{nattyclay}

It’s important to consider that babies do see colors at birth, but they are not able to make sense of what’s what.  That’s because a baby’s brain is still developing.  So, objects seem to just blend together at first.  Also, it’s difficult for a baby to see the difference between similar colors, such as red and orange; blue and green.  That’s probably why most babies prefer bright colors and contrast…

{little crown interiors}

…and that is why I recommend that parents use a vibrant color scheme or introduce eye-catching accent colors in their baby’s room.

{apartment therapy}

{buy modern baby}

{the stir}

{spearmint baby}

{little crown interiors}

{design crisis}

If you prefer to stick with neutral walls, add pops of color with wall art, fabric and other accessories.

Babies learn fast and color can aid in their development.  God created a colorful world for a reason so there must be something that we gain from having color in our life straight from the start.

{via busydoor.com}

The trick is to select and combine the colors that you love, even if the palette seems unusual to others.  This is your personal space and you will work best in an environment that reflects what you like.  That is especially true when it comes to colors.  Color has the power to put us in a happy, creative mood — and that can lead to more productivity.

{via digsdigs.com}

{via digsdigs}

Even if you leave the walls white {which I hope you don’t}, be sure and stock up on colorful accessories and choose an office chair in your favorite hue.

{via cococozy}

If you’ve been thinking about creating an office at home but don’t think you have the space, the good news is — you don’t need a lot of space!  Create a ‘room’ of your own by using a spare closet:

{apartment therapy}

{via houzz}

OK…maybe vivid colors aren’t your thing.  You can still create an inspiring, glam space with neutrals such as gray like my fellow-blogger Kelly from jaxdoesdesign did with her fab home office:

{I love the splash of purple that Kelly used — it’s her favorite color.}

And don’t be afraid to use deeper colors.  This black office is very elegant, rich and powerful looking:

{atlanta home mag}

Not feeling courageous enough for black walls?  Try using black as an accent color to create contrast and drama:

{via digsdigs}

If you’re willing to give bold color a try, then the sky’s the limit.  This is your personal space, so don’t be shy!

{all-dreaming.com}

{via thelennoxx.com}

{finecomposition.com}

Some people may tell you not to use so much color in your office {or anywhere in your house} because you may “get tired of it.”  That may be the case for some, but not for true color lovers.  I used some of my favorite colors in my office a couple of years ago.  I still love it and can’t ever imagine the colors growing old on me:

{kelly porter}

{rex kelly}

This time I have few more, but the emphasis is on accent colors.  If you love retro and really want to work color in your space, these photos will give you ideas for creating a colorful, authentic look.

{Keep these colors in mind when looking through the photos.}

{justbesplendid.tumblr.com}

{rex kelly}

{met home}

{twentyfirstcenturyretro.com}

{flickr}

{alldoing.com}

{plastolux.com}

{distroarchitecture.com}

{dwr}

With so many websites, movies and a popular television series — Mad Men –  showcasing this style, mid-century modern is one of the hottest looks in design right now.

{veluxe interiors}

With it’s clean lines, big patterns and surprising use of color, this design trend defined the 1950′s and 60′s.  These days, many homeowners have turned to eBay, local thrift stores and flea markets to imitate this look.  This style is all about simplicity, function and mixing & matching — more people are adding modern pieces to their traditional decor.

{wary meyers}

When it comes to color schemes, for an authentic look go for neutrals, moss green, yellow-green, turquoise, pink, orange and harvest yellow.  And if you’re scouring second-hand stores for furniture or searching for reproductions, be on the lookout for Eames-inspired wire chairs, Saarinen tulip chairs and pedestal tables, and formed-wood pieces inspired by designers like Marcel Breuer.

{tasty decor}

{veluxe interiors}

{visualingual via houz}

{the washington post}

{modhomeec.com}

{asmallelf.com}

{elle decor}

Do you like mid-century modern?  If so, check back soon — my next post will be filled with more great ideas for decorating and choosing colors the retro way!

Jesus lives…Hallelujah!

{hgtv}

…those who prefer blue-greens, and those who favor yellow-greens {such as chartreuse}.  Many children and teens love the idea of having a bright yellow-green room. Manufacturers are also using this color for products targeted toward a younger crowd. While chartreuse is definitely a youthful hue, I’m also seeing more of it in grown-up, contemporary spaces. I recently blogged {at houzz.com} about the appeal of yellow-green and, while most people responded favorably, one reader described the color as ‘baby diaper green.’ That’s quite a description…”

–An excerpt from my Living Style column for Sherwin-Williams.

{lightlocations}

Chartreuse is one of the most eye-catching colors on earth — and not just because it’s so vibrant.  Red is vibrant, but we look at red and know exactly what color it is.  On the other hand, chartreuse intrigues us.  Is it green?  Is it yellow?  It looks like something gross…but it’s also kind of cool.

{design crisis}

{A pretty chartreuse and blue color scheme.  Photo by houseandhome.com.}

Chartreuse started showing up everywhere in the early 2000′s.  I believe this wave of warm green was similar to the avocado-green trend of the 60′s and 70′s.  But this new green had transformed into a color that was much more vivid.  Could this comeback be linked to this guy?…

It’s quite possible that chartreuse has become a hot color because of the movie character Shrek.  That would also explain the color’s popularity among the younger set.  And what’s hot in popular culture eventually works its way into home design:

{katy ridder}

{bhg}

{decorpad}

{adesignstory}

{flickriver}

{ideal home}

{amy butler}

For a monochromatic color scheme use chartreuse with other types of green {as shown in the room above}.  Or create a look that is more lively by adding turquoise, pink, purple or orange.  To tone down your palette include white, black, brown or gray in your chartreuse room.  This color fits into any design style — from a traditional dining room to a modern bedroom — so don’t limit your possibilities when choosing chartreuse.

Spring blossoms are blooming ahead of schedule and they are bigger than ever — all thanks to a mild winter.  So, I decided to grab my camera and head out into the yard to capture these gorgeous colors before they fade away.  I used my photos as inspiration for three color schemes that you can incorporate into your home with paint and accent colors.

When using these colors, be creative and don’t worry about following any so-called color rules.  I just read something about the “60-30-10″ rule which states that you should choose a main color for 60% of your room, a secondary color for 30% and an accent hue for 10%.  My thoughts on that rule — break it!

I’ve done several rooms where I painted one color on two opposing walls, used a second color on the other two walls, and chose two more colors for accessories and fabric.  It’s a fun look and my clients love it.  I hope you were inspired to try something romantic, retro or radiant today!

All photos by Kelly Porter

Next Post:  Choose Chartreuse

{cre8tivedesign via houzz}

It’s time for you to throw caution to the wind and paint a room fuchsia.  But first, you may need to change your mindset…

{home interior tips}

{niba home}

…Also known as hot pink and magenta, fuchsia is not just for baby girls, little girls or girly girls.  Fuchsia is a glam, sultry and sassy color that is very grown up.

{solid frog}

When decorating with fuchsia, pay close attention to the color’s undertones.  If you want a look that is sugary-sweet and feminine, use a fuchsia that has violet undertones {as in the room shown above}.  For a room that feels chic and sexy, choose a warmer pink with red undertones:

{alamaisonbleue}

{elle decor}

{elle decor}

And if you want your decor to be bohemian or globally-inspired, choose a fuchsia and orange color scheme.

{archzine}

In countries such as India, Morocco and Mexico, you often see bright pink paired with orange.  It’s a bold color combination but it’s also festive and fun.  Remember, color is a tool.  So, use it to fix that dark, deary room and make it feel more alive.

Click Here to see more globally-inspired color ideas using fuchsia.

{caperace via houzz}

You may recall seeing this design in my last post {by John David Edison}:

The color combination of turquoise, fuchsia and chartreuse is one of my faves.  These colors look amazing together, but they are also stunning when used alone.  So, I decided to focus on each of these hues in upcoming posts beginning with turquoise.

{sea side style}

Turquoise represents the color of the sea so it makes us feel very refreshed.  This color is a mix of blue, a calming hue, and green, a color of balance and harmony.  Although it’s a very relaxing color, homeowners are not just choosing turquoise for the bedroom.

{apartment therapy}

{dreamsicle day}

Turquoise is a popular color for the kitchen, home office, and living room.  I had a client who used turquoise as the main paint color for her condo.  Not surprising, considering many of us are constantly on the go and ‘plugged in’ to technology.  This is a great color for unwinding and relieving stress.

{decorpad}

{flickr}

Lighter tints of turquoise are usually referred to as aqua.  Mid-tones are sometimes called azure or robin’s egg blue.  And deeper shades are considered teal.  When deciding how light or dark to go, think about the mood you want to create and factor in your room’s lighting and overall style.

{caperace}

{solarsea}

CLICK HERE to see more paint color and decorating ideas using turquoise.

The interior design in this Florida home was done by John David Edison.  I’ll take a guess and say that the homeowners love color and wanted to incorporate it throughout the house.  Tons of decorating ideas here!

Check out the black trim and chandeliers in the main area.  As you know, I’m not a big fan of white walls but with so many delicious colors in this room, going with white on the walls was the best choice.  I love the turquoise, fuchsia and chartreuse color scheme!

And I was pleasantly surprised to see a black powder room and other great paint colors in the bedrooms.

I admire how the designer boldly used a combination of colorful fabrics and different paint colors in this home.  That can be a scary thing to do, but this design shows us that it can be done well.  So, what are you waiting for?  It’s time to live in color!

Photos from John David Edison Interior Design, Inc.