Tara Dalla-Nora
Yourhome.ca

It’s time to experiment with colour again after a long period where neutrals and slight accent colours have seemed to monopolize interiors. Bolder and brighter paint colours, fabrics paired with gold or silver leaf finishes, and marbles and natural stones for furniture are all on trend for 2010.

Since colour is a subjective matter, it’s important to note that choosing a colour scheme that you can live with and enjoy is more important than following trends.

That said, I do see various shades of turquoise and acid yellow-green paired with greys becoming extremely popular in the coming year.

Here are my tips to help you be fearless in your colour and pattern choices this year:

Paint colours

Using Benjamin Moore colours as a reference point, bolder colours such as the turquoise shade Seafoam (2056-60) can be paired with a more sophisticated grey, like Horizon (OC-53), which really tones down the brightness and compliments the intensity of the turquoise. The grey can be used to paint a fireplace or baseboards. Use the same shade of grey, or another tone of the hue, in your larger furniture pieces, such as your soda. The turquoise can then become your secondary colour for occasional chairs, pillows, throws and drapery.

If this paint colour is too bold for your tastes, try a softer version such as Barely Teal (2048-70). Another colour that works well with turquoise is an acid yellow-green. Depending on the shade’s degree of saturation, it can make either a bold statement or visually tone down the intensity of the brighter colours. I like to use Lemongrass (CC-638).

Fabrics

Have fun and be daring with your fabrics as well. Try a plush and ornate pattern such as Cass-Peacock from Robert Allen, which has a rich velvety texture. The bold and bright pattern can be paired with something a bit more muted.

I found another Robert Allen fabric called Khanjali, in the colour Glacier, which encompasses all this season’s trendy colours on a simple white background. The classic white combined with softer tones of turquoise and yellow-green gives the fabric an air of sophistication.

Take risks and combine different types of patterns, too. An organic leaf pattern in velvet works well with a more sophisticated houndstooth pattern in softer shades of blue and green.

Keep it balanced

The trick to using bolder colours and patterns is making sure that there is a visual balance and that it’s not overdone.

Use softer versions of the colour to tone down the overall look of the space. This allows the brighter colours to act as eye-catching focal points without being overwhelming.

Combining bold colours with more muted tones will help ensure you enjoy the space for a longer period of time rather than grow tired of a passing trend.