Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 8, Issue 5, May 2004

Copyright 2004 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.

DECORATING DILEMMAS:

This year's 'in' colors: complex neutrals

By ROBIN DALY

Dear Robin,

Before I start painting, I'm curious to know what the latest color trends are these days. Any suggestions?

Beyond Beige in Ballard

Dear Beyond,

There are some really interesting influences we are seeing today in colors for both interiors and exteriors.

If it's been a few years since you've painted, then you are in for a color treat. Most people repaint their homes every seven years or so, and colors schemes have really developed some interesting palettes recently.

One color trend that is currently blazing strong in our Seattle neighborhoods is the use of complex neutrals. What the heck is a complex neutral? If that sounds like an oxymoron to you, visualize this Khaki pants. Most of us would call khaki pants neutral beige. Tasty, goes with anything, inoffensive. But I'd think we'd all agree that it's a tad safe.

Now take those pants and add some nice bottom-of-the-pond muddy undertone to them and then you have a complex neutral. See? The undertone adds depth and interest to an otherwise typical color. It also creates an interesting play with the light both during the day and into the evening.

Seattle is a complex town, and with our wonderful lighting conditions (read: often overcast), these complex neutrals really shine.

To add spice to the mix we are seeing a ton of red. Everything from the pure, high-energy reds to rich burgundies and earthy pigment reds. I have seen a lot of people play with this color in unexpected ways; my personal favorite is seeing it used in bedrooms. Whooeee!

Red is a color that symbolizes welcome, and red front doors are a great way to highlight an entry and encourage your visitors to stay a while. It might even act as a target for the paper to be delivered to the door instead of the walkway!

I never thought I'd be saying this, but orange is another color we are having some fun using. Not like a 1970s orange bathtub, but instead leaning towards the curries and paprika spices which are used in fabrics and for trim colors.

We stared seeing a lot of clear deep pink last spring in clothing, and it is now appearing in colors for the home. If you have a neutral sofa, adding some hot pink silk throw pillows will really update your look. If you use fresh cut flowers in your home, try some pink blossoms to add a breath of freshness. The contrast of the bright color against those complex neutrals I was telling you about earlier really creates a striking picture.

I would avoid pink paint for the exterior. Do I even need to mention this? And pink bathrooms are out unless you are recreating a 1950s bathroom complete with a fuzzy pink toilet seat cover. OK?

With pink you can also use a soft tint, somewhat like the inside of a beautiful conch shell. Even though it's soft, it's not muddy. Light and fresh.

I am often asked about blue. It is many people's favorite color. I feel very strongly that you need to use blue carefully, or else it ends up becoming very depressing. Are you aware that blue houses sell the slowest?

For interiors, find a blue that has a bit of a lavender or reddish undertone. And try to keep the gloomy gray undertone from creeping into the color. When it's cloudy, it tends to turn into the most depressing grayish blue color you can imagine.

The purple undertone adds some warmth to the blue, and it can become very comforting and lively to be around. For blue exteriors, I like seeing some of the deeper navies and richer hues. Forget the steel blue-grays, and really commit to the color. What a sharp look you can create!

When choosing colors, keep in mind it's all about relationships. How does the wall relate to the furniture? How does the roof color coordinate with the siding? What light exposure is the room receiving? Is it a quiet space or active? What colors are your neighbors' houses painted? How does everything look together?

Finally, color trends are always evolving and changing. So find some colors that speak to you and don't worry about what's "in". Then you'll never need to worry about being "out."

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Robin Daly is a third generation co-owner of Daly's Paint and Decorating in Fremont. You can reach her at 633-4200 or news@theseattlesun.com. She LOVES to hear from you and answer your decorating dilemmas.

Send questions or comments to: news@theseattlesun.com