Accenting on a Budget Part 2

In the previous post, I talked about colour, harmony, balance, the elements and the power of three.

There is another "3" that the human eye naturally prefers when processing visually, and that is triangles.

The eye prefers to alight and view easily a group that relates well in structure, texture and colour but is particularly pleased by varying heights that naturally step the eye up. It doesn't have to work hard and can visually process the group quickly for interpretation by the brain. The eye likes to see and flow, not jump around from object to object.

Monochromatic schemes are particularly easy and pleasing; that is a scheme of different shades of one similar colour group. This way you can particularly play on texture. For an accent, a couple of pieces in the colour that is opposite on the colour wheel to your main one will always co-ordinate. One of the interesting

things about the eye is that it looks for the opposite colour naturally when confronted by the intensity of one. This can be seen in operating theatres: the bright intense red of blood under bright lights has people seeing green spots before their eyes and can lead to dizziness and nausea. By providing drapes and gowns in green, the eye is "rested" from the intense red and is automatically pleased with the counteracting colour it needs.

Again the above is achieved very inexpensively with vases and curios teamed with candles and pebbles and cloth. When the season changes, I too will want to see warmer tones around me. I'll put away the blue hues and perhaps bring out some orange or chocolate. Instead of shells, I might use pine cones, seed pods and woollen knits.

I remember a time many years ago when on an outing, a picnic or somesuch, we were travelling by bus because having a car was an expense down the priority list. One of my daughters said to me,

"We're really pov (poor) aren't we Mum?"

I replied to her then (and believe it firmly still),"We may be poor, but we will never be poor in spirit".

Though you may be striving for a simpler life, with less consumerism and more frugality, do still nourish the spirit and surround yourself with beauty and simple inspirations. It makes your house a home. It makes me a happy homemaker.