The human mind can be very easily deceived when it comes to colors. Our choice of colors is closely related to our personalities. We are easily affected by the color combinations that we choose for our rooms, draperies and upholsteries. Some make us feel great, while others can be depressing. To create great personal home interior designs, it is important to understand the home-owner's personality and not just what color they like, but also why they like it.

The symbolism inherent in colors
Perhaps the most important part in selecting colors, and often the hardest to master, is understanding the symbolism inherent in them. Some colors indicate purity, like the color white. The saffron color is holy to hindus, whereas the majenta is holy to Buddhists. The same color can mean different things to different people as well.Green is the color of Islam where the same green, when on a chinese person’s hat, can be construed as an indication of infidelity in some communities. Blue is associated with immortality to Chinese, is holy to Jews, and is the color for God Krishna to hindus. Colors also often have a personal meaning. Take a walk into their closet and chances are that you will immediately know what their favorite colors are. For instance, the color saffron was liked my father and when I get a new home, I would want something in the house to be saffron as a remembrance. Such minor detail is what makes a design really personal and perfect. Do not hesitate to ask questions to the home-owners. Make them your friend and understand their taste. Understand their past and their upbringing. All that will help make your design the perfect one and something that both you and your client will be proud of for a long time.

Choosing the color of the room and the drapes
It’s a new year and many of us want a new look for the new year. Embarking on interior redesign projects. As designers, you are aware that color is perhaps the most important selection in a redesign project.. Some colors clash, others go well together and then there are those that make us feel downright sick. As always, the number one thing is to understand the home owners’ personality and choice of colors. For me, the color fuchsia always made me go a bit green under the collar. As it is, to see which color will go with which room, it is always a good idea to get hold of a ‘color wheel’ to confirm your choice of colors or get some new ideas. Did you know that Sir Isaac Newton invented this wheel over a century ago?

Once we are satisfied with the color of our rooms, the next thing to do would be to consult the ‘wheel’ before we get to the drapes. The interesting thing about color is that using it we can actually make a room appear smaller than it is or larger than it should be. The way designers usually go about this is by choosing the window drapes in a lighter shade of the same color that you have painted the room. This will cause the room and the window in particular to appear larger. The same thing can be done with the ceiling as well. When one is choosing drapes for the windows, it is important to choose colors which are either complementary to one another or in contrast to each other.

When choosing fabrics, there are some things that you should not just put to each other, like the colors violet and lime green. Again, the wheel is a great place to start understanding which colors complement and which do not. It is also important to know what the room is for before choosing the drapes. The reason being is that you would not want your drawing room to be decked out in midnight blue, would you? For morning rooms, drawing rooms, the main color themes are usually light, think pastels. Depending on the use, you can choose drapes that fit not just the paint in the room but the purpose it is being used for as well. The choice of color on the drapes greatly affects the lighting of the room. Dark colored silks can go very well in bedrooms. Simple light-colored lined-polyester or synthetic fabric can be a good choice for a dining area window or even a nice study area.

Good luck and here’s wishing you joy and success in 2008!