Choosing Best Colourings to Form Schemes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 5

Choosing Best Colourings to Form Schemes

How Decorators Can Easily Go Astray

JO TONE WITH FURNITURE

A great deal lias been said and written about the correct choice o£ colours that contrast or blend, but most people have a very hazy idea of what colours do blend effectively, an d what shades of colouring should be chosen for particular schemes. A few rule-of-thumb hints may be useful to those who are considering a change of furnishing scheme during the spring renovation period.

First of all, the elements of colours must be stated. The primary colours those to be found in white light—-

are red, blue and yellow. From these three colours others are made; green by combining blue and yellow, orange by blending red and yellow and mauve and violet by adding red to blue. Thus it stands to reason that any of these shades which go to make up a standard colour will, if used separately, blend harmoniously without loss of effect. That is the main principle of colour choice. Y’ellow is the colour with the widest possible use. It is the colour which predominates in sunlight, and thus gives to a room an atmosphere of brightness and sunniness. For a coubtry in which sunlight is particularly lacking, the introduction of yellow judiciously is usually effective. Blue and green combine admirably with yellow. Mauve and yellow is a tasteful combination, but a light primrose yellow in combination with a medium shade of blue is always effective and can never go wrong. Red has a universal appeal, and, contrary to general belief, it is not a “hot” or “loud” colour. Red is restful to the eyes and to the mind, and the effect of colour on the mind is a point that must be carefully considered. Vermilion, which contains yellow, can, of rourse, be criticised on these points, but most other reds are suitable for most rooms in the house. According to the primary colours, we

see that orange and yellow are the best shades to use in conjunction with red, and no mistake can be made here. “

The use of black —which although not a colour is a useful background for almost any scheme, as can be seen by the use of black backgrounds in cretonnes which contain every colour in the rainbow—is to be advised with red in order to tone down the depth of colouring. Blue is a retiring colour. It might almost be called a reflective colour. It,is to be seen in the sky, in water, and in any reflection in lakes and rivers. It has not only a physical reflective power, but a mental power of aiding reflection. Yellow and green, used with blue, are always “just right,” but shades of tan and brown can be blended harmoniously. Blue as a background for a room furnished in dark Jacobean or Tudor oak is effective, although perhaps the scheme is becoming slightly hackneyed owing to the popularity of dark oak for most rooms in the home.

Purple is usually considered a solemn colour, because of its use in churches and for half-mourning, but it can be used as a solidifying colour, and can add great daintiness to a room, particularly a bedroom. By far the best combination with mauve or purple is grey.