Color Love; 5 Mantras to Live By
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by
TheHandMadeHome
(IC: blogger)
When we moved into our second house, we were a little less than inspired. We'd put our home up for sale at the height of the market. And because it sold faster than we'd expected, we were suddenly in a hurry to find a new place to live. Looking back, of course this was in the foolishness of our youth, though no one could have told us otherwise. We went for the practical. But as soon as we moved in, we were ready for something different.
I wouldn't say it was buyer's remorse, so much as a giant case of what-do-we-do-now-itis. It just didn't feel like us.
For a while, I was afraid of color. In the vast builder's beige paradise that was this UPS brown house, we were feeling a lack of inspiration.
And then it hit me... what if there was no "next" house? What if that proverbial dream home doesn't really exist? As morbid as it sounds, we aren't guaranteed tomorrow. It was like a wake up call for us, and we vowed to stop pining away for that farmhouse kitchen, those pretty interiors and ideal back yard... to start living in the now, and make it happen right where we were.
The main element we used for our transformations? Color. It's the boldest way to express yourself, the most dramatic transformation for a space, and the easiest way to change anything. Here's a few mantras we like to live by when it comes to color.
1. Do what you love.
We always look at it this way: When you pour yourself into a space, it becomes a part of you. If it becomes a part of you, it reflects your passions and who you are. If it reflects who you are, how can you not help but love it?
2. Create the cohesive.
For instance: The same white you see on our walls in the living room (Benjamin Moore's Chantilly Lace) is the same you see on our son's dresser. Or our kitchen cabinets. Our daughter's accent wall. The bookshelves in our playroom. The blue you see in our treehouse outside, is the same blue you see on different art elements, the blue sofa in our entry way and the rug in our sons' room.
3. The multifaceted angle.
You can find ways to bring in versions of your color scheme in various elements. And it doesn't have to end there. If you can't paint your walls because of a renter's debacle, stick to this to bring in color. You'll be surprised at what a good rug, pillow or fun upholstered piece can do to bring in personality.
4. Simplify
The easiest way is to choose a "simple" over all color for the walls in your home, that can easily be updated over time. One that blends well. That way you can change out accessories, and other elements when you're ready for something fresh, or a touch of something new. You won't be limited by the color down the road when you're ready for an instant change.
5. Balance
If you've got an itch to change things up a little in your home on the color front, we hope this gives you a great spring board to start with your awesome ideas. Color is the best way to start when it comes to adding personality to your spaces and expressing yourself.
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Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Published April 1st, 2014 9:31 PM
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Tikva Morrow on Aug 11, 2014
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Dixie on Aug 27, 2014
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