Midsummer color for me is farmer’s markets, flowers and fireworks.

The bold bright hues don’t have to exist only outside the front door. Invite them in and see how they enliven your space.

Bold color moves can accentuate mid-century flair. The furnishings here would still work wonderfully against a more subdued palette, but the use and placement of brights on the walls and trim make it all the more fun.

Be inspired by these other beautifully brazen choices:

A strong color doesn’t have to dominate. Try a bright as an accent to counterbalance heavier hues or “pop” as they say:

This is my general stance on home decor. In the past half decade, I’ve had the good fortune (or misfortune) of living in many different boxes. The redeeming aspect of moving for me is the opportunity to create my space anew. But I’ve got a little secret to share: you don’t have to relocate to refresh your surroundings.

The second part of the secret is: color is the most cost-effective way to enhance or transform your environment. Color is palpable. It’s presence can be subtle yet undeniable. Color can be utilized to invoke any vibe, it can make furnishings and art look better and draw out experiences amongst those whose cones and rods it stimulates. When you feel that your box isn’t suiting you, the simplest and most impacting step toward reconciliation is painting. I know a lot of people who can’t afford to fly away for vacations these days. Instead, they’re resorting to enjoying what’s locally available like horseback riding, hiking, fine dining, taking classes and redecorating. Funny how misfortune and fortune are really two sides of the same coin.

And here’s a another secret: rebellion is a good way to get out of a rut. If you find yourself stuck and uninspired, consider something you wouldn’t normally do. My benign and effective suggestion is to try a striking hue–a POW! color. Taking a walk on the bright side is something many of my clients tend to shy from but shouldn’t. Albeit, there is good reason for their trepidation as I so often see POW! colors executed haphazardly subsequently infecting others with stiff hesitation toward bold color moves. But then, if you decide to embark on something new and bold like sky-diving, I do recommend trying it with a professional (a sky-diving professional).

This brings me to my last secret which is: I am a professional (of color and decor). This is less a secret and more a reminder to those who have the courage to make a color leap that I can help to ensure its success. As a side benefit, by utilizing my passion for color and decor to assist others in the enhancement of their spaces, I can avoid moving any more than necessary.

-Brandy Gee, your color and decor expert

Babies are able to perceive color from the time they are around two to three months old, and just as particular sounds will elicit a particular emotional response in your baby, so too will different colors result in different reactions.

Colors are divided into four categories:

* Warm
* Cool
* Neutral
* Black

Warm Color Psychology

Warm colors include the red, orange, and yellow sections of the color spectrum.

They will make a large room appear smaller and cozy and they elicit feelings of happiness, comfort and relaxation. However, intense shades tend to be stimulating and exciting and can result in the buildup of too much energy – not what you need for smooth nap times!

Red
While reds add a sense of warmth they can be over stimulating. If you want the warmth of red in your baby’s room try toning it down from a bright, vivid red to a more earthy terracotta tone. Also avoid using it on all the walls. Maybe use it on a focus wall and balance it out with a more neutral shade in the rest of the room.

Bright, bold red has been associated with headaches and aggression. However, it is a great accent color. Use it to add a burst of energy and fun to a neutral palette.

Orange
Orange is less intense than red and still very warm. Only the most intense of oranges will result in over stimulation while the softer tones will create a place of homely comfort and vitality.

Orange rooms can tend to feel cramped though, so make sure there is an abundance of light before using this color.

Yellow
Yellow is a bright, sunny color promoting feelings of happiness. It’s great for brightening a dim room. However, bold yellows are associated with increased intellectual and muscle activity and if over used can be disturbing – babies have been found to cry more in yellow rooms.

Therefore, bold yellows should be kept to a minimum and used only as an accent color to add sparkle to your nursery design. Soft yellows are calming, however, and are a lovely sunny choice for your nursery.

Cool Color Psychology

Cool colors include the blue and green sections of the color spectrum.

Lighter shades will make a small room appear spacious and airy and they are calming and soothing. However, darker shades tend to be depressing and cold so be careful when introducing these.

Blue
Blue is a wonderful color for promotion of baby rest times – a key component to a new mom’s sanity! It slows down the human nervous system and produces a calming effect that prepares the body for sleep.

As mentioned above, dark blues can be cold and depressing and can zap your baby’s energy leaving him listless. However, used sparingly as accent colors in your baby’s room, dark blues can have a very striking effect.

Green
Green is a calm, tranquil color promoting feelings of peace and well-being. It is also a refreshing color that can lend vibrancy to an otherwise dim room.

Green can result in a complacent feeling, however, and is best counter-balanced with hot shades of red and orange to inject some energy into the room.

Neutral Color Psychology

Neutral colors include brown, beige, cream, ivory and white.

Neutral shades have a warm, relaxing, grounding effect. They enhance the size of the room, unify and tone down bolder colors and go with anything.

Neutral shades are an excellent choice for your baby room making a wonderful anchor for splashes of other bright, fun colors.

Black Color Psychology

Black has a modern, sophisticated connotation and is great for adding a sense of style. However, it is a draining, depressing color as it sucks light and energy from a room. Therefore, it should be used sparingly in your baby nursery.

(source: http://www.creative-baby-nursery-rooms.com/color-psychology.html)

Chocolates
Go beyond baby blue and pastel pink when planning your nursery scheme. And don’t be afraid to draw from whatever bold hues reflect your own preferred aesthetic. If rich and earthy chocolate appeals to you, try incorporating it kiddie-style (tip: infants see dark and light contrast best, so you’ll be creating a stimulating as well as interesting space). Browns are cozy and grounding while the pastels are light and calming. Mod plywood cutouts (on ceiling) create added interest especially for the little one who will spend much time gazing upward from the crib.

Primaries
We love it when nothing matches but everything goes, like in this room, which mixes primary colors in a variety of shades and patterns.

Color Block
Can’t decide on a shade? Pick a few of your favorites and create a color-block wall mural. How-to: Pencil in your grid with a level, then section off squares with tape. Be sure to press the edges of the tape to make sure the paint doesn’t blend. Extra added bonus: This scheme is so versatile, you don’t have to be settled on bedding and accessories before painting.

Pinky
You’re having a girl, and you do love pink. Here’s a way to make pink unexpected: Pair it with a rusty orange for a retro-chic feel.

Not-so-Boyish Blue
Blue’s definitely not just for boys. Pick a beautifully vibrant shade — like this azure, then add pink accents and sweet accessories to girl it up.

Instant Sunshine
Take a classic nursery color like yellow and dial up the intensity. Pair it with a vibrant hot pink and you’ve got a room that will make you smile on even your most sleep-deprived mornings.

Pretty Pulls
If you’re not sure the whole sunshine-yellow walls thing is for you, try a low-commitment way to toy with color. These multicolored drawer pulls and bright kid art add some cheer to the walls and dresser — and can easily be undone if you change your mind.

(source: adapted from “Color in the Nursery” by Alisa Stoudt, www.parents.com)

The art of Feng Shui shows us how to apply color in our life in order to achieve a healthier flow of chi for body and mind balance. Our chi is influenced by our surroundings and by the colors we consciously choose to surround ourselves with. The colors we wear on our bodies can have a significant effect on our state of being. There’s good reason why color is often used to describe our mental states. Expressions like red with rage, feeling blue, peachy and green with envy not only express our moods, but can also accentuate or curb them.

Experimenting with this concept is simple. Try using the colors covered here in your wardrobe and surroundings to influence your chi. To subdue rage or calm anger, apply the colors black or green. Light green and purple can help to lift a depressed mood. When you you feel a headache coming on, bring in green or pink. For stomach pains use yellow or red. White, black, baby blue or light green may ease hypertension. In working with obesity, fill your world with white. If you’re feeling trapped by the external circumstances in your life, try green as it represents growth, expansion and upward movement. Bluewill help to enhance communication skills as it evokes calmness and peace. Indigo strengthens intuition and encourages objectivity in challenging situations. It helps to relieve emotional and mental turmoil by facilitating openness to new insights. The lighter shades of pink induces relaxation and calmness while the darker hues of this color enhance optimism and confidence in oneself. Yellow helps to strengthen attention and alertness as well as memory improvement. Yellow can also assist you decision making as it encourages discermenment. Orange leads to mental clarity practical problem solving. Orange can help to balance disrupted chi after a period of stress or a shock and allows you to let go of the past. Red stimulates and increases chi, boosts self esteem, stimulates energy and vibrancy. Long considered a lucky and auspicious color, red also banishes insecurities and stimulates enthusiasm. However, those with high blood pressure should avoid this color and instead resort to using black, white or lighter shades of blue and green as alternatives. The color white symbolizes purity, clarity and openness and to address eating disorders. You may use this color when you feel the need to let go of mental and emotional clutter from your psyche. White signifies new beginnings and unbias attitude.

Source: adapted from article by Rossi Davis, from http://www.ehow.com/how_4901491_use-color-wellbeing.html