Tops in 2010: The Color Turquoise

What is it about the color turquoise? 

Imagine our happiness to learn that this blue-green gem-like color has been named the color of the year by global color authority, Pantone.  The color gurus say that turquoise evokes thoughts of  "soothing tropical waters and a languorous escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while restoring our sense of well-being."  

 We have known and loved turquoise for years.  Living in Florida and surrounded by the cool blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it fits right into our lifestyle and decor.  For more traditional homes, we are able to put just a tiny splash or pop of a turquoise accent into the decor and it immediately changes a room.  For beachouses, well, they scream for turquoise!

Turquoise has long been believed, because of its water and sky tones, to be healing.  But we love turquoise because it is rich and beautiful and can do so much to change a room with a minimum of fuss or expense.  It also works with any style decor.  I have not yet seen a room that did not look great with some accent of this color.

Think about how great a chunky turquoise necklace looks with an outfit.  It literally transforms your look  as well as how you feel about yourself when you are wearing it. 

So, without going completely crazy (although it is fun to do that with turquoise) consider some of our favorite ways to incorporate some turquoise accents in your home to add a little decorating magic. The best news:  it looks great with ANY color. 

Accent wall.  Check out House Beautiful Colors For Your Home: 300 Designer Favorites for tried and true faves of top designers.  A few of mine are Benjamin Moore's Sweet Dreams, Opal Essence, Heavenly Blue, Wedgewood Gray, Jamaican Aqua, Bird's Egg and Blue Wave.  Play with the shades and incorporate yummy seafoam green tones into the color palatte for a beautiful combination.  Think:  calm and cool.  And think moderation.

Shutters.  Pick a wall that cries out for some color and paint a couple of shutters (old or new...I like to find them at flea markets) shades of turquoise. 

Art in a bowl.  Fill a glass bowl with sea glass  in these tones and see what it does for an accent on a table.

Mirrors.  Get in touch with your inner Martha Stewart and make a mirror or picture frame from shades of sea glass.   We took the shell mirror in the photo on this page and added  some sea glass to it to make it pop.

Furniture.  Find a great accent piece that has this color and blend it with your existing furnishings.   Or try spray painting wicker furniture on a patio for a fresh new look.

Bath towels.  Fast transformation for a bath, especially one that is painted in white or neutral tones.

One of our favorites:  The turquoise chandelier.  Spray paint an old (flea market) or new (Lowes or Home Depot) chandelier.  We have done these for baths and dining rooms.  Voila!  Total transformation.  We have also added turquoise glass beads to a plain chandelier.  Beautiful.  

Ginger jars, throw pillows, accent tile, rugs...the possibilities are endless.  Have some fun with this color!