Create an oasis with color.

By Dee Dee Taylor Hannah

Winter brings short days and bare trees to central North America, but somewhere it is sunny, warm and inviting. The warmth of the sun and its true, vibrant color can enhance your attitude and make your view of the world more positive. Ignore the rainy grey days and create your own interior oasis with shades of white.

Decorating with white
Try warm white on the walls, add a tint of red, highlight with ultra-white trim with some added gloss for contrast and don’t forget the matte, flat white ceiling. The serene tone of the room is set as the neutral palette allows your senses to remain calm and in focus. Now, add furniture with textures in white: a tufted leather sofa offset with a crystal chandelier and white ripple sheers puddling on the floor for a background.

Sounds cold? Absolutely not—the layers of textures, shades and sheen enrich and warm the space. Don’t forget the soft, low candlelight to finish the space. Create your own environment—pick a colour and build a theme. The colour scheme is limitless, just use red or blue hues to add a warm or cool feeling.

What color works for you?
A room that is too chaotic, with colors that are too vibrant can affect your attitude; however, we are all different—some people need hot colours for energy while others find an energy boost from a neutral interior. To figure what works for your own environment you need to experiment. Start with one room and a constant color scheme. Keep a journal and see what emotions are evoked when you are in the space. Add slowly to the room and observe how you feel. When you respond to a color or a space, mark it down and try to remember what provoked that response.

The choices of flowers for our white scheme are endless. My choice is fragrant white lilies in tall, clear vases (preferably in pairs). To contrast the tall arrangement, use white sweetheart rose petals in low glass bowls with floating candles. Take those long-stem white roses and cut off the stems then simply float the buds in water. Any extra rose petals should be used in your bath for the ultimate relaxation.

Shed some light
Explore your lighting options. Overhead potlights can be harsh and overbearing; vary your lighting levels by having dimmers installed and try wall sconces or chandeliers. The lighting can be modified by reflecting it over surfaces such as mirror. Note that light bulbs can have a warm incandescent yellow hue or a pure white light, such as halogen. Your table lamps can be uplights or downlights, be conscious of the direction of light and its color. This is where you should reflect on the images that produced the feelings you wish to create in your room. Lack of light or too much light can affect how you view the world and your attitude. Learn your comfort level and optimize your lighting surroundings.

Attitude is from within and is developed within your own being. Every aspect of life affects your attitude. Your style is part of your environment and must be shaped to maximize your image to the world. Explore your surroundings and shape them to make yourself the best possible you. You see, it is the special details of our visual world that spark our senses and improve our outlook on the world.