I think of accent colors in your home as similar to accessories in your wardrobe. They support and often dazzle. They’re likely to get the squeals, oohs and ahhs. Maybe it’s the funky hoop earrings or the bright beautiful scarf. Accent colors can bring that same excitement to your home’s color scheme to help create that perfect, finished feel.

However (the dreaded however)…if you don’t use your accent colors correctly, your room may end up looking like an exploded box of crayons! Let me help you avoid that with the following tips.

Sugar and cream blend well in coffee. How about white and cream in your room? In my humble opinion, this blend works as well. If you’ve ever had a bright white room, you know that can create cold, clinical feel. Adding cream or other off-white can help warm up the space providing a nice balanced feel. Read on for tips and sample illustrations to blend shades of white for a wonderfully warm home.

If you pursue a major design or redesign project in your home that carries a significant budget, it may be important to you to choose a “timeless” or “classic” style that will endure the test of time. This is wise thinking as a way to ensure your space will look good for years to come and won’t require another remodel if you would need to sell it. Today, I’ll cover styles that have been popular for years and are almost certain to remain popular well into the future. They’re characterized by classic elements and the ability to adapt to remain contemporary without losing the features we know and love.

If you’re somewhere in the midst of big snow, tiny temps, or both, spring may seem like a distant dream. If that’s your reality then turning your thoughts to flowers, sunny weather and time spent outdoors may provide a well-needed break. And if your weather is already showing signs of ditching the doldrums of winter, then you may already have a hot case of spring fever. Regardless of your situation, read on as we take on curb appeal and ways to achieve it.