The Process
Here is some brief and general information—rules of thumb, you may say—about color and its architectural application, which Emily Lauderback Stewart has captured in working with thousands of individuals. This information represents the foundation of what Emily and other Color in Space Consultants use in their work. When we accept and follow these guidelines, the results are always natural, harmonious, and just generally feel good.
If this doesn’t empower you to do it yourself, a Color in Space Consultant can always facilitate this process for you. The Dwelling™, MOMMA’S, and Chakra Palettes™ were created using this methodology and are another way to benefit from Color in Space’s expertise.
The videos below demonstrate all that goes into building a palette, which is only the first step of creating your color design. However, one could certainly argue, it is the most important step. Because we know this critical step can be overwhelming, we have created 23 interior color palettes to choose from to get you started!
Step 1:
Build your palette.
Step 2:
Feel your home’s architecture. Color supports it, not vice versa. What feeling should each space invoke, and how can color support that?
Create flow and balance in the design. The default is for trim color to be consistent throughout the communal spaces, however, sometimes the adjacent colors dictate the pattern get changed at times. Allow for color to delineate spaces: i.e. all hallways, stairways, traveling spaces receive the same color.
You may choose to repeat a color more than once that is used on different architectural elements in different spaces. For example, what is the wall color in one room, may get repeated as the ceiling color in another space. In this instance, the color would be specified in two different sheens to accommodate the walls in one space and the ceiling in another.
Step 3:
Start with what is easiest, most intuitive and obvious, in terms of making a decision. For example, sometimes the trim color is predetermined because you do not want the additional work, nor to budget, for the trim to be painted: the most expensive part of a paint job. Or perhaps the kitchen color is easy to determine because of the number of other elements there that need to be coordinated: cabinets, countertops, backsplash. Begin making decisions and allow for the rest to fall in line. Have confidence in your first decisions and why those were made at the time that they were. Trust the process!
And if it still feels like too much, Emily is also available through her business, emily lauderback stewart design & renovation, for on-site home and commercial work. Contact her directly through her website.