beachy summer color palette

In my mind, all seasonal inspiration begins with nature.

The combinations of color that appear in every natural setting on Earth are flawless... consisting of perfectly coordinated shades and hues, contrasts and compliments.

So when people ask me 'How do you know what colors go together?' or 'How do you pick a color scheme?', I tell them to go outside. Literally! Because it's outside, in nature, every season, that you'll find the 'perfect' color...

Case in Point: the photo shown above, snapped at Newport Beach, California. It contains a perfect summer color scheme inspired by nature...

The palette of varied blues, grays, tans, browns, and whites

is crisp, fresh, and perfectly balanced between cool and warm tones, lights and darks.

This palette can be translated into a sleek modern look or a cozy country style, depending upon your preferences.

Here's one way to create rooms around that palette:

Can you see it? The palette of varied blues, grays, tans, browns, and whites? It's there in all of the details, materials, and surfaces.

I've changed the proportion of color use from the beach photos - Instead of blue being the primary color, neutral tans secondary, and white accents, I have white as the overwhelming primary color here, with neutral tans secondary, then touches of blue as an accent. 

In my small Cottage, the color scheme remains the same in each room: white backdrops, neutral surfaces, and blue accents. That helps the small spaces flow into one another and feel larger.

In a home with larger rooms and more space, blue could be used on some walls and furnishings.

Even the simplest accent - like an old door turned into a bulletin board - plays on that palette. The decor is simple, fresh, and brings the feeling of summer days at the beach indoors.

So THAT'S my 'big tip' for how to start creating a decor plan for your own home: Look at the colors of nature in a place you love. If you love to go there on vacation, why not decorate your home to reflect that place, and enjoy it every day?!

What says 'Summer' to you?

The beach? The mountains? The lake? Mexico? Hawaii?

Find your inspiration and color schemes in the locales you love, and bring that summer feeling HOME!

This content originally appeared here on my blog in 2013.