When I look around, I often see things in color swatches. Color sets the mood. Bright lights at a carnival will stimulate your mind, creating excitement. The muted colors of a beach sunset will calm you down. Ever been to a colorful, circus-themed day spa? I didn't think so.
I'm constantly taking pictures of things that I can use as inspiration—someone's shirt, a car, my neighbor's planters, the sky. It might be the perfect shade of blue for a powder room wall, a soft subtle pink for a baby shower, a shocking purple for party decor.
As you develop a color scheme for your event, flip through your camera roll or look through your closet. What images/colors are you drawn to? Do you find that you favor bold, saturated colors or soft, understated tones? What is the vibe you hope to create for your guests?
Do you want a bold invitation design for a party with tons of color, or a clean and simple aesthetic with (or without) subtle highlights. What is the vibe you want to create for your guests?
Start by using images you love to create a Mood Board. To pull colors from a photo, here's a trick:
1) Cut pieces of paper into squares about the size of a post-it note. Unlined index cards cut in half work too.
2) Punch or cut small holes in the center of the paper.
3) Walk around your yard or your house using the holes to hone in on a specific color that appeals to you.
PRO TIP: If you have access to PhotoShop, you can swatch colors from an image with the dropper tool.
The sample below is from my parents' yard in Florida—I just moved the hole around a leaf until I found a color I liked.
Our tastes are always evolving as we learn and grow. A dress, paint color, or party theme is not necessarily meant to stand the test of time, but is a representation of who we are in that moment. Plus we all know that trends come back around. Just ask my daughters who are mad I don't have all my clothes from the 80's and 90's.