Want to chase away the winter glum by bringing some cheery color into you home? Have I got a dynamic duo for you: turquoise and coral. This peppy color combo adds vibrant energy to a space, whether you do it up loud and proud by washing your room in saturated shades, or just adding a few subtle touches here and there to spark up neutral spaces. Here’s some inspiration to get your started:
First, Find Your Color Sweet Spot
This season a lot of designers are showing snowy white interiors. I love pristine white washed spaces. But right now at Nell Hill’s, we’re all about zipping up that stark white world with some blasts of color. While I’m a big fan of statement colors, I think they have to be balanced with quiet neutrals, like white and cream. The goal is to have a room that’s cheery, but not jarring to your eye. As you design your spaces, you’ll find your own “sweet spot” where the balance is just right for your taste.
This photo is of our freshly redesigned front gallery at Nell Hill’s Briarcliff, where we played with color in a new way. We covered the walls in white then painted the ceiling coral. The furnishings bring in a mix of complementary tones, brought to life through a bouquet of patterns.
For the Love of Coral …
Coral is pulling the heart strings of the Nell Hill’s design team and our many customers. Orange has been a big hit for years, and is still showing strong. But for some folks, it’s just too intense. Coral is a gentler version of orange that is flattering in most interiors. It has the lovability of pink, a perennial favorite from our youth, but is a grown up, more sophisticated color. People are braver experimenting with coral than they are with other brights, and they are mixing it with a rainbow of tones, like chartreuse, apple green, cobalt blue. My favorite coral companion right now? Turquoise!
… and Turquoise
This lovely shade is one of those remarkable tones that seems so bold, yet actually plays as a neutral, the ideal mate for just about any other color you throw at it. Depending upon your style, you can pick turquoise fabrics and accents that are bright and crisp. Or, you can go for a softer and muted take, more vintage in its feel.
The Tango
Turquoise and coral do a steamy dance together in this powerful dining group at Nell Hill’s Briarcliff. The upholstery fabric is balanced by the white table.
Our design team took the grouping to the next level by setting the table with coral and turquoise accents. I love how the pattern in the fabric is echoed in the blue and white jars in the centerpiece.
If bold furnishings aren’t for you, you can dust a space in softer hues of coral and turquoise, like this sweet tabletop display.
We had so much fun helping my friends Matt and Kristen decorate their home with coral and turquoise. In their kitchen, soothing white cabinets and a gray sofa provide the neutral base for zips of playful color, brought in with a few accent pillows. If you have neutral furnishings, simply changing out your pillows will transform the look of your room.
In their living room, the neutral walls and sofa are the quiet backdrop for the bright and beautiful turquoise ottoman and coral chair. The sofa sports coral and turquoise pillows to thread the color through the room’s design.
Next Week … Picking the right accent table for your spaces is trickier than you think. I’ll share a few tips to get just the right one.
Let Coral Enliven Your Decor
Turquoise: The Color that Makes Things Happen
Nell Hill’s Home: Lawrence
Sofa Companions: the Coffee Table vs. the Ottoman
Jeannie says
January 26, 2015 at 2:37 pmI love turquoise! I also love it paired with raspberry or purple!
franki says
January 26, 2015 at 4:20 pmThis just sings to me!! I could never do an all white or all beige…it just…isn’t me. The coral ceiling…wow!! franki
Sue LeVota says
January 26, 2015 at 5:47 pmMy sister and I were at your beautiful store last week and we kept coming back to the Coral and Turquiose room. It’s stunning1
Patricia says
January 26, 2015 at 6:06 pmWhy do we always wait until summer to pair these two colors?…They are wonderful together anytime of the year! In the home or in fashion!
BARBARA says
January 26, 2015 at 7:02 pmIt is very good to look for a change, the colors you show us today are really daring, but there will be those who adore them ; if I had to choose, I prefer the combinations of the last two photos , the base in gray is perfect and then play with colors.
Thanks for sharing your work and ideas; your friends are very lucky to have you helping to decorate their home.
Have a nice evening
Barbara
Carol says
January 26, 2015 at 9:16 pm“The goal is to have a room that’s cheery, but not jarring to your eye.” Perfectly stated and I’m craving more cheery! You weave it into traditional decor beautifully. I love the intensity of the color in the art work over the fireplace in the first picture. What can you tell me about it with regard to size and price?
Mary Carol says
January 26, 2015 at 10:52 pmSounds like you all are in love with color right now as much as I am! Love the comments and suggestions! Carol, just give us a call at 877-746-4320 for all the info on the that gorgeous piece of art.
Elizabeth says
January 27, 2015 at 9:46 amLove this color combo! I have a weaving challenge coming up and kept laying out cones of fiber and nothing spoke to me. I pulled these colors in a variety of fibers and got a beautiful warp. One I don’t want to give away!!!
MaryLou Boudet says
January 28, 2015 at 8:15 pmI LOVE the coral fabric with the blue & white ginger jars in it. Do you carry the fabric and does it come in a red background? I have been searching for a fabric for pillow covers that has blue & white pottery on it. My living area walls are red so the coral wouldn’t work. I’m quite a distance from your stores, ( New Orleans suburb) but would love to have pillow cases very made if the fabric is available. Thank you..love the blog…it may be a good thing that I’m so far away!
Mary Carol says
January 30, 2015 at 6:20 pmMaryLou, sounds wonderful. Just give us a call — we’d love to help you with the pillow cases, fabric by the yard, etc. 877-746-4320.
Linda says
February 2, 2015 at 4:48 pmAs most we have a great room, kitchen included. I want it to blend in, but not look kitcheny. Would love to hear your ideas. I am pretty versatile, old world-tuscan in the winter, country french in the summer.
HELP
U R THE BEST
HUGS Linda
Jackie Tetzlaff says
February 5, 2015 at 7:00 amLove the color combination! The picture over the mantle, what size is it? Do you offer it in your store? Thanks
Mary Carol says
February 11, 2015 at 2:18 pmHi Jackie,
The picture you are referring to is located at our Briarcliff store, at 877-746-4320. The picture is 5′ x 45 1/2.