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Ask Kate: Classic Colors
Five ways color can help you create a traditional look in your home.
- by Kate Smith
Q: My style is very classic and traditional. How do I achieve that look through my room colors?
A. The classic look. It’s that traditionally elegant feel you admire in glossy magazine covers. You can create the same mood in your own home easily and affordably. Here are five classic color tips to help you create a classic, time-tested atmosphere in your own room today:
- Darker shades are a great way to convey an established, old-world feel. Incorporate deep tones of gold, blue, green or purple for a truly timeless feel. Consider colors like navy, hunter green and burgundy, which have come to instantly convey style and refinement.
- You need not worry about your traditionally decorated room being stuck in the “dark” ages. Consider adding a contemporary touch by using rich jewel tones, such as sapphire, teal, turquoise, amethyst or emerald. These can add a brighter tone that lightens the room while retaining an elegant mood.
- Remember, classic colors and styles don’t mean you need to reject any hint of the trendy. Add splashes of trendy colors in the form of accessories. This strategy allows you to have the traditional overall feel you want while giving you the opportunity to regularly switch out pieces when you tire of them or they become outdated.
- Consider using local history to guide your traditional color choices. If you live in the Southwest, for example, choose colors that convey the area’s past, such as shades of green, orange and yellow. Dashes of turquoise are also a great way to add a color that’s classic for that part of the country. The next time you drive around town, take a look at the area’s historic homes to find color schemes that inspire you.
- If you find comfort in traditional colors and décor, don’t limit that feel to formal areas like living rooms or dining rooms. It’s easy to evoke a classic mood in a bedroom or bathroom. For example, combine refined colors with a four-poster bed and detailed wood bureaus to create the kind of bedroom you’ll love to spend time in.
You can create that classic feel you love so much right in your own home. By choosing traditional colors and the right accessories, you’ll evoke the elegance of eras past.
