Color Schemes Made Easy (Better Homes & Gardens) [Paperback]

Shelley Stewart (Author), Better Homes and Gardens Books (Author), Vicki Ingham (Author)

Book Description

Series: Better Homes & Gardens | Publication Date: August 10, 2004

Answers to help home decorators make their favorite colors work in any space.

Innovative color ideas that incorporate paints, fabrics, and accessories.

Color basics and how-to techniques for every room in the house boost decorating confidence.

Unique color scheme recipes and color swatches accompany inspirational photos.

Easy-to-navigate chapters are organized by color.

Interior designers and color experts answer questions on common color dilemmas.

Special quiz provides home decorators insight to color personalities.

One-of-a-kind, 16-page insert gives readers take-along color recipes for buying paint, fabric, and accessories.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Better Homes and Gardens (August 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0696221268
• ISBN-13: 978-0696221262
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #901,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My builders designer even liked it!, September 8, 2005

By 

WHoosierBookie "whoosierbookie" (Crown Point, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Color Schemes Made Easy (Better Homes & Gardens) (Paperback)

This book really helped me out. I was involved in building a custom home. My builder had a designer on staff for a huge fee, but I said no thanks, I'd rather spend that money on my house. I mean how hard could it be? Then I actually started looking at color charts and was I overwhelmed.

While looking for inspiration in my Home Depot, I found this book. First of all it has a quiz to take that by my answers, told me what colors I would be the most happy living with. This was important to me, as I had briefly talked to a designer and wasn't happy with the direction she wanted to go. I wanted my house to feel warm & welcoming. She was talking neutral colors. It also has tons of bright pictures of beautiful room settings, all with the color palettes displayed to show what colors were used in the pictures. Then if you're still having problems (like me) all the color palettes are grouped together in the back with the corresponding page numbers of where a picture can be found using that color scheme. Once you make your selection, you do have to take your color samples to the paint store to match up your hues.

My builders designer was awed by my color choices and wanted to know who "did" my house. I told her all and she laughed about the quiz, but hey it worked. My house was also in the parade of homes and everyone kept asking for my paint colors. I couldn't have done it by myself without this book. Simple, easy and timesaving!

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great reference, July 21, 2005

By 

A. S. Johnson "seeking change" (Anchorage, AK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Color Schemes Made Easy (Better Homes & Gardens) (Paperback)

We are remodeling our whole house and determining color schemes is really overwhelming. This book is a great alternative to hiring a real decorator. It's helped me limit the color palette I'm using to a few main colors, then add a few for particular rooms. It does a great job of giving ideas for how to get the color in the room using paint, furniture, etc.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does What It Says - Great Book, January 13, 2006

By 

Sonya "readaholic" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Color Schemes Made Easy (Better Homes & Gardens) (Paperback)

This is one of the best books for helping you determine color schemes. I knew I had a winner when there was a 2-page spread called "One Room - Three Looks." The three photos show the same exact room with the only difference being the wall color. The differences were interesting, but all the rooms looked great. Color Schemes explained the effect the various color walls have on the overall look and feel of the room, thereby helping you make good decisions about selecting a color. (page 22)

The chapters are divided by color and each chapter has various shades of that color. This book totally makes up for the other BH&G book, Express Yourself with Color which now seems mediocre in comparison. This book shows each of the color schemes used in the room, using nice size paint swatches. The color swatches are large enough in size that it would be easy to find a comparable color.

Near the back of the book (pg 150-159), there are full page Q&A's that include photographs that address the question. The last few pages are the entire color schemes used in the book, again divided by color.

I found just the right color for a room I am redecorating. The walls are yellow and the rest of the decor is black and white. I knew I wanted one more accent color, but I was having a really hard time deciding. I found the perfect color combination by using this book.

This is THE book to have if you are looking for ways to incorporate color in your decorating scheme.