Marriage is a colorful new beginning in the lives of two people; a new chapter in the book of sharing, compromise and making room for another. And I’m not talking about their emotional status, though many parallels can be drawn from both the state of their union and the state of their living space. It can be a rough transition when two people combine their stuff and their styles into one domestic utopia.

But isn’t a new beginning worth some fresh ideas? At least some fresh paint? Whether you are in an apartment or house, new to both of you or just to one, a change in décor can aptly demonstrate the merging of two lives. One of the easiest places to start is with color. Not too complex, but oh, what an impact it can make.

The color in your abode does more to set the mood and tone of your environment than most elements of décor and style. And although the easiest, or most commonly thought of, way to incorporate color is by painting walls and trim, there are many other options. For those tenants who are not even permitted to touch the walls with brush nor roller, think about adding accessories, furniture, or artwork in an emphasized accent color. Depending on the extent of your accessorizing, the walls could all but disappear in a wash of color. Finding a common color in your newly combined property can also solve the many woes of merging seemingly unrelated items. It’s a great place to start as newlywed amateur decorators.
Now before you pick up your brush or Pottery Barn credit card, let’s talk about intelligent color choices. There are several a lot of factors to consider in making color decisions, from the mood a color sets to the intensity of the lighting in the room. First, it’s good to know a thing or two about the color families: warm, cool, and neutral.

WARM COLORS
In shades of sun, fire, and heat, warm colors often evoke upbeat, lively, or nostalgic feelings. They radiate light rather than absorb it; this trait lends to a feeling of such colors advancing, popping off the walls or accessories toward the eye. If you plan to make a large or odd-shaped room feel more cozy, warm colors are a great choice. On the flip side, a small room could look even smaller if intense warm colors are used as the base color of the room. Using them as their true hue, these colors come across as vibrantly contemporary. Muting them with darker colors can add elegance, while tempering them with white gives them a softer, sunnier side.

Red
The color of passion. Red rooms promote lively conversation, intense feelings, and a healthy appetite. Red is best. Best used in rooms where all the action takes place, such as the kitchen or great room. Unlike its sister color orange, red lends a more nostalgic feel to a room and can look more classic than modern. Good accent colors are green (to promote harmony and balance), white (for a clean, classic look), or gold (to intensify the warmth of the room).

Orange
Bright and intense with energy orange. Orange is on the rise in color schemes, although not common in its purest state in most circles. A true orange hue is perfect for a uniquely modern edge, while still keeping a sunny warmth. More often, orange is seen in the muted and less intense shades of peach and terracotta, or mixed with yellows and browns for a more western feel. Orange is a shade meant for happiness and whimsy. Often too intense for sleeping rooms, orange is great in rooms where energy is desired.

Yellow
The color of the sun. People gravitate toward yellow for just that reason: its sunny properties. Yellow can be used in darker rooms to create a light of its own. It also has a very fresh appeal when paired with delicate whites. Bathrooms are a great palette for yellow. Rumor has it that intense yellow can be an irritating color to wake up to in a bedroom, although that may depend on the person. One of the best color accents for yellow is blue, cobalt and navy being the most common. They add a classic or country look to the bright color.

COOL COLORS
Mirroring water and nature, cool colors often lend the room a sense of peace and tranquilityTheir calming properties make them desirable in a home setting, a good place to get away from the hectic world around you. The cool palette also has the ability to make a small room appear larger due to the receding appearance of the colors. This especially works well with light versions of the colors. In their darkest shades, cool colors appear classy and sophisticated. Bright shades hold more energy, without overwhelming the space. The lightest shades bring up memories of a fresh spring day.

Blue
The shades of sea and sky in full all its array, tranquil blue. Blue is favored by many home decorators for its soothing properties. In recent years, navy has become a popular shade to use in living areas, kitchens, and dining rooms due to its distinguished and classic look. Red, white, and gold are common accent colors to compliment this shade. Lighter and brighter shades are perfect for sleeping areas due to the calming nature of the hue. Some sources even believe that intense blue colors help you remember your dreams, so let the tranquility of this color relax you away.

Green
The splendor of nature. Green is a typically brighter cool color with an intrinsically fresh appeal. Visions of life and growth come up with this hue. For this reason, green promotes both ease and energy, depending on the shade. Fabulous grass green colors have been springing up in living and dining rooms lately. This shade proves that the right intense color can make a room come to life without overwhelming the inhabitants. Great accent colors for a grass green room are black, white, and red. Mossy and forest tones of green have been common in studies, bathrooms, and dining rooms for years. They are usually accompanied by shades of deep blue, cranberry, and gold. No matter the intensity, you can’t go wrong with nature’s color.

Purple
The color of royalty, this hue conjures images both lavish and chic. Though not commonly used in the primary living areas, this color is on the rise due to many home decorating shows on television. People are seeing the edgy, mysterious appeal of purple, especially in deeper shades of plum or eggplant. More popular at this point are shades reminiscent of a garden of fresh lavender. These soft shades are great for bedrooms and bathrooms. You can almost smell fresh flowers in the room due to the delicate spring look.

Neutrals
Great as bases or accent colors, neutrals give you a very versatile palette to work with. They can temper an intense, brilliant shade to make it easier on the eye or punch up a softer hue to give it more edge and definition. Neutrals are great choices for people who like to change the look of the room on a regular basis, decorate for each season, or are not yet brave enough to try a bold color.

Brown / Beige
Beiges and browns are probably the most common colors used in decorating in some form or another. It makes a great base upon which to accessorize with brighter colors. A fantastic

combination would be a light cocoa base with both white and china red accents. More and more you will also be seeing darker tones of brown as the main color. It is a great color for couples, allowing for both the masculinit in the shade itself and feminine accents. There aren’t any limits to color combinations with a neutral beige or brown. The key is to pair darker shades with light or bright accents and vise versa. This helps to center the room. Also pay attention to the subtle colors in your brown. Does it have a yellow, red, or green undertone? This will be important when matching accent colors.

White
A pure, clean approach. There are as many shades of white as you can imagine. Though white can often seem like a logical choice due to its ease in use and pairing, you want to avoid the common clinical look of white rooms. It really does take thought to create the right usage of white. The easiest choice is to use white as an accent color (trim work, art, candles, etc.). If you plan on using white as your wall color (or you have no choice because you are renting), it is wise to use mostly solid color or geometrical accents in order to make the room look pulled together. A white base is often best served in a contemporary environment, although a country, white-on-white with lace look can be a good fresh and airy bedroom setting. Even so, it is good to throw in splashes of color to break up the space.

Black
A classy accent. Black is a great choice when complimenting your base shade. This color intensifies other hues and makes them pop. It also creates boundaries and definition within the room. Black is not typically a good choice for a wall color unless in a contemporary or whimsical entertainment room or basement. It absorbs light and can be too intense without white and bright color accents. As an accent, however, black may give you just the polish you desire. Think picture frames, furniture, tile, and artwork. Never be afraid to accessorize with this classy color.

The first step in choosing your color scheme is to imagine the feel you want your living space to ellicit. Do you want bright and energetic, classic and understated, warm and cozy, or fresh? Is there a memorable place that you would like to mimic? And don’t forget to think about your living space in all seasons of the year. A bright blue and orange combination may be just your style in the summer, but what about when Christmas rolls around? If your style changes often, think about using a neutral base and changing your accessory colors with your latest whim.

Another important huge factor in your choice should be the lighting in your environment. A dark or intense color in a room without windows or adequate lighting can be too overwhelming. The direction your room faces also plays a role. A southern facing room will receive warm and intense light and is best complemented with a cool color while a northern facing room receives cool, indirect light and can be warmed up with a sunnier, brighter shade. Once you have established your general color palette, look at the different variations of your colors in the light of the room itself, at different times of day. What looks good in the store may not look good with your lamplight or reflecting the colors of the adjacent rooms.

Most of all, remember that no one can tell you which color is best for you. Even though yellow is typically considered a happy color, if you have bad memories associated with yellow, then it isn’t a good choice for you. Try to use colors that you never tire of in day to day life. Use ones that produce good feelings for you and your spouse-to-be. And remember that while your marriage is permanent, colors can change. Feel free to go create some magic with color!