When it comes to decorating a home, the color palette is one of the very first things that needs to be decided. It can can also be one of the most challenging parts of your home design journey, but it doesn’t have to be! Read below for some easy and helpful tips on creating a color palette for your entire home.

What colors do you like?

When you first start thinking of a color palette, it is easy for your search to become overwhelmed with current trends. However, it is important to focus on colors that you like, not what home design magazines have decided is popular. A great way to really figure out what color combinations you like is to search for inspiration in things around you like nature, photographs, or artwork. This can point to color combinations that you may not have thought of before. Also, a piece of artwork or fabric that you plan on using in a space can serve as a starting point for choosing the rest of the colors.

Yellow and red roses in sunlight, in a colour palette with compl

60-30-10

If you do not know where to begin, an easy rule-of-thumb for creating your color palette is 60-30-10. 60% dominant color – walls, floors or cabinets. 30% secondary color – your furniture, area rugs, and window treatments. 10% accent color – throw pillows and other decorative accents. Deciding on the emotion you want to convey in the room will help you determine where the colors will fall into this rule. If you want a dramatic space, choose a bold color as your dominant and neutrals as your secondary and accent. If  you want soothing, choose a neutral as your dominant and brighter colors as your secondary and accent.


 

Where to begin in your home?

Once you have decided on a color palette, a great place to start is in the largest and most used room in your home, likely your kitchen or living room. Not only is this where these colors will be seen the most, but there are other rooms directly next to this space making it easier to see your palette develop as you move through the home.  Each room gets different amounts of lighting which makes a big difference on the way the colors are perceived. Take it slow, working one room at a time and one floor at a time.

 

Test your colors

If you only follow once piece of advice in this post, follow this one! Colors vary drastically when you look at them in a magazine, computer, paint store, and even from wall to wall in the same room. Visit a store and get samples of paint, fabric, and wallcoverings in the colors and patterns you like. Try to pin down a specific color that you love. For example, you want navy blue but is that Hale Navy (Benjamin Moore HC-154) or Van Deusen Blue (Benjamin Moore HC-156)? Take the samples home and hang them in the rooms where you plan to use them. Leave them there for a few days to see how they look throughout the day, it may surprise you how your initial thoughts have changed.

Sunset at Bass Harbor Lighthouse, Mount Desert Island, Maine, US

Remember, the color palette you choose is just a guide. Do not feel that you cannot vary from the colors you have chosen. Go up or down a few shades depending on the room and what you want to achieve in that space. Don’t be afraid to have fun and throw in additional colors or use the same fabric in multiple rooms. Follow your own rules and create a space as you want to live in it.

 

Designing An Office You Will Want To Work in

kv-mansfield-office-1

Whether you need a place to run a business, occasionally work from home, or just a spot to pay the bills and organize family life, every home deserves more than just an extra chair and old desk to get some work done in. Creating a space that is comfortable and flows with the rest of the home, all while serving you in the most effective way possible will make for a home office that you will never want to leave.

 

When designing your office, keep in mind what kind of work will be done in the space. Are you going to have clients stop by for appointments? If so, make sure it is large enough to offer plenty of seating and private enough to keep the daily goings-on of your home from interfering with your work. Are you using it to pay the bills and keep track of busy children’s schedules? Perhaps it is best to keep your office in the thick of family activity.

Consider your work flow when shopping for furniture. What items do you need at your fingertips while working? Keep this in mind and find pieces that are both beautiful and functional. Also, think about the décor of the rest of your home as well when looking for furniture. Allow the style, whether it be traditional, contemporary, or farmhouse flow into your office letting it integrate in as part of your home. This will create a space that is comfortable and unique to you, helping to fight off any bleak Monday morning blues.

 

Another primary consideration when designing your office is technology. When arranging your furniture think about your computer, printer, phone,Wi-Fi router and their power cords. Strategically placing these items near outlets will prevent a mess of wires running throughout your office and can offer you easy and creative solutions to hide the wires all together.

 

Personalize your space. Unlike your desk at work, you have real opportunity to design this space as you like. Paint the walls a color you enjoy and decorate with personal accessories like photos or artwork. Face your desk towards a window to give yourself something pleasant to look at when you take a break from the computer screen. Include a sofa or easy chair for relaxation or a small conference table for a change of pace from your desk.

 

The talented designers at Babel’s would be glad to assist in the design of your home office. Do you have additional tips for designing the perfect office? Share them with us.

Lighten Up Your Home With Springtime Window Treatments


 

It may seem hard to believe but the first day of spring is only 2 weeks away! We can finally say goodbye to the cold and dark days of winter and let the warm sunshine and cool breezes fill our homes. A simple and fast way to prepare your home for spring is to update your window treatments. Window treatments are a large factor in the the overall design of your home. Time to put away your current cozy and warm treatments and replace them with a light and airy spring alternative.

 

Choose your fabric carefully

Consider brighter colors when deciding on fabric choices for your springtime window treatments. Lightweight and sheer fabrics make for great choices to appear light and airy while still letting some sunlight filter through. Opt for a bright Roman Shade or light colored blinds to bring the fresh spring feeling into your home. Coordinate throw pillows or cushions in a similar color and fabric to create a cohesive design with the rest of the room.

 

Say no to any fabric at all

If you have stunning views that you don’t want to cover up or simply don’t care for the look of fabric window treatments, consider interior shutters. Offering you the privacy you need while still providing you the views you want. Similar to blinds, interior shutters are a beautiful option that allow for easy adjustment of light and privacy.  The minimalism and classic look of interior shutters makes them a versatile option for any interior style.

 

Be creative

If the calendar says spring but the weather still says winter, consider layering your window treatments.  A sheer fabric layered underneath the dark winter fabrics allows the light to come in while keeping the cold winter temperatures out. Another great option is cafe style curtains, short window treatments that cover the bottom portion of the window. With the top half of the window uncovered, these let in a lot of light while the covered bottom portion reduces glare and offers plenty of privacy.


 

Window treatments are the perfect way to give your home that fresh spring renewal feeling. Consult with any of the talented designers at Babel’s to learn more about freshening up your home just in time for spring.