Spruce Up for Springtime

Spring House, Pa–Today’s versatile paint palettes of blues, greens, and browns encompass colors inspired by the sky, sea and earth, along with metallics and brights to add “pop” and excitement. These eco-friendly tones have steadily gained popularity in recent years, and people have taken this trend a step farther by extending it to the type of paint they choose.”Environmentally friendly low-VOC paints are popular for a variety of reasons, most notably because they do not give off an odor,” says Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute. “This allows consumers to put recently painted rooms back into use almost immediately after being painted. Another added benefit, according to health and environmental authorities, is that low-VOC paints are not considered hazardous waste, so people can take pride in knowing that they are not impacting the environment when disposing of leftover paints.”With the spring painting season just around the corner, Zimmer offers three fresh, colorful ideas to help bring the outdoors inside.Accent on NatureJust as in nature, nothing looks more refreshing than a muted landscape punctuated with an unexpected burst of color. For inspiration, look to the backyard. A bright yellow sunflower swaying in the breeze, a ripe tomato still on the vine or even a blazing sunset can offer inspiration for an eye-catching color scheme.True BlueBlue, in all its tints and hues, has long been a favorite. In previous seasons’ trends, blue had been confined to the bedroom and bath. However, since blue is so prevalent in nature, it is now one of the important colors in home decor. The latest clear, true blues are being used through the house, both as an accent color and as a color scheme anchor. Blue’s popularity is extending to other colors as well, particularly with the emerging popularity of blue-based greens. The most modern greens take their inspiration from moss, pine and the lush vegetation of the rainforest.Down to EarthDeep, dark chocolate brown, a popular color in recent season, will continue to factor into the earth tone palette. However, lighter tints such as beige, tan and other desert-toned hues offer a fresher take on this trend. These shades are an especially good choice for people who are color-shy. Plus, they are ideally suited to pair with a bright-colored accent wall or metallic trim.    The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute, based in Spring House, Pa., was formed by the Rohm and Haas Co., a worldwide producer of specialty materials, in 1989 with a charter of independence and objectivity to educate painters everywhere. For more information, visit www.paintquality.com.Courtesy of The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute