Color Trends in 2015

Naturally Green
Greens of the garden variety appear both literally and figuratively in this living room. Plants and cuttings dress up the mantel and a stylized botanical print carries the look to the club chairs. A striped upholstered ottoman and tribal print curtains keep the living room out of dreaded theme territory. Cream walls linger in the background, but complement the yellow undertones of the greens. Hints of black offer a bit of sophistication. Colors used: Leafy Green + Cream + Coal Black

Beachside Variation
While blue and green are standard beach color scheme fare, red also has a place. Inspired by coral, a few hints of red bring something unexpected to this crisp white living room. Watery shades of turquoise are a more familiar nod to coastal decor and appear more frequently than the red to keep the beachside ethos strong. Colors used: Clean White + Pale Turquoise + Coral Red

Rich Blues
Taking a risk with color is a big step, but the payoff can be incredible. Balancing a bold color with neutrals and repeating the color are two keys to success. In this living room, a vivid cerulean blue colors the walls, and similar hues appear in the artwork, upholstery, and area rug to carry the color through the space. A midtone khaki on the side table and sofa temper the blue, and mustard yellow accents provide further contrast. To balance a saturated wall color, try this living room paint idea: Paint the top portion of the walls one color, install a chair rail, and paint the bottom portion of the wall a less saturated version of the top color (use colors on the same paint strip). Colors used: Cerulean Blue + Mustard Yellow + Khaki Beige

Cottage Chic
Use color for purposes other than visual interest. In this living room, ocean blue paint along the top of the wall plays up the room’s architecture, such as the beamed ceiling, trimwork, and fireplace wall. Accessories throughout the living room carry the color. While the white carries the cottage vibe intended for the space, the unexpected comes by way of black accents on a singular throw pillow and two framed prints. Adding a hint of something a little different will give a space its own personal look. Colors used: Ocean Blue + Cottage White + Lacquer Black

Energetic Fun
Blue takes a bold stand in this living room. Equally strong citron and high-contrast black and white keep up with the blue, but because they are used in smaller doses, the look remains livable. Colors used: Cornflower Blue + Lime + Black and White

Re-imagined Traditional
Traditional style relies on a refined composition and classic styling. Have fun with this graceful look in a living room by layering in a punchy color scheme. With a foundation of timeless neutrals, a complementary color scheme of coral orange and aqua blue brings this living room to life. Hints of chocolate brown recall the coloring of the wood floor, tables, and chair frames. Limit a traditional color palette to a few neutrals and two colors to maintain a formal air. Colors used: Coral Orange + Uptown Aqua + Milk Chocolate