Color strategies and glass paint

Color strategies and glass paint

Color strategies and glass paint

One of the easiest ways to decorate is by using color. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to blend colors successfully. The result is most often … monochromatic! There’s nothing wrong with sticking to one color when painting, but there’s also nothing wrong with mixing up your approach when working with glass paint.

Color combinations that “work” aren’t accidental

Most folks don’t spend a lot of time studying color theory, so they don’t think about color very much when decorating. It may surprise them, then, when they see a combination of colors that really “works.” The process of combining colors isn’t mysterious, and it doesn’t have to be “trial-and-error” either. Here are a few strategies for combining colors successfully when using glass paint.

Single color strategy
Varying shades of a single color can create a dramatic and inviting color palette. A monochromatic color strategy tends to bring a calming effect to a room, and can work well in a bathroom or bedroom. While you can use a monochromatic color strategy throughout an entire space, looking at the same color everywhere can get a little tedious. If you want to go with a single color strategy for a large area, choose a variety of accent colors to liven up each distinct space.

Complementary color strategy
Our eyes perceive colors because the visible light spectrum covers a wide range of frequencies. Colors in the visible light spectrum are described as part of a 360° “color wheel.” Complementary colors are directly across from each other on the wheel. Orange and blue are opposite colors, so they’re considered complementary. A complementary color strategy requires a keen eye. The palette should be balanced out by adding neutral colors to soften the overall appearance of a space.

Analogous color strategy
An analogous color strategy can also work well because it combines similar colors into a single scheme. Analogous colors sit close to each other in the color spectrum, and one color may “lead” into another one. Yellow and yellow orange, for example are analogous colors. They’re neighbors on the color spectrum and they tend to get along well in a color palette. The key to working with analogous colors is to use similar saturation, so one color doesn’t overwhelm the other.

In the next post, we’ll look at additional color strategies that can help you determine how to choose the best, most harmonious colors for your space. In the mean time, if you’d like to find some more inspiration for working with glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: Courtney Rhodes, via Flickr.com