Chic Color Palettes From Nature

Let’s talk about color, shall we?  Today, I want to share some of my color secrets with you. Well, they are not really secrets, but they are useful tips to help you transform your home into the haven you deserve.  Spring is the perfect time to freshen things up from a long, drab winter and the dulls-ville existence you can get into.  One of the things I find the most inspiring when it comes to interior color palettes is good, old Mother Nature.

Next time you are at the park or on a walk, take a good look around you. What colors really stand out to you?  What brings a smile to your face?  Is it the cardinal flitting around in the crisp white blossoms of an apple tree?  Could it be a soup of lavender, smokey gray, and peachy-pink marking an amazing sunset?  No matter what the inspiration, you can translate it into a color scheme for your home.

Here’s how…

Springtime Savvy

It’s easy to see how this dogwood tree makes a statement among the greens of the neighboring foliage and the crisp white house. Now, in order to take nature’s best home, you first need to decide on which hue will be the primary background color for your room.  In this case, it could be any one of the three predominant colors in this photo; however, think about what emotion you want to feel in the room.

A clean, white backdrop (wall color) and a celedon-sage green accent as the secondary color give you ample opportunity to have some fun with the peachy-pink “dogwood tree” pop color. Get some good color pencils and experiment with putting the colors together in various combinations, or if you are computer savvy, do it in a design program.

Here’s an example:

If you prefer more color, then simply swap either the green or the pink with the white. You could always do green walls, white trim, white furniture, and pink accents.  Experiment with the amounts of color until you get it just right for you.

Most hardware and paint stores will make up sample cans for you, so you can actually test them in the room. Keep in mind, you’ll need to look at paint samples and fabrics at several times of day and when it’s dark to get the full spectrum of hues various lighting conditions produce.

Colors will also play off of each other. For example, this green and pink are complimentary colors, so they will look more intense when placed together.  Again, try various combinations to find the right palette and arrangement of objects in your room.

That’s all for this week.  Stay connected for the next Inside Moves, when I will attempt my first Vlog (video blog).  Until then, happy decorating!