Using Color Indoors

What, then, is a tint? It is the addition of white to a color.

So what is a shade? It is the addition of black to a color.

Those are the basics. Let's take that knowledge and build on it. Saturation is the intensity of color. Chroma is a color that is fully saturated with light. So if a room is decorated with hues of the same saturation and chroma, that room will appear to be larger.

What does all this mean? Well, a monochromatic room will feel larger than it is, and so will a room that has colors that are even in their intensity, such as all brights or all washed colors. Why? Because the consistency of the color saturation lacks dimension so the appearance of space is created. To demonstrate this, think of a room that is all white with some off white mixed in. Feels cool and open, doesn't it?

Now think of a room that is bright yellow and blue. Looks like a fun room but it does make you look at what's in the room rather than just being in there with lots of elbow room.

Both rooms can look good; the point is they each create their own visual space or lack thereof.

If space is something that needs to be visually expanded, then there are other tricks besides using color saturation. For example, small, square rooms will do well if two opposite walls are painted the same color, preferably an intense one. The deep color will create a feeling of depth, therefore opening up the room.

A deep, deep ocean is seen as dark water. The feeling of depth and great expanse is there even though the water is right there where we can touch it.

Another solution to small rooms is the use of gray or blue-gray as background colors. This gray influence makes other colors look better. The less clutter, the better for a small room and with gray or blue-gray backgrounds, the most can be made of every other color that might be incorporated in the room.

(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, is president of Rosemary Sadez Friedmann Inc. in Naples, Fla.)