Ever walked into a space and gotten so much awe from the color patterns and attention to details in the decor? I guess you must have!

Now a lot of times, one of the factors that contribute to the visual experience you enjoy is the appropriate use of color. So basically, this article talks about color and what you need to know.

Often times, we never know the right color patterns that suits our spaces and gives us the sort of excitement we experience from seeing other people’s homes, offices… we allow our choices to be guided by what looks good on others and a lot of time find ourselves waking up to the dull splash of burgundy or sad yellow on our walls.

Colors have an inherent meaning which sometimes varies according to individual culture and values. A color should be a representation of who we are, what we symbolize and the perception we intend to communicate to people around us. Therefore, in selecting color; we need to ask personal questions like: Do I want to wake up to this color every morning? Does this color represent what I stand for? What does it communicate about my brand? And so on.

For example, in Nigeria, colors like red and black communicate evil and danger, whereas colors like cream (with a softer tone) dominate a lot of homes and office spaces.

Now after asking these questions, we may proceed to selecting our colors and creating a pattern that best suits our needs or represents what we are trying to communicate.

For a subtle and soothing look, you can never go wrong with a variety of shades of blue, they tend to offer a feeling of calmness. Light colors such as lavenders, pinks and soft yellows are also great choices for a romantic feeling of tranquility and restfulness in a room.

If you want an elegant look, then you will be going for colors on the neutral sides which are sometimes called “earthly tones”. They include: black, white, grey, brown and beige.

Neutral colors offer a lot of flexibility and as such allows you freedom to play around with colors of your accessories.

Thinking of going all vibrant with your space? Then you will definitely want to tap into colors such as oranges and gold, reds and dark purples to create a beautiful color pattern.

You can also select black and red for a real stand-out contrast and look that is reminiscent of an oriental look. And for that refreshing pop of the feminine color, feel free to treat yourself to some pink and purple.

“Color is a power, which directly influences the soul.”  Wasily kandisky