Furniture—Trim—Side Walls—Ceilings
Backgrounds
The side walls of a room form the background for furniture; trim, wall brackets, and similarly related objects; therefore the closest relation and harmony should be maintained between them.
Value Range of Wood Stains
The wood stains 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18, [Plate 65], as they appear on various kinds of wood are, in part, duplicates of the unapplied stains of [Plate 64], [Figure 456]. The effect of the wood has changed their values and in some instances their color as can be seen by comparing the two plates. Their new relations have been plotted on the hue rectangles of [Figure 457], [Plate 65], and the results joined by a dotted line. The circles in the diagrams contain cross reference figures in order that the stains may be traced without difficulty. The highest value is near middle (18), and the lowest is low dark (6), showing a value range of four steps.
Value Range of Side Walls
The side walls, taken from well-known wall tint catalogs have been similarly plotted in [Figure 457], and the results joined together by a heavy black line. The lightest value is light (11), and the darkest is middle value (14), an average range of three steps slightly above middle value.
Value Range of Ceilings
Ceilings are the lightest of the surfaces considered. Their range is from slightly below white (10), to light (16), a range of two values. From the results, as plotted in [Figure 457], it is seen that there is a tendency to keep the ceilings within a close range of values. The results have been joined together by means of a double black line. There are exceptions to these results, but it is quite safe to keep well within the suggested range for harmonious results. We may now draw the following rules as a result of an empirical method of deduction.
Rule 12a. An average wood stain is to be retained between the values middle and low dark.
Rule 12b. An average wall hue is to be retained between the values light and middle.
Rule 12c. An average ceiling hue is to be retained between the values white (minus) and light.
Value Range of Side Walls and Wood Work
Averaging the value range between the wood work which includes the furniture, trim, and the side walls of [Figures 458], [459], [460], [461], [462], and [463], we find that the range varies from five values in [Figures 459] to slightly more than one in [Figure 463]. As the side walls and furniture are to be regarded as unobtrusive settings for pictures and people it is well to be very conservative with the use of values. A wide range of values will cause a lack of unity. In this respect [Figure 459] may be regarded as approaching the extreme limit of contrasts of value compatible with good taste. Let us, therefore, limit the value range to four values, as, for example: low light for side walls and dark for stain.
Rule 12d. The relation between the side walls and furniture, trim, etc., should be retained within the range of four values or less, as low light and dark.
Value Range of Side Walls and Ceilings
The ceiling and side walls in [Figure 459] are four values apart and in [Figure 463] this has been reduced to a one-value step. There seems to be a common average of three values as an acceptable and agreeable contrast. For dark rooms this would well be increased. For rooms with light side walls the contrast would be considerably lessened.
Rule 12e. The relation between side walls and ceiling should be within the range of three values or less, as high light and low light.