Decorating Made Simple is the Perfect “How to” Guide for Creating Colorful Interiors.

Decorating Made Simple combines basic color theory with classic color stories in an easy to understand format that is immediately applicable to your own decorating projects.

This guide is both a primer for the beginner and an inspirational tool for the decorating expert.

Hue - Is another name for color, it can also refer to a color family.

Shade - Is a color or hue that is mixed with black or gray.

Tint - Is a color or hue that is mixed with white.

Value - Is the relative lightness or darkness of a color.

Now that you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to take it to the next level. These next characteristics are what make a color “complex” but not complicated, and therefore more visually intriguing. There are a few basic terms in your color vocabulary that will help you articulate your needs and express verbally and visually the look that you’re trying to achieve.

The temperature of a color is relative to itself and to the colors that surround it. Reds, oranges and yellows are usually considered warm colors while blues, greens and violets are cool colors. When warm and cool colors share a space, their respective temperatures are intensified. Intensity is associated with brightness or dullness. Intense colors are pure colors with little or no gray. These are referred to as high intensity colors. Low intensity colors have more gray in them and as a result tend to be more subdued. Tangerine and lemon are two good examples of high intensity colors. These colors will enliven any space. Terracotta and wheat are low intensity colors that have a soothing effect. Undertones are found in all colors except primary colors. Primary colors red, yellow and blue are single colors, while all other colors are a mix of colors. An undertone in a hue hints at a second subtle color or the color beneath the color. Olive is a good example of a green with yellow undertones. Pairing olive with yellow will emphasize the olive to a greater degree than if you decide to down play the yellow undertone by using its complement, which is red.

Warm colors advance and cool colors recede. These photos showing the same room taken at the same angle demonstrate that perfectly. The photo featuring the warm colors appears much closer to you while the photo with the green hues looks like it was taken from a distance.

Cool colors like blue, green and violet are quiet and tranquil colors. They are best used in rooms that call for relaxation and calm. Use cool colors in bedrooms, bathrooms, dens and nurseries. Use cool colors in sunny rooms where they act as a counter balance to direct sun light. Cool colors are recessive; they give the illusion of pushing back walls thereby making a small room look larger.

One final thought...You can take it with you!

When shopping for paint, remember to bring your cushions, fabric, wall or floor covering samples with you. While you’re in the paint store, use the take home chips in the display to locate your accessory colors as well. Assemble a collection of paint chips that best represents the colors found in your décor. Create your own mini-fandeck comprised of your personal color palette and take it with you every time you shop for your home decorating needs.

A single color family is all it takes to create an atmosphere of understated elegance that doesn’t compete with the sweeping staircase in this room. Tints and shades of orange throughout give this home a total look. Talk about making an entrance!

Hint: Use variations of the same color in accent pieces - fabrics or carpet in other rooms - to tie everything together.

Colors found on opposite sides of the color wheel tend to enhance each other’s intensity. See how the cool hue of the dusty blue walls enhances the warmth of the yellow and orange hues found in the thr ow pillows and the painting? A sense of ease permeates this space creating a perfect environment for cuddling on the couch or lingering over brandies.

Hint: Consider using a single color on your walls and then add pizzazz with accessories like cushions, flowers, vases and lamps. In complementary colors of course!

Lighting conditions in this room will change the way the color is perceived. The direct sunlight shining through this bay window will provide a true representation of the colors in the room. Here colors are at their most vibrant. In the evening, the artificial light from the recessed incandescent lights, table lamps, and the fire will tone down the colors considerably.

Hint: A bit of black in a room will enhance all of the other colors in a space.

Hint: It’s a good idea to “try out” a color. Purchase a quart of paint to do a patch test on the wall to see how it looks under various lighting conditions.

The warmth of the oak floor is repeated in a “stepped” analogous color palette on the wall. While analogous colors appear next to one another on the color wheel, each color is a different value or lightness. The room also mixes the warm colors of the floor and walls with the cool colors of the appliances and cabinetry to create a warm/cool balance.

Hint: The floor is the fifth wall of your house and probably the most costly area to modify. Take fixed surfaces such as floors, fireplaces and fixtures into account when decorating. Color can enhance or down play a fixed feature in a room.

Start with olive green and then surround it by colors on either side of its complement (red) such as dusty rose and clay. This room has a story to tell as it blends a sophisticated color palette with exotic furniture and accessories. Many a tall tale will be spun over dinner here. Use medium-to-light values of these colors in those spaces that require a more formal touch, like living or dining rooms. With this color scheme, you couldn’t be in better company.

Hint: To enliven the space, try adding a tint of the wall color’s complement to the ceiling or trim.

A double complementary color scheme doubles your decorating pleasure by giving you four colors from which to choose. The geometric area rug with complementary copper and khaki colors not only grounds the room and attracts the eye but also serves as inspiration for the wall color. The complementary colors represented by the peach pashmina throw and blue denim bed skirt add visual interest to the room without making it feel busy.

Hint: To achieve color balance in any color scheme try the 60/30/10 approach. The largest color area is the walls, which account for 60 percent of a room’s color. The second largest color area, 30 percent, will include window treatments, upholstery or floor covering. Accents make up the remaining 10 percent of color in a room.