Guest Blogger

Hello, everyone. It’s Joanna Crain here from Arcadian Home blog, a fabulous place to find lots of interior design inspiration for using wall art and an array of light fixtures from beautiful contemporary floor lamps to ornate chandeliers and much more. I’m so happy to be guest posting here at Your Decorating Hotline.

To inspire your own decorating projects, I’ve pulled together images of eight rooms with soft color palettes. From a living room in blue to a minty traditional bath, these spaces are all dressed up in appealing pale hues.   You’ll be able to see just how well soft colors work in all sorts of rooms and design styles. Please enjoy!

Via HouseBeautiful

A soft color palette works to create a light and airy feel or to allow an element other than color to be the focal point in a space.  Here, beautiful arched windows are the focal point in a lofty traditional living room with a neutral palette in shades of beige.  Draping those stunning windows in pale blue panels falling from ceiling height to the floor makes them even more visually interesting.  Adding blue in the patterned toss pillows ties the room together nicely.

Via Style at Home

Pale color palettes can add an appealingly feminine look to a room.  Great French style abounds in this elegant living room.  The soft color palette is anchored with a deeper hue on the sofa and tufted ottoman turned coffee table.  Decorative trays hold antique books and lovely found objects.

Via Crush Cul de Sac

When it’s important for a space to flow seamlessly from indoors to out, a pale palette can help do that.  Open to the patio and pool beyond, a contemporary room is stylish and inviting in several shades of white and a few pale hues.  Extravagantly puddled draperies at the French doors subtly add a formal feel to the space.

Via Chris Barrett Design

Sometimes an all white palette is just too, well, white.  Brown tones soften the stark whites in this open living space.  Bar stools, contemporary wood floor lamp with linen shade, rattan and metal table and knitted throw warm up an otherwise cool design.

Via House & Home

Certain pale tones just evoke images of Mid-Century style.  This modern living room has a distinctly retro vibe with a pale color palette and iconic egg chair.  Adding minty narrow wood trim around the windows and above the high chair rail adds architectural interest to the space.  I love the simple modern pendant light hung low over the coffee table.

Via Centsational Girl

Pale colors can work well in a small space to make it feel larger and more open.  A slightly glam and very contemporary room for a teenager is pretty with a pale color palette.  The walls read as soft color even though the wallpaper is actually a pattern–a tiny geometric print.

Via Recaptured Charm

Pale hues also work well in farmhouse or country homes.  This vintage bath is charming in soft green, robin’s egg blue and pale turquoise.

Via Style at Home

Not all period spaces need to be filled with dark stained woods and patterned walls.  Paint in pale hues can bring out the beauty in great architectural elements.  This traditional bath is beautiful with crisp white architectural details, painted minty walls and pastel towels and decorative accessories.

What do you think of these soft color palettes? Leave your thoughts below and be sure to stop by our blog for more home decor and interior inspirations!

Thanks, Joanna!

We enjoyed seeing the softer side of color presented by Joanna and we hope you did too.  Remember, if you’re struggling with color we can help.  Our e-book, How to Successfully Use Color in Home Decorating, provides 100 pages of clearly written and valuable information that is supported with images and illustrations.  And, for less than it costs for a quality gallon of paint, we’re happy to help you with a personal color consultation. 

If you’ve stayed away from using a floral print because you’re uncomfortable combining it with other florals or with different patterns or designs, don’t worry.   Use the tips and ideas outlined in this post and learn how to successfully incorporate florals into any space in your home.

Size Does Matter

Pay attention to the scale or size of the floral print(s) you select and you’ll more easily create the look you desire.  A large size floral print tends to look modern while the same floral in a repeating mini version can look vintage, feminine or sweet.

Via trendzona.com

Consider the floral covering the base of the bed – this large scale print includes old fashioned roses and a portrait yet it looks very modern and fits this contemporary room.  Now imagine if this same print was reduced down to a small scale and repeated over and over – it would present a very old fashioned look, even though the content is the same.  Size matters, so think about the final look you’re going for in your space when choosing a floral.

Mixing Florals

Just as beautiful gardens bloom with a variety of flowers, you can effectively mix different floral prints in your home.  The key to making a variety of florals work is the background color.  Selecting prints with the same background color helps unify the patterns.

Via housebeautiful.com

Notice in the photo above there is one floral print on the rug, a second floral on the chairs,  a third on the toss pillows and a fourth on the drapes.  Four different florals but they’re all tied together with the light background.

Photo trendzona.com

This blue living room features two floral prints and two other prints (stripe on sofa and lattice on pillow).  All four of the prints are tied together with generous white backgrounds – unifying the look.

When mixing floral patterns varying the size of the prints helps create interest and an attractive mix.  You’ll find it’s easy to mix a large floral print, a medium floral print, and a small floral print if the background color is the same for each.

Via bhg.com

Notice the tiny floral pattern on the bed pillows, the medium floral on the bedspread and the blinds, and the large floral on the toss pillow.  A variety of floral sizes – but they all connect niceily thanks to a white background.  White also ties the sheet’s lattice print and the modern rectangular block print on the toss pillows in with the florals.

Adding Florals to Other Patterns

Color is also key to mixing floral prints with other patterns. Pick a palette of two or three colors – take your inspiration from area rugs, curtains, upholstery or bedding – and add floral prints that use the same two or three colors.

Via southernliving.com   Styled Buffy Hargett  Photo Van Chaplin, Charles Walton

In this room the chairs’ floral upholstery provides a burst of color in an otherwise tranquil room.  The room’s palette is pulled from the floral print – green (pillows), blue (patterned area rug and painted niches) and cranberry (3 mantel vases).  All of these colors can also be seen in the art over the mantel.  Expanses of white and neutral browns link everything together.

If your room contains a very busy or detailed pattern, pair it with a large floral print that features a lot of background so the room isn’t overwhelmed with too many intricate patterns. And if you’ve already selected a very large pattern of some sort, add a medium or smaller print to balance the print sizes in the room.

The large floral print rug sets the color story for the medium size floral print on two sofa pillows and two of the of the same colors are used in the chair’s medium zebra print chair and on the small animal print the pillow by the throw.

Highlighting Florals

When you mix solid colors with your selection of florals and other prints, the prints will really stand out.

Photo trendzona.com

Notice how the floral and stripe pillow stand out on the solid  whitesofa and the solid color of the chair emphasizes the pillow’s floral print.  The solid color walls do the same for the floral drapes and the striped wallpaper.

More than Fabric

Florals on fabric aren’t the whole decorating story.

Photo trendzona.com

Look for floral prints on tile,

Photo trendzona.com

on wall art,

Photo worldmarket.com

on ceramics,

Photo lampsplus.com

on lamps and overhead fixtures, wallpaper, rugs and accessories.  Use the same guidelines for mixing these floral designs as you would for textile floral prints.

Welcome May Flowers

So say “goodbye” to April showers and “hello” to a room decorated with May flowers.  By following these guidelines you’ll be able to confidently add florals to your decorating and watch you rooms bloom!

If you would like help with mixing florals and patterns in your home, remember Terrie and I offer personal consultations and would love to work with you.

At this time of year it’s SO easy to take your clippers and go for a walk through your local flower shop – your yard.   Cut blooms, trim branches, cut leaves or grasses, and bring them indoors.  The longer the branch, the more exotic shape the leaf, the more dramatic presentation you’ll create in your home.

Cut a Branch

Cut long branches for the highest impact.

Photo via HabituallyChic.blogspot.com

The bright yellow of forsythia is always a welcome spring color and it’s a prolific bloomer, easy to trim and bring some branches indoors.

Photo via Shelterness.com

Even if the branches that are available to you don’t have pretty blooms, they can still be dramatic.  The height alone makes them eye catching.  The branches above tower above the other accessories and really scream spring.

Photo via Houzz.com

A plain, simple clear vase disappears and lets the branches take center stage.

Photo via 123rf.com

Not every yard has trees or shrubs with nice long branches to trim.  A handful of branches of any length placed in a colorful vase and placed on the kitchen counter, in the powder room, beside your bed, or on your desk can be enough to remind you it’s spring.

Photo via AHomeinTheMaking.blogspot.com

Introduce a touch of whimsy by placing branches in boots, in a pitcher, in anything surprising.  It the container isn’t water tight or might be damaged with water, place a vase inside to hold the water and branches.

Simple Flower Arrangements

After a long, dark, cold winter, we’re all eager to embrace and show off spring.  We love seeing the crocus followed by tulips then the blooming cherry and magnolia trees.  Whatever stage your spring is currently in, bring a little of it indoors to help you get through the occasional rainy or cool day.

Apartment dwellers and even some home owners might not have ready access to branches.  That’s okay.  Spring can be as close as your local grocery store or farmer’s market.  Pick up a bunch of daffodils, tulips, alstromeria or lilacs.  If you can, add a bunch of something green – lots of stores have eucalyptus or asparagus fern or similar to use as a filler and to help hold the flowers in place.

Photo via Houzz.com

A single sprig of lilac (or blooming branch of your choice) in a mason jar, jelly jar, bottle, or pitcher can be a simple and effective reminder of spring.

Photo via Decor4All.com

If you have a collection of vases in a single color (or all clear), put a branch or two in each vase – often a collection makes a stronger presentation than a single vase stuffed with branches.  Cluster the vases in the center of a dining table (or patio table); use a grouping on the mantel; show off your vase and branch collection on an entry table.

Photo via PotteryBarn.com

A great way to showcase flowers with short stems or only a very few blooms is to cut them to a length that has the blossom rest on the edge of the vase.  Or, cut the stem super short and let it sit in the center of a small vase like a water lily.  You could even use a pretty tumbler or highball glass for this.

Photo via TrueColorsFloral.com

The easiest way to make a pretty and professional looking flower arrangement is to cut the stems of your flowers and greens so that they are all about the same length and short enough to rest on the edge of the container.  The flowers will naturally form a round mound of color and if you choose a mix of flowers (various sizes and shapes) the arrangement will be interesting and full of texture.

I’ve written some detailed how-to posts to give you more instruction and help in creating your own flower arrangement – check out Make a Fabulous Rose Arrangement, Make a Basic Floral Arrangement, and Easy Tulip Arrangement.

Welcome Spring!

Let’s all welcome spring with open arms – many of you recently had snow and it’s really time to put that season behind us!  Be sure to make time and energy to really enjoy this season.  Look for ways to incorporate the fresh, green outdoors inside your home.  How have your brought the outside in?  What’s your favorite go-to container?  What’s your favorite branch or flower to use?

There are some even more magical paint finishes – paints that add bling to any surface and others on which you can write or draw then erase it and do it again.

Presto-Chango – New surfaces!

You’ve probably heard about, seen, or even used chalkboard paint.   But did you know you’re not limited to the usual green or black color of chalkboards past?  Chalkboard paint comes in an array of colors now that Benjamin Moore makes any of their colors into chalkboard paint.  That means you’ll find chalkboard colors that coordinate with every decor.

Photo benjaminmoore.com

Paint a wall with chalkboard paint and use it as a calendar.

Photo benjaminmoore.com

Paint the inside of a cupboard door for a handy “To Do” or grocery list.

Photo benjaminmoore.com

Paint a child’s table with chalkboard paint and kids can draw on it, play tic-tac-toe, or challenge a friend to a game of checkers.  Paint the family kitchen table and enjoy the same fun or write names above the place settings, call out the offerings on a buffet or leave on-the-run messages in the morning.

Another paint lets you create a dry-erase surface on a variety of items.  Write and draw on it with special pens and markers.

Photo remarkablecoating.com

Turn a wall into a giant dry-erase work board in your home office.

Photo ideapaint.com

Create a dry-erase menu board or shopping list in the kitchen.

Photo ideapaint.com

Decorate a child’s bedroom or playroom using dry-erase paint and let their creativity shine.

If you covet stainless steel appliances transform your current kitchen with paint.

Photo liquidstainlesssteel.com

Paint your white fridge so it looks like a brushed stainless steel.

Photo liquidstainlesssteel.com

Ovens go from olive green to stainless with paint.

Photo liquidstainlesssteel.com

Take a shine to door hardware refurbished with stainless paint.

Photo liquidstainlesssteel.com

An old faucet looks fabulous painted to look like stainless steel.

Mirror, mirror – create your own with spray paint.   Transform a plain piece of glass to look like mercury glass with the simple push of a button.

Photo marthastewart.com

Krylon Looking Glass®- Mirror Like Paint is the primary material for creating these antique candle holders. Create these beautiful accessories using these instructions.

Photo krylon.com

A DIY project transforms clear glass into an elegant mirrored jar.  You can do it with mirror like paint!

Photo krylon.com

An old frame with its glass intact is the basis for creating this antique looking mirrored tray.  Spray the back of the glass and go from there.

And there you have it – four fabulous and magical paints to help transform your decorating:  colored chalkboard paint; dry-erase paint; stainless steel finish paint; and mirror paint.  Which one will you try first?