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If you’re looking for permission to love color again -- here’s
the visual nourishment you’ve been thirsting for.
Today’s lively hues aren’t just for clothing and magazine
spreads. Color and pattern can make anyone’s surroundings more
interesting, personal, and vivid, says artisan, designer, and
innovative colorist, Susan Sargent, who lives in a mango, lime, and
violet world of vibrant as well as subtle color.
Sargent, who honed her colorist’s eye mixing dyes in a Swedish
textile mill for four years, is a firm believer in empowering others
to work comfortably with color, even if that means letting go of
inhibitions.
Being creative with your home requires taking chances, expressing
yourself, and staying relaxed enough to follow through on your
instincts, says Sargent. “Play, experiment, have fun,” she
urges. “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”
See Also
» Make Cool Stools
» Decorating with Buttons
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Decorating for Sargent is not starting out with a grand scheme,
but trying out ideas as they occur and time permits -- in an
afternoon or over a weekend -- one corner at a time. “Home can be
an ever-evolving stage for personal expression as well as a haven to
relax and recharge,” Sargent believes.
Forget “The Rules”
So, if you’re one of those who can’t seem to find the time to
create a “grand plan,” if a cookie cutter designer look is
intimidating or turns you off, or if your own personal design style
just seems to “happen,” a piece at a time ... it’s okay. Give
in to spontaneous self-expression and do-it-yourself creativity,
says Sargent. Use a piece of furniture in a new way (dressers make
striking buffets or add class to an entryway, for instance), or use
paint and fabric to experiment with new looks, new colors.
- Recognize that, like you, your home is a work in progress --
never finished, never perfect.
- Don’t fret about planning down to the last detail. Start
with an inspiration and have the fun of following your
instincts.
- Open your eyes to color. Trust your own tastes (not those of
the palette police) and experiment when combining colors.
- Be flexible. Mix styles. Create visual surprises.
- Edit your belongings; surround yourself only with things you
love to have around you.
- If you can’t find what you want, make it, paint it, strip
it, fake it.
- Create a home that makes you smile when you walk in the door.
Paint Tips: Experiment
For those inspired to pick up a brush and experiment, Sergent
offers a couple of tips to get you started:
- Expect to test several shades of a color before you find the
one that’s just right. Be brave, think in color.
- If debating between several shades of a color, go with the
lighter shade first. The paint store can simply add more pigment
to bring it to the next darker shade -- and save you the expense
of buying another quart of paint.
- Be sure to test your color on different walls and during
various times of day. This is easily done by painting a large
poster board that can be moved from place to place.
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