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Home Decorating >> Spring
Colors << GailMcCauley Page
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The onset of the spring and summer 2003 season welcomes the introduction
of several distinctive palettes of color for the home. Color groups offer
homeowners unique options that reinforce the reoccurring desire for comfort,
strength and energy; as well as the ability to instill beauty and renewal
within the home. At the forefront of spring and summer’s residential
interior and exterior trends, optimistic and cleaner colors relay a feeling
of patriotism. Exciting intensities of reds and blues serve as prominent
color stories. Neutrals continue to play a major role in the color arena
through the layering of monochromatic shades of the same hue, or serving
as a backdrop for strong accent color schemes.
Upcoming color palettes may categorized into distinctive groups that create
a specific mood within the space. Soft tones portray a comforting ambience.
Fresh colors provide a breezy flair within an area. Rich tones highlight
deep shades that bring warmth to an otherwise cold room. The bright palette
provides contrast and creates a stimulating and fun atmosphere. Versatile
whites offer the flexibility to spotlight various distinctive tones that
may be present within the space. Neutrals consist of updated mid-tones that
are heavily inspired by nature.
The ‘soft’ palette consists predominantly of romantic shades of
pinks & reds. Dusty rose, muted mulberry, pale blush, carnation, pink
icing and cotton candy provide welcome comfort while hinting at gentle color.
Fresh shades of cool blues and greens such as aqua, azure, sky blue, turquoise,
teal and apple green lend an airy aura, ideal for compact areas with low
ceilings or rooms that lack natural light.
Rich shades of reds, blues and purples surface as shades of wine, clay, brick,
cranberry, midnight blue, deep nautical blue, grape and plum to provide bold
warmth within open concept homes or expansive areas that contain elevated
ceilings.
Vivid blues, greens, oranges and yellows appear as lively sapphire, royal,
 emerald,
lime, tangerine, nectarine, butterscotch and dandelion. Mixed with crisp
whites, these bright tones offer a lively atmosphere within even the darkest
spaces.
Flexible whites contain variations of ‘basic’ white and include
hints of pastels, cool pearly whites or creamy whites, such as ivory or vanilla.
An intriguing twist on traditional ‘white’ tones, these whites
bestow a contemporary spin on a timeless favorite, adding style and a tad
of color to any surface. An ideal way to introduce a specialty paint technique,
dimension and texture lend stylish character to flexible white tones.
Neutral tones take the form of natural themes and focus on hues such as sand,
ecru, tan, moss, fern, wheat, soapstone and straw. Consumers increased
preferences for natural materials such as woods, metals and stone particularly
harmonize with the added demand for the earthly neutral color palette.
There is never a better time than the present to consider a color
‘facelift’ for any or all of the home! Do-it-yourself enthusiasts
can start small by tackling simpler home improvement paint projects. Rather
than renovating an entire paint color scheme, consider injecting splashes
of any of the new seasons “hot” color vignettes onto various surfaces
within the home.
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