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Your clothes reveal favorite colors
If you’re having trouble selecting colors for
your home, take a look in your clothes closet for inspiration.
Have you heard that before? It used to puzzle me when
I heard people say it. After all, I like to wear black
slacks with tops in bright colors like red, coral and
lime green, but I wouldn’t pick those colors for
my home. Or would I? Your clothing does say a lot about
the styles and colors you prefer, and can provide inspiration
when selecting colors for your home.
Analyze the clothes in your closet. Do you have a lot
of solid color clothing or patterned clothing? Are your
clothes bright colors or are they more muted earth tones?
Is your closet full of trendy clothes or classic clothes?
Is your clothing style simple and comfortable or dressy
and formal? What color dominates your wardrobe? In my
case, my dominant color is black. I have several pairs
of black slacks, black jackets and tops. So it is no
surprise that I chose a black leather sofa for my family
room, and black granite countertops in my kitchen. If
you like to wear black, consider bringing some black
into your décor. Give a table a new look with
a coat of black paint. Replace dated cabinet hardware
with black iron knobs. Consider a black leather chair,
ottoman, or bench. Almost any color you pair with black
will look good. Taupe, cream or tan with beige gives
a sophisticated look; red, yellow or lime green with
black gives a more high-contrast, dynamic look.
If you love to wear all of the latest fashions, you
probably would enjoy trendy colors in home décor
too. Follow the trends, and change your colors with
the seasons by changing out accessories such as bedding,
accent pillows, dishware, and table linens. You may
also enjoy bright colors on your walls. Small areas
are great for experimenting with fun colors like cantaloupe
and berry. How about painting the powder room or an
accent wall in your kitchen?
If your clothing style is more classic and tailored,
you probably enjoy more traditional décor as
well. Try dark woods, paired with rich colors like burgundy,
gold and navy for an elegant look. Or perhaps you prefer
the streamlined contemporary look. Try cool neutrals
like taupe and silvery gray, paired with icy blue and
aqua for a sophisticated look.
If you love patterned clothing, bring patterns into
your home. Try a floral print for the sofa, a stripe
for the chair and a geometric print on the draperies.
If you prefer solids, add interest by incorporating
textures like a chenille sofa, a sisal area rug, or
woven wood blinds. You may also like subtle tone-on-tone
geometric or striped fabrics or patterned carpeting.
Both of these bring interest and pattern into your room
without appearing too busy.
If you’re unsure about how to decorate your home,
a trip to your clothes closet may reveal some answers.
This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper
Group papers on May 28, 2005.
Go
back to the list of decorating columns.
All articles copyright 2003-2008 Anna
Jacoby.
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