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Redo You: Design with Elaine Griffin
Spring is the perfect time to shake up your home's decor and one stylish way to do that is to use color. Today, the contributing design editor of "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine, Elaine Griffin offers tips on how to do it the right way.
What are the hot wall colors this season?
You need to shake up the traditional colors (like white and beige) on your walls with great spring colors. They're fun, vibrant and bring great personality to any room. Some hot colors right now are Calypso Blue, Bay Blue and Rasberry Truffle and they all go so well together so you can incorporate them all on your walls. But don't forget your greens! Avocado colors are on trend and great for spring.
Test paint colors before applying.
You should always test your paint color on a small portion of the wall. Also, make sure you see the color at three points in the day; morning, afternoon and evening. I also suggest looking at the color at the times of the day you spend most in that room. Kitchen in the morning, etc. The light at different times of the day can make the color look different and you want to make sure you like it before you commit the whole wall.. Additionally, we have a new feature on our website that allows you to upload a picture of your space and try out paint colors before heading to the store or picking up a brush. You can find links to it on thetalk.com.
Incorporate vintage prints.
Vintage prints are very "in" right now, BUT they are not a trend that will last. I would suggest decorating vintage with small inexpensive accessories. They will be perfect for now and then you won't be upset to lose them when the "vintage" look in no longer popular. The easiest way to add a spot of brightness in your living room is throw pillow. Incorporate this trend by adding new throw pillows in various colors/subtly-patterned to makeover your sofa. You don't have to use the pillows that came w/ your sofa, but you CAN use the inserts with bold, colorful new pillow covers.
Use colored lampshades.
I will tell you a secret that a lot of people don't seem to know; if you buy a lamp that comes with a lampshade, the two don't have to stay together forever. People buy these lamps and then just stick with whatever lamp shade came with it. Maybe not in the past, but nowadays it is easy to buy a lampshade on its own. And it's not expensive. For spring and summer you should use bright colors like yellow or blue. Then when fall and winter come around you can just change the lampshade to a darker color like black. If you have a lamp that isn't in the best condition or isn't the most fabulous, you can really "shake it up" by getting a fantastic lamp shade. Lampshades are also a great way to incorporate the vintage look we talked about earlier.
Try colorful vases and trays.
These are just great ways to add a pop of color to your space. I have decided that you absolutely have to have some sort of tray on your coffee table. It's a great way to corral all the miscellaneous items you leave on the table and it can add a cool color to the room. This is another easy item that you can change out with the seasons. Adding colorful vases can also dress up your space. Put some out in bright colors and arrange in a trio in varying heights.
What is the best way to bring spring flowers into our homes?
Nothing says spring like flowers! A mass of single-color blooms for the table, counter, or bedside makes a huge impact. No need to go for expensive blooms when there are so many affordable blooms like carnations! I recommend grouping flowers of the same or similar shades and placing them around the room for a great effect.
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