Easy Steps to Choosing a Perfect Palette 2013 Ideas from HGTV

By : Jennifer & Kitty O'Neil   
 
Jennifer and Kitty O'Neil are sisters and authors of the book Steampunk Chic: Vintage Flair From Recycled Finds. Their crafting, decorating, and flea market articles appear regularly in Woman’s World, Crafts 'n things, and Create and Decorate magazines. They also write for the websites of Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, HGTV, Fine Living, Parents, and LifetimeTV.
The O'Neil sisters were born and raised in Tampa, Florida, and are the granddaughters of Chic Young, creator of the comic strip “Blondie and Dagwood.” They share their enthusiasm and their fresh approach to crafting and decorating on their blog, RunningWithSisters.com, and on their website, ONeilSisters.com.
With paint and decor available in every hue imaginable, adding color to your home might seem overwhelming but it doesn't have to be! Break down the process with these three simple steps to picking a color palette for any room.

 

Design by Lori Dennis.

 

They are the questions every homeowner asks: What color should I paint my walls?
How do interior decorators pick a palette in a flash when there are so many
colors out there? It’s easier than you think. In just three simple steps, you
can choose a palette for any room in the house.

Step 1: Establish a Mood
 

Start by thinking about the mood of the room. How do you want the
space to make you feel? Tranquil? Lively? Romantic? That’s where color comes in!
Different colors evoke different feelings, and it turns out those color-feelings
are pretty universal.

If you want your space to be passionate and
stimulating, embrace red as the main hue. Red is the color of the heart and
represents life and love. For a warm room that energizes, go for orange as the
dominant hue. Orange used to be a “makes-ya-hungry” fast-food color, but techies
and fashionistas know it has been reborn into a vibrant color of the future.
Yellow is also high energy, but in an uplifting and cheerful way. When you walk
into a yellow room, you can practically feel the sun shining on your face.
Moving around the color wheel, we have green, the color of nature. It creates
an atmosphere that’s as friendly and comforting as the landscape around us.
Blues are also abundant in nature and suggest the calmness and tranquility of
clear skies and ocean waters. For a room on the contemplative and sensual side,
pick purple  it combines the arousing qualities of red with the calming essence
of blue. White is the color of purity and cleanliness, so use it to make a room
feel clean and organized. The earthiness of brown makes a place seem grounded
and unpretentious.

All you have to do is decide what mood you would like for your
room. For example, if you want a living room that’s friendly and comforting,
then you’d choose green.

 

Once you've pinpointed your palette's dominant color, tweak it to set a specific
mood. Citrusy green and yellow work beautifully together in this vacation home.
Design by Shelly Riehl David.

 

Step 2: Explore the Rainbow

You’ve chosen your main color, green, but there are thousands of
greens, aren’t there? Yes, but don’t fret. You can tweak that green (or whatever
shade you choose), again based on mood. Green is friendly and comforting, but if
we mix that green with blue to get teal, we add a little calm and tranquility.
Want a more lively and cheerful room? Blend green with yellow to get pear. Every
color can lean toward its neighbor on the color wheel and pick up some of that
mood. Red that leans toward purple is passionate and sensual, ideal for a
bedroom. Red that leans toward orange is stimulating and energetic, a good
choice for a kitchen.
Once you’ve figured out your main color, you’ll
want to choose accent colors. If you chose calming teal as your main color, it
can do all the moody work. The accent colors will appear in smaller amounts and
won’t affect the mood, which means you can choose from anywhere on the color
wheel. Try color-wheel neighbors to create a palette that feels harmonious. For
example, enhance your teal with touches of green or blue. Reach a bit further
around the wheel to add a bit more excitement. Just think how jazzy teal looks
with lime or purple. The further you travel around the wheel from your main
color, the more dynamic the combinations. If y
ou pick the color exactly opposite
on the color wheel, that teal would vibrate with red-orange accents, a look that
is intense and modern.

Consider a room's style and decor when finalizing your color palette. Cool,
tranquil blues suit this casual-chic bedroom. Design by Linda Woodrum.

 

Step 3: Style Your Palette

Once you’ve selected a main color and accents, it’s time to match
that palette to your decorating style. To do this, pick out a paint chip that
includes your main color, teal. As you move up the paint chip, that teal gets
lighter as it is tinted with more white. As you move down the strip, the teal
has more black in it and gets darker. These different tints and shades
coordinate with different styles of decor. If you gravitate to traditional,
choose the darker, muted versions of your whole palette to help capture that
traditional look. If your taste is cottage chic, go for a lighter palette. The
extra white in those hues will suit your whitewashed furniture perfectly. But if
your home is casual contemporary, you can use the palette as is. Those true
colors will pop!

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2013 Color Guide Palettes : Made Easy Ideas from HGTV

Color Palettes Made Easy
Need a pleasing color palette for your home decor? Just look around you! From
works of art to stylish scarves, gorgeous color combinations are everywhere.
Choose a colorful piece by an artist or designer, and the work is done for
you.
By Jennifer & Kitty O'Neil

Let a Plate Be Your Palette

Dinnerware is a one-stop shop for pretty
palettes. Plates come in all styles and colors, from casual to formal, so you
can pick out a color story for every room in the house. And you needn't buy a
service for eight. Often you can get a single salad plate or teacup to use as
your mood board.

Accessorize With Color

If you want to freshen up your
kitchen, but you can't afford to change the counters and cabinets, you need to
accessorize. Take your sample plate with you to pick out dishtowels, canisters
and bowls. It may not seem like a big makeover to get bright new spatulas, but
when you put them all together, colorful details make a splash!

Take a Tip From Textiles

Inspiration objects can show
you how to marry colors in ways you might not have considered. Sure, tangy lime,
orange and marigold go well with white (what doesn't?). But who would have
thought that adding ecru, black and charcoal would make such a cool combo?

Make a Modern Mix

When it comes to color in the
dining room, go beyond tablecloths and placemats. Vivid accessories like charger
plates, napkin rings and finger bowls spice up the table with color. Feel free
to mix the colors from your palette in unusual ways. A paprika charger plate
next to a celadon runner is more exciting than going all one color.

Learn From the Masters

The colors of the great
outdoors go together naturally and can be a fertile source for palettes. But
with a world of so many greens and blues out there, how can you possibly decide
which hues to use? Instead of trying to match swatches to blades of grass, let a
painted landscape be your guide. Leave it to the painter to select their vision
of nature's aquamarines, indigos and golds.

Elevate Your Mood

A painting can inspire your
accents as well as your colors. This glassy vase not only brings in the
landscape's blues and greens, but also echoes the reflective pond surface. The
leafy lotus candles float on the counter like the painting's flowering irises.
The wooden soap dish and chestnut bird finish off the look with a nod to the
whimsical flooded birdhouse.

Tap Into a Trend

You can find trendy color
palettes on all kinds of things if you keep an eye out for them. This kooky,
collapsible shopping basket features raspberry with yummy chocolate and touches
of tangerine and turquoise. Delicious! Don't worry about trying to decorate with
the inspiration object, though. Just steal its colors then use the item
elsewhere.

Launch Your Look

To coordinate your colors in a
flash, add one accent that magically combines many of the colors in your scheme.
A throw pillow embroidered in hues from the shopping basket gives this room a
unified look. When you see the colors entwined on the pillow, it makes sense to
have a raspberry basket next to a turquoise table.

Focus on Fashion

A boutique find like a
hand-painted silk scarf not only helps you select colors, it tells you how much
of each color to use. This beautiful scarf has scarlet as the primary color with
forest and olive as secondary colors. Black comes in strong as an accent and
pops of cobalt and periwinkle express artistic flair.

Issue Yourself Artistic License

To make a bold statement with
color, you're going to need a lot of confidence or a great designer piece to
define your color scheme. Trust the artist to show you amazing combinations you
may have never imagined before. Then you can drape a pale purple blanket across
a red duvet with black shams and have no fear.

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Clever Uses for Old Furniture 2013 Ideas By Farima Alavi

Check out these easy ways to repurpose old home furnishings before you decide to toss them out. From a ladder display shelf to cabinet mantel decor, you will find a way to repurpose many forgotten household items.

By Farima Alavi
 

 

 

Oversized, Vintage Message Board 

 

Don't turn your back on an old mattress. Hang a mattress spring on the wall for a one of a kind, oversized message board. Donna of Funky Junk Interiors cleaned the rust from the spring with a wire brush and treated it with a clear overcoat for a vintage look. Simple clothes pins hold up messages, and hangers keep other everyday items at hand.

 

 

Cottage Style Display Shelf 

 

When you think an item has no functionality, think again. Melissa Michaels of The Inspired Room placed a small, brightly colored stepladder on the wall to function as a display shelf and eye pleaser. The weathered finish on the ladder paired with crisp white frames on the adjacent wall gives the room a classic cottage look.

 

 

Playful Kid's Dresser

 

If you don't like the look of an old dresser, update it with a bright color. Janell Beals of Isabella & Max Rooms painted a forgotten dresser with bright pinkish-red chalkboard paint for a playful look that works perfectly in a kid's room. The dresser allows kids to use their imaginations by drawing or writing anything they want on it, keeping the walls safe from any unexpected drawings.

 

 

Salvaged Home Office

 

This home office is filled with items from the junkyard. Sawhorses make up the legs of the desk, a wood pallet works as the desktop and an old ladder provides the framework. Donna used a garage storage unit and wood pallets as back support to create an industrial style shelving unit to maximize storage space. Fill the shelves with vintage-inspired objects to finish the rustic look.

 

 

Practical Antique

 

A piece of old, unused furniture can become functional again with a little creativity. This Hoosier cupboard, popular in the early 20th century, was sitting in a woodshop for years. With some refinishing and paint, Janell Beals turned it into a practical home office desk. The crisp white cupboard against the black walls makes it the focal point of the room. The cupboard drawers allow for an abundance of storage space, and the size of the cupboard provides plenty of room for office equipment. "The piece not only adds to the design of the room but holds great memories as well," she says. Hang framed memorabilia to add to the timeworn look.

 

 

No Damage Here

 

Damaged furniture doesn't have to be thrown away. Marian Parsons suggests hiding imperfections on furniture with decoupage. She used aged sheets of music to hide imperfections on this neglected dresser, while also giving the all white bedroom a shabby chic look. Other items great for decoupaging furniture are maps, book pages, letters and postcards. "The treatment will hide gouges, water marks, missing veneer and other signs of abuse on furniture," she says. Decoupaging furniture will also add dimension and distinct style to a room.

 

 

Bright, Bold Focal Point

 

Sometimes a fresh coat of paint is all a piece of furniture needs to breathe new life into a space. Melissa Michaels painted this once dull coffee table into an eye catching royal blue color. "The unexpected pop of color is a fun contrast to its otherwise traditional lines," she says. The bold color makes the table the focal point in this mostly neutral living room.

 

 

From Tired to Stylish

 

Even the smallest, most outdated items can be repurposed with a little love. Marian Parsons updated a tired wood frame with decoupage using aluminum foil, antiquing glaze and polyurethane spray. The gold finish gives the framed chalkboard a contemporary, stylish look that works great resting on a dresser or hanging on the wall.

 

 

Wallpaper Table

 

Turn to unexpected materials to freshen up old furniture. Will Taylor of Bright Bazaar used scraps of old wallpaper samples and some paint to transform this dining table into a work of art. The different patter
ns and colors make the table a versatile piece of furniture that fits any room and style.

 

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2013 luxury living room curtains Ideas

What looks better at night than luxury curtains drawn in your living room, they make the space appear warm and cozy and add texture and color to the room.

 During the day the curtains frame the window adding softness and design to the living room.

A print on a half panama fabric.   Great value for money. A nice bright horizontal stripe brings a touch of style to your room. This design is fully lined with an eyelet heading. Matching cushion covers are available to give a finishing touch to the look

These timelessly elegant woven jacquard curtains would be a sophisticated finishing touch for any interior. The beautiful trailing tulips gives a traditional feel whilst the woven quality of the fabric adds a subtle touch of texture.

A geometric top border on a hop sack cloth, for an admirable design. The depth and clarity of the contrast colours on the natural hop sack cloth will fulfil anyone’s wish for a modern and exciting feel.

 

The ultimate in luxury. Traditional yet Modern. This silk inspired jacquard design is an elegant timeless classic. It will give a stunning finish to any room.

 

A  faux silk embroidered fabric which creates an ambiance of both calm and vibrancy.  An abstact swirl design with a subtle sheen will give a stunning appearance with great value for money.

This self patterned waffle effect curtain will enhance the ambience of any room they are located. They are lined with matching tie backs and cushion covers.

A  faux silk embroidered fabric which creates an ambiance of both calm and vibrancy.  An abstact swirl design with a subtle sheen will give a stunning appearance with great value for money.

Traditional yet Modern. This design can encompass the whole spectrum of window dressing. These curtains with their metallic yarn expertly woven onto a heavy weight textured fabric would give an excellent finish to any room

An effective spray pattern compromising of the most up to date colour pallet to give this design the real WOW factor. It takes its cue from the most modern trends and yet has its own air of originality. 

Contemporary leaf print design giving a warm autumnal feel.  Luxurious woven pencil pleat curtains with a soft sheen. These sophisticated colour palletts will suit any modern interior.

A large modern floral woven design. Inspired by some of the most up to date designs and incorporating modern manufacturing techniques, to give a contrast of a silk effect flower against a more natural base cloth.

 

A Stunning modern hopsack design with a faux suede appliqué squares running through the curtain. The density of the hopsack cloth and the faux suede appliqué combine exquisitely to provide a curtain that has a real touch of class and is truly value for money.

A stylish and elegant modern large floral print, printed on a cotton jacquard. This flowing design will make any room feel warm and modern. 

Classically elegant with timeless appeal, Capesbury is a beautiful vintage floral printed on a linen look ground, which adds a real touch of luxury and completes the antique feel.

A traditionally woven heavy weight tapestry design. This design will bring an air of grandeur to any room in the house, making it feel warm and homely.

A funky modern floral print with an eyelet heading set on a contrast border to give the design a luxurious look. With its blend of vibrant colours and unique design this is to make any room feel warm and look modern.

A contemporary cross stripe chenille and taffeta woven eyelet design which is enhanced with a metallic yarn to give a defining contrast yet delicate ambiance. Suitable for any room. This design is fully lined with an eyelet heading.

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Charming Home 2013 Decorating Ideas : House Tours from BHG

Together, these young homeowners remodeled or updated every room in their first home, trying new things and learning a lot along the way.

Clear Reflection

The mirror in the dining room a mirrored closet door placed in a doorframe scored at a yard sale  isn't the only thing that reflects the homeowners' DIY style. The curtains are fashioned from drop cloths hot glued together.

A Motto to Live By

The homeowners' home redesign became a do it yourself course that launched them into their dream of doing what they love.

Out of the Box Storage

Thin gauge wire strung between upholstery tacks across the fireplace creates a place for the homeowners' blueprints and furniture designs, as well as rolls of wallpaper and gift wrap.

Do What You Love

The DIY artwork on the mantel describes the couple's philosophy. To create a similar piece of your own, decoupage tissue paper and fabric onto foam-core board, then cut out and affix letters cut from magazine pages.

Cooking Up Style

In the kitchen, mismatched cabinet knobs and pulls (purchased secondhand for less than $10) add a fresh element to store bought cabinets. Poured in place concrete countertops and an island made from a refurbished farmhouse table add to the DIY appeal. When the homeowner didn't love the fresh paint on the table legs, she added a coat of stain to dull the color and dial up the charm.

Pops of Color

To create an interesting media center, the homeowners painted geometric patterns onto two pieces of foam core board and mounted them on the wall behind the TV. They created the media console using drawers gathered from flea markets. Once they had an arrangement they liked, they built a plywood box to house them and had a metal base fabricated at a local shop. The mirror on the console flips up to reveal the DVD player.

Not Your Average Shelf

Douglas fir boards and steel cable combine for a modern appeal in this shelving unit designed and built by the homeowners.

Cozy Color Palette

In the master bedroom, the homeowners keep projects  headboard, wall art, dresser embellishments  within a tight color palette to keep things cohesive.

Sweet Dreams

The couple revamped their sleigh bed by adding lush upholstery.

Let the Light Shine In

An upholstered cornice board above the door hides curtain hardware. The nature inspired wall art compliments the unfinished tabletop.

Make It Your Own

The homeowners added a sparkly gold border on the wall around the mirror. They used painter's tape to mask off a frame, then painted the first coat of the frame the same color as the wall to prevent the gold layers from bleeding under the tape. When the first coat was dry, they applied gold paint, then removed the tape. The dog silhouette artwork (homage to the homeowners' pooches) and the oversize flowers painted on the dresser are also DIY stencil projects.

Found Work Space

The homeowners reworked an old kitchen cabinet then placed it between two lockers to fashion a quiet place to work in a spare room.

Tidy Bathroom

Some of the homeowners' favorite projects in the house are in the guest bathroom, where they used sleek and modern materials. They poured a concrete countertop for the vintage vanity and backed the shelving units with roof flashing.

Rustic Bedroom

In the guest room, the couple paneled one wall with old fence pickets gifted from a friend. They painted some pickets white to add contrast. The headboard is made from corrugated tin roofing. The homeowners cut out the shape with a jigsaw and then used a grinder to smooth rough edges before screwing it to the wall.

Outdoor Living

The homeowners created a vertical garden by stacking and screwing together old pallets and free fence pickets. The flowering garden adds color and privacy to their patio.

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