theSun Property January 2016

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ON FRIDAY JANUARY 1, 2016
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LAYING THE
BASE
To go all the way or
not with pastels is not
an easy choice for
many, especially not
inMalaysia where
majority prefer neutrals
and basic colours like
whites and nude tones.
Whilemany on
impulse would choose
pastels for children’s
bedrooms, relating the soft yet fun
colours more suited to the young
ones; stereotypically, adults are
pushed to go for more “business-
like” colours, such as the
minimalist black andwhite or
navy blues.
Since the Colours of the Year
aremeant to “bring a feeling
of calmand relaxation into
the home environment”, the
2016 Rose Quartz and
Serenity become ideal as the
base colour for any room in
the house.
For themore reserved
andmajority of Malaysians,
perhaps it is time to step out
of one’s comfort zone and
explore howpastels can
work as well or evenmuch
better than using plain, old
white for the walls of
interiors, even exteriors.
ALL-IN PASTEL
Like white walls, pastel-
colouredwalls reflect light
to increase the brightness
of a roomwhile giving
a psychological boost
to one’s mood. The use
of pastel colours for
walls also induces an
airy and spacious
feeling.
Pastel saturation,
as it is known, calls
for all walls to be
completely
painted in one shade of any pastel
colour. These pastel hues create
fresh, radiant spaces and inject a
lovely sense of calm. When paired
with neutrals, the relaxation factor
is maximised. For houses with low
ceilings, pastel colours can also
make the ceiling appear higher,
especially if the walls and floors
are painted in darker shades.
In terms of decoration,
homeowners can opt to
complement or contrast the chosen
wall colour. An important tip to
bear inmind is to approach pastel-
themed decorationwith an element
of playfulness.
Complement a Rose Quartz or
Serenity colouredwalls with
furnishings in earthy colours such
as brown and gold, grey or white.
A bed frame in gold or light brown
will match nicelywith Rose Quartz,
while a white couchwill gowell
with Rose Quartz throwpillows.
Darkwooden tables wouldmake a
classy addition to a Serenity-
coloured room, while white
bedside tables bring about a
country feel to the bedroom.
However, one’s interior design
capabilities truly shine when there
is success in blending the two
Pantone Colours of the Year.
Think Rose Quartz bedroom
walls with a light-coloured
wooden bed frame toppedwith a
Serenity-coloured bed sheet and
comforter, with pillows in varying
shades of Rose Quartz and
Serenity. On the other end of the
spectrum, we have Serenity living
roomwalls with a white couch as
the statement piece, decoratedwith
throwpillows in dark greywith
Rose Quartz accents and a couch
throw in the same colour. The look
is completedwith a dark, glossy
wooden coffee table.
TOE IN THEWATERS
Alternatively, home owners can
opt for accented pastel walls if they
fear a too “sugary” look. Accent
pastel walls are amuch needed
pop in rooms with clean, crisp
white walls.
Use pastel-coloured furnishings
as statement pieces in a room.
Switch out the couch for one in
Rose Quartz, paint over the light
brownwooden table with a coat of
Serenity, or bringmint-coloured
bar stools into the kitchen for a
retro feel.
By blending soft tones with
natural textures and hardmaterials,
a sense of warmth is created in the
interior. Brass is often used by
Naturally happy
> Run down on Pantone’s colours for 2016
THEdesignworldwas abuzz
with excitement at the
announcement of Pantone’s
Colour of the Year for 2016.
For the first time in history, a blend
of two soft shades was announced
as the colours of the year – Rose
Quartz and Serenity.
Rose Quartz is described as a
“persuasive yet gentle tone that
conveys compassion and a sense of
composure”, while the airy
Serenity is expressed as “the
expanse of the blue sky above us,
bringing feelings of respite and
relaxation even in turbulent times”.
Pantone Colour Institute
executive director Leatrice
Eiseman cites the shift in
perception of gender-assigned
colours as the primary factor for
2016’s choice of colours.
“Thismore unilateral approach
to colour is coincidingwith societal
movements towards gender equality
and fluidity, the consumers’
increased comfortwithusing colour
as a formof expression, which
includes a generation that has less
concern about being typecast or
judged, and an open exchange of
digital information that has opened
our eyes to different approaches to
colour usage.”
Rose Quartz and Serenity are
merely two of themany pastel
colours that have dominated the
interior design scene over the past
fewyears. This should come as no
surprise as the colours are easy to
incorporate in any home of today.
interior decorators to create that
perfect contrast between soft
colours and hardmetals.
Incorporate this tip into your home
using brass handles on a pastel-
coloured armoire or chest of
drawers, or even as a standing
lamp or mirror.
Tone down a starkwhite wall
withwatercolour paintings in Rose
Quartz and Serenity, or use
lightweight linen in the same
shades as windowdressings. The
addition of a pastel-coloured rug
plays up the comfort factor in a
room. Other smaller ways to
introduce pastels into the home
include everyday items, such as
cutlery, teapots, dining room
chairs, kitchen countertops,
kitchen cabinets, refrigerators,
and side tables.
Pastel colours are a trend that
has been on the rise over the last
fewyears and this is expressed in
the selection of Rose Quartz and
Serenity as Pantone’s Colours of
the Year for 2016. This newyear
how about bringing home these
lovely shades? The lovely “lights”
set the foundation for a happy aura
in the home – the place to return to
for one’s daily dose of delight.
PHOTO: JLIFE.NL
PHOTO: JDTONETTIHOME.COM.BR
PHOTO: DONTCRAMPMYSTYLE.CO.UK PHOTO: SPACOKASA.COM.BR
PHOTO: PHOTO:
PHOTO:
BYALYSSA J OON