It’s time to shrug off winter’s chill and let the spring in. And there is no better way to celebrate the arrival of warmer weather than by fearlessly injecting some warm, bright hues into your home décor, says British interior design writer Will Taylor, color aficionado behind the popular Bright Bazaar blog.

“The days are slowly growing longer and the stores are already starting to fill up with an array of colorful new products as the spring collections filter in. There is no season better suited to refreshing your home than spring,” he says.

Taylor believes people should decorate with colors they love, expressing their personalities, inspirations and even dreams through the colors they choose and combine in their living spaces. His new book, “Bright Bazaar’s Dream Décor: Styling a Cool, Creative, Comfortable Home, Wherever You Live” (Jaqui Small, 2016) offers tips and techniques presented room, object and hue.

Traditionally, neutral white, ivory, taupe and beige are the colors of choice for walls and the overall color scheme of a room, Taylor says. But he sees a definite shift to the use of tinted neutrals. “More people are gravitating towards pale blue-green colors for their base palettes,” Taylor says.

A powdery sky blue can enhance the spirit of a space without being too loud, Taylor says, flattering rather than dominating the objects and art in a room.

Taylor’s tips for embracing spring color:

1. Choose a palette

What colors attract you? Look at your clothing and home accessories for hints. Homeowners do not need to decide on a full range of colors immediately. Rather, gradually build up an idea of your own perfect palette before deciding how to redecorate or repaint.

Taylor suggests thinking green for spring. “Chose a soft, washed-out mint shade for the walls or paint a wooden desk in a more saturated green, like pistachio,” he says. Those colors are fresh and invigorating, yet not too saccharine.

Invite bolder, daring splashes of color into the room in the form of soft furnishings and decorative accessories. “Perhaps a yellow throw on a white couch or a collection of dusty pink and hot neon pink vases on a sideboard,” says Taylor.

2. Focus, focus, focus

Perhaps a homeowner already knows the colors he or she prefers, but struggles to find a starting point. Taylor suggests honing in on one key item, a rug, a vase or a painting. “Pick a key piece for your scheme and use it as the reference point for the rest of the palette and room design,” advises Taylor. The approach helps narrow your options and creates consistency.

Colorful chairs can be a great way to bring color into a room.

“Pepper a series of different colored wooden chairs around a dining table or re-upholster a series of retro finds from a flea market,” says Taylor.

Be daring. Paint a few occasional chairs in an offbeat hue to bring a sense of fun to a room. “Take the chance to dip your toes into a new hue and create a color statement,” Taylor says. Chairs in a single hue of graduating shades will create a focal point when placed around a dining table.

3. Consider lighting

The natural light available in a room may be the biggest factor in determining how the colors you choose for walls and furnishings will appear. Stick with warm tones in a north-facing room with its cool light, Taylor suggests. South-facing spaces call for lighter shades, he says.

Lighting fixtures are a great way to quickly brighten or add drama to a room. For a fast, inexpensive upgrade, “Switch out a lamp shade beside the bed for a brighter design,” Taylor says. A simple shade can transform an ordinary piece into something that looks fresh and eye-catching.

 

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