Bring Fall Indoors with Colors That Reflect the Season

(ARA) - The scent of cinnamon-infused cider fills the air, crisp leaves crackle underfoot and you’re able to enjoy long walks in the cooler evening as summer eases into fall. As you settle into the season — perhaps by supplementing your fall-weather wardrobe with a toasty sweater or two in rich shades — consider giving your home a little seasonal lift as well. Updating your rooms with color is a quick and easy way to embrace this time of year, and will put you in the mood to enjoy all the bounties these autumn months offer!

Begin your project by taking a look at what surrounds you. Note the colors you see in everything from the fashions at your favorite shop to the cars whizzing past you on the street. Which colors appeal to you? Which make you feel calm? Which energize you? Which give you a cozy feeling that’s just right for fall? Let the wheels start turning and see which shades your inner designer is drawn to . . . there’s no right or wrong answer.

“Color is always evolving,” says Becky Ralich Spak, senior designer for Sherwin-Williams. “Color knows no bounds — it is fluid, not static; it intermingles in unexpected combinations; and it explores many paths to achieve its goal.”

Following your instincts is the best way to approach your color update, experts agree, because there is no one single color hue or palette that will dominate this fall, or even in the coming year.

Color inspiration comes from just about anywhere and everywhere, as the 39 hues selected for the latest Sherwin-Williams color collections indicate. These stylish colors are grouped into four destination themes: Around the World, Fork in the Road, No Place Like Home and Expand Your Horizons.

Fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, who partnered with Sherwin-Williams for her fall 2007 fashion show, lets her journeys guide her color selections. “I find inspiration in adventure, and these colors from Sherwin-Williams remind me of places I have traveled,” she says. “Colors such as Evening Shadow, Marquis Orange and Iron Ore remind me of the desert; Real Red, Cocoon and Liberty Blue of a New England road trip; and Aquarium and Frank Blue of architecture in southern Spain and Morocco.”

Deep and dashing, bright and bold, many of the opulent shades that are perfect for fall decorating might seem a bit intimidating at first, but fear not; there are many ways to dive into the wonderful world of color. Consider the following approaches:

• Saturated browns impart a toasty vibe on a living room accent wall.
• Plum hues spark great energy in the foyer.
• Deep purples are both soothing and interesting in a powder room.
• Warm neutrals are a timeless update for all rooms and let vibrant accessories take center stage.

In the end, it’s easy to refresh your home with these and other hues, thanks to color selection tools such as the new, larger 3X5-inch paint swatches from the Sherwin-Williams Concepts in Color palette. These paint chips feature a perforated “window” opening that can be removed to see how coordinating colors will look together and work with the fabrics and accessories in your room. The company has also simplified color coordination by listing designer-recommended combinations on the back of each swatch.

And once you’ve narrowed down your favorite shade, it’s a breeze to experiment with your top choices before your final painting project begins. For example, an online color visualizer allows you to preview your color selections in a room, and the company’s Color to Go program allows you to purchase a quart-size paint sample for less than five dollars.

In the end, no matter which colors you select, just remember that paint is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to the change the atmosphere of a room, so “don’t be afraid to try new colors and patterns and to play with contrasts,” Rowley recommends. By following your instincts and personal fashion sense, both you and your home will feel warm and toasty this fall.

For more color inspiration, visit sherwin-williams.com or your neighborhood Sherwin-Williams store.

Courtesy of ARAcontent