Goodbye Fall Hues Hello Necco Wafer Colors

by Aracontent

(ARA) - Early spring is the perfect time to get rid of dusty fall accent colors and start thinking the soft, light hues of spring. Even if it's cold outside (or snowing for that matter), it's never too soon to brighten up your home for the warmer months ahead.

For Molly Deas, with the Interior Design faculty of The Art Institute of Portland, orange is a key color for spring. "Orange has gotten a bad rap, but I like to describe the new orange as a candlelight color," she explains. Along with orange, Deas likes blues, which she says are the new "sage." It is the warm and cool colors that work so well together and provide the right "balance," says Deas.

For an inexpensive yet dramatic way to add color to rooms for the spring, Deas is a big fan of paint.

"You can buy a can of paint for $16.95 so it's one of the best and budget-minded ways to dramatically change the look of a room," Deas says.

To get the right color for your home, Deas says most paint stores will provide a "draw down" which is sheet of paper, usually 8 1/2 x 11, painted with the color you request. It's bigger than a paint chip and much easier for judging what your room will look like. Room color changes depending on the time of day, so before you paint, make sure you look at your color samples in the morning, afternoon and evening light. Other great shades of colors for spring are dusty pastels, according to John Franke of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
"We'll be seeing a lot of them this spring -- shades of shrimp and mint," he says. "Get rid of dark accents and think Necco wafer colors."

To add inexpensive touches of color, Franke likes to browse clearance sections of favorite stores for home accessories with slight nicks or other damage, and then he adds a coat or two of spray paint in a great shade of white. "It's a fun and affordable way to add spring accents to your home," he adds.

Don't be afraid to throw a few summer furniture pieces into to the mix by adding a wicker table or chair to your living room or den, says Franke. Roll up heavy oriental rugs, take down dark draperies, and leave windows bare or with sheers. Add a basket of citrus fruits, like lemons, in a rough-hewn basket. "It's another wonderful and low-cost way to add punches of color for spring," says Franke, with the idea being to "let in as much light as possible."

In the south, Joan Faison, head of the Interior Design department of The Art Institute of Charlotte, says color palettes tend toward a "more traditional look." She sees yellow as the big spring color trend, "in a whole range of yellow shades -- brownish and golds -- with red and green accents."

Faison thinks the trend toward "happy colors" may have something to do with the events of Sept. 11, as they do with a resurgence of patriotic colors. Red, white and blue is more than just a trend, says Faison. For home design, patriotic colors are being done "with a more contemporary spin, which gives them a fresh approach," according to the designer.

Faison suggest getting inspired for spring by visiting a high-end furniture store gallery. These stores encourage people to come in, browse and get ideas on furniture arrangement, accessories and artwork.