Express Yourself With Color

by Better Homes and Gardens (Editor)

Unique, interactive handbook combines color preference quizzes, inspiring photography, and how-to advice and tips.Helps readers create fresh, new color schemes based on their existing furnishings.Teaches reader how to choose background colors that transform existing furnishings into lively new schemes.Teaches the reader how to create a personal palette, how to use the color wheel for real life situations, and how to work with today's most popular, pretty, and classic palettes.Offers specific how-to painting projects, plus a bonus tip selection on paint choices, techniques, advice, and insider pro tips.

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Better Homes and Gardens is the fourth best selling magazine in the United States. Better Homes and Gardens focuses on interests regarding homes, cooking, gardening, crafts, healthy living, decorating, and entertaining. The magazine is published 12 times per year by the Meredith Corporation. It was founded in 1922 by Edwin Meredith, who had previously been the United States Secretary of Agriculture under Woodrow Wilson.

Better Homes and Gardens is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines.

Reviews

[Debbie Wentworth Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since painting our interior 30 years ago, we have done little on it. It is now time! Express Yourself with Color has been giving me lots of ideas. Never artistic myself, I've found that there are plenty of ways to express yourself.

The book is divided into two-page spreads with two to four photos teaching something about matching colors and how colors affect people. Each spread includes a write-up about the principle, short paragraphs pointing out how the principle was carried out in the photos, and a short paragraph that coincides with other colors that could be used. Some spreads show a variety of styles using the principle. For instance, one photo might show a dining room that is rather formal painted in red and white. The next photo might show a playful kitchen in red and white or an elegant bedroom.

It is easy and enjoyable reading with lots of pictures. The last few pages give suggestions on what type of paint to use in different situations, the tools you'll need, and some less common techniques, such as sponge painting or how to paint a checkerboard pattern on a floor. It also includes an index.

The book was written in the nineties, so some readers may wish to read a more up-to-date book.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blurb lies - any implementation would involve plenty of purchases or at least painting the walls and buying some throw pillows or quilts or curtains. I did not care for the rooms, either. Too busy, too silly with accent pieces. What I'm looking for is how to bring color, but not clutter, to our rented unit (where of course we cannot paint and won't make investment purchases). The text captions to the photos do have some helpful ideas for some readers looking for moderate levels of investment & commitment.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

BH&G apparently just threw this one together....not really sure why.

The only redeeming factor here is the eye candy....no new or good information to speak of.

Color schemes presented were not well executed or demonstrated in my opinion.

I would pass on this one .....

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book to look through if you are thinking of changing a color in a room. Though I like a contemporary home, the pictures are very traditional and country oriented. But the color combinations can open you up to new ideas you may have not considered. There are also some good decorating tips thrown in here which made me think in different ways.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

The decor could have been done better. There were a few pages that I liked.