Oh yes, the all important accent colours!! These can be the small touches of colours that lift the main colours in a scheme and invigorate them. It could be something quite insignificant such as adding a bowl of lemons to an otherwise grey scheme or adding a simple purple orchid to a monochromatic (all the one colour) cream scheme.   Alternatively it could be a larger piece such as an armchair or a sofa chosen as a pop of colour. Reflecting colours from a painting in the form of cushions, lampshades, vases etc. can also work. It is, of course possible to have more than one accent in any one room scheme. However, try not to overdo it as it is important not to make a room look too spotty. If using a multi-coloured pattern in your scheme , it would be the colour that has the least presence in the pattern that would serve as an excellent accent. Remember, patterns are designed by qualified designers, who not only know what colours work well together, but also in what proportions they shine :-)

I was looking forward to getting my hands on the new "house" supplement magazine in the Sunday Independent last Sunday. So with coffee in hand , I peeled through, pleasantly interested by the first article written by the very talented Brendan O'Connor on his incurable obsession with home improvements. As always his article was humorous, but also encapsulated the journey the vast majority of people experience whilst undertaking the home décor process. Perhaps reinforcing my opinion that employing the service of an interior designer can be well worth the investment! Saving individuals time, avoiding expensive mistakes, and knowing what will work in a specific area/aspect, but without sacrificing appeal to individual  clients taste. 
There was also another article entitled "Coastal Cool" featuring a 1970s dormer bungalow in Wexford which reinforced my opinion that it is so important, and also fashionable right now, to bring
the outside in.
The third article that drew my attention was entitled "Blank Canvas Blank Cheque".  I agree  that investing money in art is a far more enjoyable method of investing compared to other investment options. Investors will have something tangible to hold, something beautiful to look at, something that would perhaps have a message conveyed through art (after all it is all in the eye of the beholder) and something that can enhance large spaces of otherwise boring walls. At the moment oversized art is the way to go to be fashionable.
Looking forward to next Sunday's coffee and "house"!!

Colour can undoubtedly affect the way we feel and alter our mood, and the mood/ ambience of the room we are decorating. The following are a few colours we are all familiar with and how they influence us psychologically:

YELLOW:  This is the brightest colour of all.  It has associations with the sunshine.  Most people tend to feel happier when the sun shines. Likewise, yellow is great to brighten up dark or gloomy rooms and invokes a feeling of well-being. However, be warned, too much strong yellow used in a child's room can tend to make children cry more. Some time back a woman told me I was telling her this fact seven years too late!!
 
RED:  This is definitely not a peaceful colour and should be chosen with great care!! It invokes feelings
excitement, vitality, aggression and even violence. It is definitely not a colour to choose where you want to chill out and relax, such as a living room or bedroom. However, it makes a very good choice for an action area such as a hall/stairs and landing. It could also be a good selection for a dining room as it would stimulate the appetite as well as conversation.

BLUE: This is a very calming and sedative colour. It is great for areas where you want to recharge your batteries, such as a living room, bedroom or bathroom. We only have to think of a clear blue sky or a deep blue sea and we at once feel  invigorated. However, too much blue can induce a feeling of melancholy.
 
GREEN: Green has great associations with nature and is also calming and restful making it a  perfect choice for areas you wish to relax in i.e. living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms. Beware of using green with a very high yellow content,  e.g. lime green, in areas where dining takes place as it can reduce the appetite!!

Of course, intensity of colour has its own effect, but generally we can consider the pastel colours, both warm and cool, to be calming and restful.  Whereas the stronger deeper colours, whether warm or cool to be more stimulating and exciting.

Hello all,
My very first blog post, they say that fear is what holds you back...so here goes a fearless willingness to share what I know about Interior Design.  I learn something new everyday so hopefully this will be an on-going activity :-)

COLOUR:
Where better to start!... Colour is one of the most important tools we use in interior design. It transforms a room both psychologically and physically in one swoop! Yes, colour has the ability to give the illusion that there is either more or less space in any given interior. How can this happen? I hear you ask... Well it's a fact that cool colours i.e. blues, greens, purples, greys  tend to recede away from the eye, and therefore if chosen for a wall colour instantly give the impression of a larger space. On the other hand, warm colours i.e. yellows, oranges, and reds tend to advance towards the eye leading to the illusion of less space. If you feel I am talking through my hat here.. go ahead and try it hold a cool item in one hand and  warm item in the other hand in front of mirror...note how the cool item recedes and the warm item advances? These are just small hand held items...so imagine the effect of cool or warm colours on your four walls!!
I feel this is one of the most important facts in solving most design requirements... hopefully for starters you find it helpful :-)
In my next post I will tell you what I know about the psychological effects of colour.... :-)