Think Color: Rooms to Live in

When decorating their homes, many people-whether out of a basic design conservatism or in an attempt to hide red wine stains and muddy footprints-settle on beige, camel and taupe for their couches, rugs and drapes. What they may not realize, says designer Guild, is that using color in home decorating can ""infuse the mind to create moods or feelings"" and ""help you break out of conventions."" It's not for nothing that Guild is ""renowned for her vital sense of color"": the sprightly author founded the influential Designers Guild in London in 1970 and has gone on to receive multiple art and design awards. In this attractive book, she offers ideas both grand and simple for jazzing up a room with unexpected shades. Transform an attic bedroom into an airy space by painting the floorboards pale blue. Mix patterns and colors to give a room a dynamic look. When setting the table for an alfresco lunch, dot each place setting with plump flowers. Guild divides the book into chapters on moods and their corresponding colors (e.g., ""joyful/vivacious/mandarin/citrus/cerise"" and ""pure/serene/mauve/sea green/aqua""). Whether readers desire a relaxed bedroom (try indigo) or a vibrant living room (go for berry), they should find plenty of inspiration in these pages.