Nature paints a peaceful palette

DEAR DEBBIE: I'm struggling to decorate my living and dining rooms in a way that will be peaceful but not boring. I started with off-white walls and have slipcovered the sofa and dining chairs in white cotton canvas. The floors are honey-stained hardwood. A big window at the front brightens the living room but not so much in the dining room. What's next? -- Francie.

DEAR FRANCIE: From the steps you have already taken, it sounds like you associate white with a peaceful environment but can't move on from there. While it's true that the many shades of white are connected to a peaceful and tranquil state, there are so many more colors you can play with to produce a calm yet thoughtful space.

Colors that soothe the senses are those found in nature -- earth, sea and sky. Instead of white walls, why not try the warmer shades of lavender, as shown in this dining-room vignette?

Create interest with an imaginative mix of natural fibers and textures. A wooden table runner and woven place mats are tactile opposites to a smooth, glossy painted table top. An embossed white vase holding a delicate arrangement of tall grasses and an Asian-inspired silk cushion each add their own restful notes to the room's overall mood.

Add color and accessories to your rooms slowly. Don't overcrowd; you want your furnishings, and you, to have room to breathe.

DEAR DEBBIE: Our bathroom is long and narrow, 10 feet by 3 1/2 feet. As you stand at the door, straight ahead is the toilet with a window above it (not a great focal point!). To the right are the sink and cabinets in oak, then the shower. We would appreciate your opinion on how to decorate. We prefer paint rather than wallpaper. -- Judy.

DEAR JUDY: Paint is an amazing decorating tool. It's quite remarkable how the right color and pattern can visually alter a room. Horizontal stripes will keep the eye moving around the room, and they aren't difficult to paint.

I would paint wide stripes on the long window wall and two side walls, leaving the wall with the vanity and shower plain. The horizontal stripes should be at least 8 inches wide, but you could make them as large as 16 to 20 inches. The fatter the stripes, the less taping there is to do.

Use a level and chalk line to keep the stripes straight and even. Choose colors that suit your style. Navy blue and white is a classic combination that is fresh and lively. Pink and chartreuse is young and happy, black and gray stripes will produce a dramatic setting. Make the window important with a colorful blind that matches one of the stripes, and that's where your eye will go.

DEAR DEBBIE: The ceiling in my condo living room is broken up with a 10-inch-deep bulkhead that extends 2 feet out for the full length of a long wall. Near the big end window it juts out even more. I'm painting the walls yellow/gold and would like to know which part of the bulkhead to paint to get the best effect. Thanks for your help. -- Terry.

DEAR TERRY: This is a good question. Bulkheads are common in new condos and can visually chop up the lines of a room and lower the ceiling. It's best to paint them out, which means paint the bottom and sides the same as your wall color. When the bulkhead is treated as an extension of the wall, it will help raise the ceiling and give a more cohesive feel to your room.

Debbie Travis is a columnist for King Features Syndicate. E-mail questions to her at house2home@debbietravis.com.