My family and I moved to a new house last year.  I have spent all this time working on the landscaping.  Now it’s time to start the inside.  Now also starts my dilemma.  The dilemma is that I love color, lots of color but I also want flexibility.  I would like to be able to decorate for the different holidays and bring a feeling of the seasons in throughout the year.  I guess I need flexibility is what I’m trying to say.  How can I make my furniture, paint and accessories work around orange decorations in the fall and pastel accents in the spring?  Please give me any guidance so that I can start this challenging project called decorating.  Thanks, Lisa.

Hi Lisa, thanks for the email that you sent in.  You bring up a great topic for this time of the year with the holiday season quickly approaching upon us as it does every year.

Now to your question, the answer is all neutrals, yes neutrals.  Neutrals are the key when you like change, especially when you like to change and add colors.  Pick out neutrals for furniture and upholstery and also for paint colors.  Now, neutrals are whites, beiges, browns, grays, and blacks.  Using these colors will allow you to easily bring in different colors with accessories throughout the year. Texture is very important and even more important when using neutrals.  If there is not a good balance in texture the room will look cold and sterol.  Texture creates movement and warmth in any color scheme.  As an example of how to use texture, what would look better? A wood dining table with silver candlesticks or a glass and metal dining table?  The wood table would look better.  The glass and metal with the silver candlesticks would be too cold.

It’s also important to keep a constant flow throughout the home using colors and textures.  Even something as small as using the same window treatment throughout, like white shutters, creates flow and unity from room to room.  One room should flow into the other, not necessarily by style, but by color.

So when you’re out shopping at your local furniture stores, keep neutrals in mined especially when choosing fabrics.  Also, please remember textures while on your hunts.  You’ll be amazed with the results and how easy it will be to accessorize around the neutral color scheme.
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