The Complete Color Directory

An invaluable tool for every kind of home decorating decision, this directory packs comprehensive information about color into one handy, pocket-size format. Arranged in rainbow order with removable, perforated color swatches at the end of each color section, the book gives readers a range of hues to consider. For example, the red section shows pure red swatches alongside hues achieved by adding different percentages of other colors to red, so readers can select the right nuance of red for a particular decorating need.

Each color section covers the same pertinent topics: color in daylight versus artificial light; color texture and its relation to hue; and how to organize given colors into auspicious combinations. Recipes for mixing paints, washes, and varnishes are also provided, and a card “viewer” enables readers to isolate single colors or look at pairs together.

Alice Westgate, a freelance writer whose articles appear regularly in fine home furnishings magazines, lives in London.