When I started my blog, my intention was to share my thoughts about the books that I found at the library or picked up as Daily Kindle Deals at Amazon. So, I was pleasantly surprised when the Jeanette Chasworth, author of What’s Color Got To Do With It?, contacted me and asked me if I would like a copy of her book to review here on the blog. It is worth noting that Jeanette’s husband is my second cousin, and that I was provided with a copy of her book. Neither of these have any bearing on my review; my opinion is mine alone.
As the title suggests, this book focuses on the importance of color in the world of interior design. The first part of the book is devoted to instruction, as Chasworth shares the various types of color schemes.
The next part of the book is devoted to discussing each of the major colors, and how they make people feel. Chasworth provides recommendations for which rooms would benefit from a particular color, and which colors would be detrimental in certain areas of the house. For example, red is not good for rooms that are intended for relaxation, and turquoise can inspire creativity.
After discussing color placement, Chasworth provides an exercise that determines the reader’s color, and whether s/he is a “spring”, “summer”, “autumn”, or “winter”. Once that has been assessed, Chasworth shares recommendations for color scheme. I took the test, and discovered that I am a spring. Chasworth says, “You will gravitate toward colors that are light, bright, and clear…your room should feel light, airy, and uplifting.” Chasworth even provides tips for accommodating more than one season in the home.
The final part of the book is devoted to advice about the home: tips and tricks, making rooms look bigger, and different types of paint. Chasworth includes “worksheets” that allow the reader to brainstorm each room of the house. What do you want to achieve in regards to the living room, the dining room, etc. Each of those pages includes advice and insight for things that generally work/don’t work in each room.
I will admit that I was a little nervous when I began reading this book. Home design is not one of my passions nor is it a strength. I did enjoy picking out the various design elements when we bought our new construction townhouse, but that was almost ten years ago. We went with beige carpets, and the paint on the walls is still the flat eggshell paint that the house came with. It has just never been a good time to concentrate on design. At first, we were both commuting at least an hour each way. And then, I was at home with a baby, and then later, a toddler and two babies. Now that my “babies” are headed off to kindergarten, I am wondering if this is finally a good time to think about painting, and truly making our house our very own by painting the walls, and adding decorative elements. The more time I spent reading What’s Color Got To Do With It?, the more I realized that this book could not have come to me at a better time. I found myself extremely inspired by what I read, and now I have a lot of ideas for what I want to do with my house.
I would absolutely recommend What’s Color Got To Do With It? to anyone looking to update their home. The book was a quick read, and Chasworth has an engaging and friendly style. I appreciated the insight that she had to offer, and I learned so much more about color schemes! If you are like me, and don’t have any idea what to do with your home, and how to use color to get the most out of each room, then this book will be so helpful! The book is available for Kindle, and you can find it here:
What’s Color Got To Do With It? Paint color ideas that Create Balance and Harmony in Your Home.
"You Have Your Hands Full!" 