may be something entirely different.  Fashion used to lead the palette for home furnishings by two or three years.  Now, you will see the same colors that are in fashion concurrently with home furnishings colors.

About the author:  Gail Doby is a high-end residential interior designer in Denver, Colorado.  Her specialties are blissful master suites with spa baths, new construction design for dream homes and luxury residential remodeling design.  She and her husband, Harry, live in an English cottage style home with their two cats, Boris and Tasha.