27 April 2011

Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the signs of economic recovery. Or maybe it’s just time for light, bright colors to accent our lives.  Whatever the reason, color trends in home decorating this spring seem to emphasize feel-good colors that can enhance moods as well as brighten our surroundings.

As you dig into your spring cleaning, look for new ways to use old objects – repaint, recover or resituate. If you want to spruce up a room that hasn’t been changed for a while, look at adding a vase, lampshade or sofa pillows, or painting a door -- in turquoise, coral or citrus yellow.

These colors will make you smile and signal a season of rebirth in your home.

Says interior designer Debbie Sitzmann at California Design Center, “We’re getting away from Tuscan and Old World colors and desert colors this year. People still like Southwest and Mexican design, but we’re seeing more contemporary colors with clean lines.”

Upholstery, window treatments, even furniture pieces can carry these uplifting colors.

TURQUOISE
There are various shades of turquoise, so play with several paint or fabric samples to see which one gives the desired effect – a sunny beach vibe, a sassy eye-popping wall, a sense of cool relaxation. Turquoise mixes well with many other colors, from white or neutrals to bright reds and golds. Use the ocean hues of turquoise to repaint an old table or mirror frame, or in new decorator pieces or accent walls.

CORAL
Another happy color designed to celebrate the recovering economy is coral – which is great paired with turquoise and other blues or earth tones, especially in wood pieces. It refreshes a room and adds warmth and coziness.  

Coral works well in any room, in tropical prints, or as an accent. It’s very much at home in Southwestern décor – deep coral with strong turquoise and red, or a softer shade with sand and yellows and pinks for a sunset feel or a more feminine flavor

CITRUS YELLOW
Southern Arizona’s sun itself and its abundant citrus suggest another shade that many people find energizing and happy – citrus yellow.  Mix it with green or blue to bring nature into your living room.  Or use it in whatever way spreads sunshine in your home!

WHITE
White is another room brightener that refreshes for spring. Combine white with other invigorating spring shades to open up a room and infuse light.

Whatever their effects on you, this spring’s decorating colors will help lighten your home and your life.

California Design Center is located in Steam Pump Village at 11085 N. Oracle Road. They’re open seven days a week and by appointment; call (520) 742-3737 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (520) 742-3737      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.  Their designers are always available to help you turn your dreams into reality.