Illustrations by Mariana Salas
My great-grandfather used to say that there were very few things that couldn’t be fixed with a can of paint. How right he was. Paint can make your surroundings (no matter what they are) seem warm or cool, relaxing or stimulating, or even welcoming and inspirational.
This month, I want to cover colors and how they affect your surroundings. While I am not a studied individual in color and its design, it is something I run into in my business everyday. How you arrange your space is something that much thought goes into, it tests your creativity and is what ultimately makes you feel truly at home. Color is generally people’s biggest worry when furnishing a home; they always worry if there is a right choice and what it is and if friends and family will like it.
How do you find the right color for your environment? To begin, think about where you are. Immerse yourself in your surroundings. Where are you? Why kind of colors are around you? Why kind of colors are other people using? How can you use them better?
When we think of Mexico, we need to think of the colors that characterize it. Mexico has many colors that are not widely used in any other parts of the world, offering an unlimited palette that can create widely different moods. A simple trip to the Hotel Villa del Sol or La Casa Que Canta Hotel will tell you that. They both exude luxury, but why are they so different? La Casa Que Canta Hotel is bold and invigorating, in one word: dramatic. The Hotel Villa Del Sol, on the other hand, quietly humbles you with its soothing environment. The subtle distinctions of their environments owe a lot to their color choices.
Color choices can define your environment. Decide what you want to say and choose the colors that say it. Please feel at ease with this task. You can find color charts or brochures with sample rooms at paint stores that feature different colors together. I think they are fairly good guides for those of us who need help visualizing. I speak from experience as Interiores Zihuatanejo furniture store got its colors with the help of one of those publications. I recommend them, a guide like that can get you started thinking about color.
First, choose the colors that you don’t like. Many people have grudges against certain colors. While I like them all, blue is a color that I find most annoying. I find that it is the hardest color to mesh things with. I find myself asking, “What do I do with a blue? Why is it so over powering and why can’t I find anything that mixes with it?” Blues don’t work for me, but maybe they work for you. My next step is to choose colors that I do like!
Think of which colors bother you and which colors excite you. For me, clear tones and then one strong one, make my space feel more humble and truly mine. Oranges and reds really work for me as well; they make me feel alive and very much at ease with everything. In my family, we have always chosen reds, oranges and greens to enjoy our spaces. Red is daring and clean, it gives my rooms depth. It sets off, and makes me appreciate, the other colors in my environment.
