Milford chronicle., 1929-06-14
COLOR CAUTIONS
Marie Hulser-

rounded by color. The most brilli-
ant of shades seemed none too bright
to make up for the serene purity OF
pure white, or the dullness of con-
ventional browns. There can be no
doubt that color has arrived-and
with bang!
This reversion to color will be a
happy one, provided we can have it
settle down to normalcy, and are not
subjected to it in riotous discord.
Just as good color taste is required
of the well-dressed woman, so it is
necessary to the well decorated
room. We must use caution with our
color in order that we may live with
it.
Through this medium it is pos
sible to create any atmosphere de-
sired. A room can be made to seem
warm or cool, dark or light, large
or small. There are rules that gov
ern-laws of color harmony; psy-
Geological effects of color; methods
of creating a perfect ensemble.
In using red, of example, care
must be taken that it is employed
only in small areas, since it is a de-
cidedly warm, aggressive and ener-
getic color. 1t is stimulating when
used with caution, but irritating
when spread over large surfaces.
Red can be used to very good adVan-
tage in room that is large and
somewhat cold in aspect, since this
color is intense and associated with
warmth and animation.
Yellow, because of its brilliance
and suggestion of sunlight, is at
once stimulating and cheerful. lts
most striking appeal for painted
walls lies possibly within its light
giving qualities, its closeness to ma
tural illumination in appearance
Yellow has the ability to pull to-
gether the walls of a large ana
dreary room, and impart the warmth
and cheer of a sunny day. For this
reason, yellow, and shades tinted
with yellow, are the most popular
colors for walls in rooms with nor
thern exposures.
Orange, another one of the warm
advancing colors is difficult to use
on large surfaces. While being
warm color ian admixture OF red
and Yellow it is exceedingly exclt-
ing an dexerts too stimulating Ell
feet if used in profusion.
Blue, on the other hand, is the
coolest of tones, when used'ln the
fullness of it's color. 1t tends 10
make objects fade into the back
ground. so strong is the impression
of solitude and space which it ere
ates. Unless considerably reduced, 1t
can be depressing if used to excess
since it is characteristic of shadows
and therefore, of sadness. When
warm bright colors are combined TO
offset the coldness of pure blue, the
latter can be used to advantage. But,
where it is desired that blue be used
as a wall color, it is best to tint 1t
with a bit of yellow, unless its loca-
ton of use is extremely southern
and cheerful.
If yellow and blue are mixed so
that neither predominates, the color
green will result. Here is a hue most
refreshing when combined of an
equal amount of warm and cool col
or. Because of it's association with
nature, green, in the right degree is
cheerful. It's influences may pc
uuieting as well as mildly stimulat-
ing. Shifted toward blue, it is COOL
in feeling; toward yellow, warm
Purple is color in decoration 10
be used sparingly. 1t is color
which lies between blue and red, ac-
ouiring the coldness of the one and
the dash of exhilaration of the other.
Used in small quantities, shades OIL
purple can be very effective. How
ever. it is much better to blend OIL TO
the paler shades such as orchid or
lilac, for use on walls.
Gray is very favorable coior
when used in combination with
bright colors to modify its neutral
ness. A wall of gray can create a
distinctly restful atmosphere, de-
void of either a stimulating or de-
pressing effect. Too, this color mas
a certain amount of illumination
which makes it's use favorable Ior
rooms that are not well lighted. For
really dark room, however, yellow
or a color tinted with pink would De
more effective.
These are just a few of the pecu-
liarities of certain colors, but they
are probably the most slgnlncanC
characteristics. In decoration there
are other things to be taken lnto
consideration with regard to color'
as we'll as it's psychological lnnuen-
ces. The size of the room, lts
height and illumination are all I'M
nortant factors. However, the proper
colors for a large room or small
room can be determined. somewhat
ythe psychological effect; yellow,
orange. or red, for example, being
warm hues and naturally advancing
tend to make a large room seem
smaller; green, blue, and VloieC'
cold colors, give one the impression
that it is larger than it actually is.
Too. there is a general rule IN
color arrangements that is always
safe to follow. That is, that there
should be one predominating color
in a room; another color of the same
degree of intensity used in smaller
proportion for relief; while several
small spots of one or two colors
should be used to supply accent. For
example, let us put color into bed
room that has a somewhat northern
exposure. We would, no doubt, use
old ivory paint on the walls, saving
the warm, sunshiny yellow for diml-
ty curtains. The furniture could be
painted a cheerful green, a green
with yellow predominating, and the
rug might be dark rose.
With a slight study of conditions
and an understanding of color, 1t is
possible to have really attractive
and individual room, demanding very
little expenditure. 1t is surprising
how many attractive color arrange