Fruity, summery colors perk up decor all year
Aah, summer – the season when oranges are transformed into ice pops, limes add zing to slushies, peaches become pies, and berries take over nearly every dessert.
Citrus and other fruity hues look fresh and energetic in summer decor, and there’s no need to remove them once fall approaches. Their upbeat nature makes them a smart choice all year round.
“Citrus hues are lemon sorbet for your eyes. Everybody’s home could benefit from a little extra zest, and bright juicy colors are the ultimate palate cleanser. A taste of lemon yellow, tangerine orange or lime green adds sunny optimism,” designer Jonathan Adler says.
Adler’s Brigitte chair, one of his favorite designs, resembles a big comfy hand. You can have it in a spectrum of tasty hues including a Creamsicle-like orange and a navy as rich and dark as a blueberry. Lime-green upholstery brings extra drama to Adler’s modernist Peking sofa. (jonathanadler.com)
Faith Phillips, design and trends expert for La-Z-Boy, likes the fresh pop of mango for an interior accent hue as the temperatures start rising.
“For those of us who love a touch of ‘sunset’ in our home, this color’s for us,” she says. “It’s a bold color that can take natural hues like linen and sand and make them look richer.”
It’s also lovely paired with any shade of gray. For a playful, beachy vibe, consider mixing mango with strawberry.
La-Z-Boy’s Nightlife sofa, part of the Urban Attitudes collection, is available in tangelo or berry, among other colors. (la-z-boy.com) At HomeGoods, look for an accent chair upholstered in deep raspberry, an ottoman clad in grape, and some happy-go-lucky orange table lamps. (homegoods.com)
CB2 has found a fantastic lemony yellow that’s available in accent pieces such as a high-gloss serve tray, a fun little teapot, a knitted pouf and a quilted pillow. There’s a bar stool, patio umbrella and bookshelf, too. (cb2.com)
If the crisp tang of apple red appeals to you, consider Target’s turned-leg accent table or Windham bookcase, both from the Threshold collection. There’s an upholstered headboard in the hue, and a well-priced tub chair too. (target.com)
Maine Cottage has built its business on color, and the extensive furniture collection, which includes beds, tables, bookcases, dressers and chairs, is available in an extensive palette of both intense and quieter shades. Consider a dresser or bookcase in a grapey blue, bunk beds in apple green, a hutch in banana, or a dining table in apricot. (mainecottage.com)
Fruity hues look fresh and lighthearted against neutrals, so consider white, gray or ivory walls and large furniture pieces, with your color as punctuation. Decorative accents such as pillows, art, vases or rugs are inexpensive ways to add impact.
These deep, juicy shades will look lush paired with woods, leather, metallics and dark backgrounds. Think grape or pomegranate with walnut or brass; rhubarb or raspberry with ebony accents and a textured rug.
Put punch on the patio with Plow & Hearth’s outdoor wicker ottomans, seating and planter baskets in banana, papaya and honeydew melon. (plowhearth.com)
If you’re ready to go big, think about introducing these colors through architectural elements. A fireplace, window trim, baseboards and moldings, or a feature wall set the stage. Add neutral furnishings and textiles to set off the color, then stand back and admire the fruits of your labor.
This photo provided by CB2 shows, a Mason quilted pillow that looks like subway tiles, rendered in a bright lemon yellow. Accents like these are an inexpensive way to add a dash of juicy color in time for summer. (CB2 via AP)
This photo provided by CB2 shows the Lizzy teapot that comes in a bright pomelo yellow. The fruity hues of summer can make home decor look fresh and energetic all year long. (CB2 via AP)
This photo provided by Maine Cottage shows a Ale Nellie 2-Over dresser. The fruity hues of summer can make home decor look fresh and energetic all year long. (Maine Cottage via AP)
This photo provided by Maine Cottage shows a wild mixed berry Amelia armoire. The fruity hues of summer can make home decor look fresh and energetic all year long. (Maine Cottage via AP)
This photo provided by CB2 shows a knitted pouf that adds a pop of lemon yellow to a patio or playroom. The fruity hues of summer can make home decor look fresh and energetic all year long. (CB2 via AP)
This photo provided by HomeGoods shows a orange ceramic lamp. The fruity hues of summer can make home decor look fresh and energetic all year long. (HomeGoods via AP)
This photo provided by HomeGoods shows purple nailhead storage ottomans. The fruity hues of summer can make home decor look fresh and energetic all year long. (HomeGoods via AP)
This photo provided by CB2 shows a lacquered tray in eye-catching lemon that is a useful piece with style oomph. The fruity hues of summer can make home decor look fresh and energetic all year long. (CB2 via AP)
This photo provided by La-Z-Boy shows the Nightlife Premier Sofa in a rich plummy hue that is a statement piece. Let it anchor the room, and add complementary pattern as well as some neutrals to provide balance and cohesion. (La-Z-Boy via AP)
This photo provided by HomeGoods shows a magenta dining chair. The fruity hues of summer can make home decor look fresh and energetic all year long. (HomeGoods via AP)
This photo provided by Target shows a cheerful apple-red side table that is a fun way to add a pop of fruity color to a room. (Chuck O’Grady/Target via AP)