A couple of colorful living-room design ideas from september 1958

In september 1958 Florence Byerly showcased for Better Homes and Gardens Magazine a couple of ideas for a colorful living-room design.

"Whether you choose one of the new yellows or an olive tone, or stay with currently popular blues, reds or dashing orange, use your favorite in the new simplified way. If you like only a little bold color, it can accent a room that's all neutrals. But if you are brave, use lots of closely related colors to unite walls and floors, calm it with generous touches of white."

Bright lemon yellow punctuates this simplified color scheme. The uniformity of the major areas of the room - carpet, walls, and upholstery in "unbleached" white - lends this brilliant hue the drama it so richly deserves. Note how the large accent aeas - the butterfly panel and the bench cusions - are united by the smaller yellow elements which grace the printed sofa pillows and table tops. 


Blue in graduated tones froms this monochromatic scheme. Rug was matched to a color in the upholstery pattern. Walls, ceiling and draperies are so light they are almost white. versatile blue suits your mood, can look bright or subdued, cool or warm, contemporary or traditional.








If red cheers you, show it off against a neutral background. Graceful sofa in softest velvet is a bright spot next to the beige carpet, the pale walls which have the slightes hint of the carpet's color. Repeated on window valance and benches in hallway, this dash of red coordinates these adjoining rooms.









A warm orange colors all the major areas of this room, extending from floor to ceiling. Texture is important here; dominant in the deep-pile rug and the linen upholstery, it lends variety, relieving the nearly monochromatic scheme. A little white adds sparkle. 








Again, darker tones cover large areas - wall, ceiling and towering fireplace hood. Against such a background you could use vivid splashes of pumpkin and gold, so effective here. "Unbleached" white is on the floor  - in an area rug of shaggy loops.






Olive green makes an interesting background for light accents. Dark olive appears on walls and carpeting, a softer shade on the ceiling. See how this color becomes a foil for the golden yellow bolsters and chairs, combining the season's newest colors in one room.


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