Colorful Living

Learn how to use color to create a vibrant living space, a wardrobe you love, and a life filled with wonder in this practical guide from the color expert and DIY maven behind The Crafted Life.

Color can influence your feelings, affect your moods, control how you interact with your home, and even change how you feel about yourself. In Colorful Living, writer, photographer, and professional color consultant Rachel Mae Smith explains why color is so powerful and how you can use it to brighten up your world.

After a fascinating (and painless!) introduction to color theory, Rachel takes you step by step through your home (walls, furniture, decor, art), your closet (clothing, jewelry, shoes, accessories), and other aspects of your lifestyle, sharing simple, creative, and fun ways to add pops of your desired colors everywhere. Identify your favorite shades and create a calming reading nook, a power outfit, or an entryway that makes guests feel welcome.

Easy-to-follow exercises help you define your personal color palette and inspire you to harness the power of color in your life. Rachel's ideas are accessible, affordable, and designed for longevity—because when you mindfully choose items based on colors and styles that make you happy (versus those that social media says you should buy), you're more likely to love what you have.

This one-of-a-kind, vividly illustrated guide to color will help you liven up your life, whether you love chartreuse, light gray, hot pink, haint blue—or all four at the same time.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs