Paint Choices Inspired by Nature

ACCENT ON NATURE Just as in nature, nothing looks more refreshing than a muted landscape punctuated with an unexpected burst of color. For paint color inspiration, you can look to your own backyards. A ripe tomato still on the vine, a bright yellow sunflower swaying in the breeze, even a blazing sunset, can offer inspiration for an eye-catching color scheme.

TRUE BLUE Blue, in all its tints and hues, has long been a favorite. In previous seasons’ trends, it has mostly been confined to the bedroom and the bathroom. But since blue is so prevalent in nature, it is now one of the most important colors in home décor. The latest clear, true blues are being used throughout the house, both as an accent color and as a color scheme anchor.

Blue’s popularity is extending to other colors as well, particularly with the emerging popularity of blue-based greens. The most modern greens take their inspiration from moss, pine and the lush vegetation of the rainforest.

DOWN TO EARTH Deep, dark chocolate brown, a popular color in recent seasons, will continue to factor into the earth tone palette. However, lighter tints such as beige, tan and other desert-toned hues offer a fresher take on the trend. They are an especially good choice for a color-shy homeowner, and ideally suited to pair with a bright-colored accent wall or metallic trim