Mind and Body
 
 

Home > Lifestyle > Home Decorating Center > Necco Wafer Colors
  Discussion Boards Free Newsletter Shopping Refer this page Readers Tips
 
Goodbye Fall Hues Hello Necco Wafer Colors
 

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.

 
The Author
 

The Art Institutes system of 24 educational institutions is located nationwide, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. The Art Institutes system of schools has provided career-oriented education programs for 40 years with more than 125,000 graduates. For more information visit The Art Institutes website at www.artinstitutes.edu/

Courtesy of ARA Content

 

More Decorating Articles

More Color Ideas

print this article

submit an article

refer this page to a friend
Related Links Related Books

Google
Web PT

Related Articles

Redecorating Your Nursery: Making Baby’s Room Safe

Turn Paneled Kitchen Cabinets into Glass Door Cabinetry

The Chi of Home Staging

A Better Life Through Interior Decorating

10 Tightwad Tips For Painting a Room

Why The History of Your Home is Important

What to Look For When Choosing Baby Furniture

The Feng Shui Bathroom: The Secret to Keeping your Money from Going Down the Drain

click for more

 

OUR NEWSLETTER
Enter your name and email address below to subscribe to our newsletter. It's FREE!
Name:
Email:

Decorating Forums

Home Decorating - Easy at home decorationg ideas, tips and solutions. Discuss your decorating ideas or pick up a few. Whether it's design for the spiritually inclined, rustic settings or the newest trends or colors, from the livingroom to the bathroom this area is for you.
 
click for more

  Channel Guide
The Crafting Business
Holidays Crafts
Weddings
Childrens Crafts
Craft Basics
General Crafts
Soap Making
Candle Making
Floral Crafts
Home Brews
Organizers
Dollar Savers
Dollar Savers 2
Car Expenses Savings
Home Decorating
Home Repairs
Seasonal
Healthy Cooking
Cooking Solutions
Meat and Seafood
Vegetables & Fruit
Sweets and Treats
Childrens Meals
Theme-Holiday
Cooking Basics
Herbs
Preserves
Uses For...
Weddings
Home Savings
Gardening Center
Pets
Home Cleaning Solution Center
Small / Home Business

 

Translate This Page
French / German / Italian / Japanese / Chinese / Russian / Spanish / Swedish

Contact us About Us Advertising Author Directory Privacy Terms Of Use Article Submissions Mind and Body
© Copyright 1999 - 2008 Pioneer Thinking. All Rights Reserved Worldwide
* tm; the property of Pioneer Thinking Company.
 
No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means
without the expressed permission of Pioneer Thinking
 
Optimized for MSIE 7 - Firefox 2 - 1280x800