Saturate Your Bedroom with Color

Your bedroom should be a place to go and unwind at the end of the day, a retreat from the outside world that makes you feel relaxed and content. But that doesn’t mean that your bedroom has to be done in boring neutral shades. Instead, pick colors that make you happy and express your personality.

The psychology of color pegs certain hues as relaxing, others as energizing, still others as aggressive. For instance, green, the color of nature, is relaxing while yellow, the color of sunshine, is associated with happiness. Being aware of the emotional effects of color can be helpful, but don’t let it limit your choices. If red is your favorite color, don’t be afraid to use it in your bedroom. It may not be for everyone, but if you enjoy it and it boosts your mood, that’s really all that matters.

Because so much of the focus in your bedroom is on the bed itself, it makes sense to start your color makeover by choosing your bedding, then moving on to the rest of the room. But don’t just head to your local big box retailer or home store to buy matching sheets, pillow shams, blankets and quilts. Mixing and matching colors and patterns is a much more modern look that adds interesting texture to a room. Use your favorite saturated color as an anchor, then warm it up with earthy accents, tone it down with neutrals or add even more punch with a contrasting color.

The fine French linens available from Olivier Desforges are a great example of how mixing and matching can create a richer, more inviting room. The company’s 2006 collection offers a terrific combination of colors, patterns and textures that consumers can use to create their own one-of-a-kind looks. Here are some tips from the experts at Olivier Desforges for mixing and matching patterns.

• To counter the tendency of a bold pattern to dominate, mix it with a smaller, more delicate one.
• The key to successful combinations is in understanding patterns that are too similar will compete with one another. Combine florals with stripes or plaids, or bold patterns with delicate prints or solids to let them play off one another in a pleasing symphony of layers.

For example, the company’s contemporary floral pattern, Gina, features rich berry-colored flowers with sage leaves on a slate background. This pattern combines effortlessly with pieces in the Mascali Red design, which features the same rich raspberry and sage green, but in stripes. The two patterns can be combined in any number of ways and can get additional pop from Elvire, white bedding embroidered with the flowers printed on Gina. The same is true of the Barnabe and Mascali Slate patterns. Both are done in blue and grey; Mascali features stripes that coordinate beautifully with the paisley design on Barnabe.

Add the final touches for a beautiful bedroom with artwork and accessories. The perfect lamp can help set the mood, and a lightly scented candle adds a subtle perfume to the air. Now you’re ready to escape the cares of the day and enjoy your personalized retreat.

For more design inspiration for your bedroom, visit www.olivierdesforges.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content