Kitchens are the heart and soul of the home. The place where food is prepared  and social interaction is encouraged and enjoyed. Using orange in your décor  encourages feelings of warmth, happiness and the sensual pleasures of taste and  texture associated with eating. Combine that with the color red which represents  health and energy to get your family to make healthy food choices.

A good color palette for an office lobby or a family room is earth tones.  Warm shades of brown, tan, gray or camel create an atmosphere of reliability,  trust and confidence. Highlights of yellow will add optimism, while gold accents  say wisdom and prestige.

Colors like black and white have their place as well. Black represents  elegance and sophistication, a sense of dignity without pride, and perhaps even  a touch of mystery. While white is purity and light. A bathroom decorated with  white tiles and black fixtures feels clean and classy at the same time.

The most obvious ways to bring color into a room is with paint or wall  coverings, but consider other less costly changes that can make a huge  difference. Window covering, for example, can influence the whole room. Plain,  white or cream colored mini blinds get an instant face lift from a strip of  fabric draped above them, and allowed to spill on either side.

Throw pillows are another quick and easy way to use color to update the mood  of a room, as are silk flower arrangements or clear candle sticks that hold  colorful tapers.

One of the most effective décor ideas is original art. Not expensive pieces,  like a Monet watercolor, but other pieces that are less expensive but just a  unique. There are all kinds of places on-line that sell original artwork for  little more than a dinner for two at a nice restaurant. Whether it’s a painting  of a French chateau or a sculpture of an eagle in flight, there is something  about well chosen original artwork that can enhance the mood of any room.

A new trend in home artwork to consider is mobiles. Made from all sorts of  different materials and shapes, mobiles are moving sculptures that add color and  texture to a room without becoming over powering. They are easy to purchase  online and you’ll be amazed at the interesting pieces available. Taking the time to choose the right color and accent pieces before you  decorate, will provide long term benefits to the mood and feel of your room.