Summer Colors – How To Use Pastels Beautifully

Solid Pastels

The evergreen, unostentatious solid tones of pastels provide a clean slate for you to paint your ideas on. Solid pastels look very debonair when used as wall backdrops, kitchen themes or when used to adorn old furniture lending a feel of country vintage. Apart from creating a pleasant and cheerful ambience, solid tones give you an opportunity to experiment with bold colors in the forefront.

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Pleasing Stripes

Stripes have never gone out of fashion and look very smart when used in pastel tones as wall papers, floor coverings, cushion covers, pillow cases etc. Engendering a high-class, sophisticated look to your space, stripes also add a sense of calm and repose when used in shades of pastels. With an additional layer of solid toned furniture or an elegant indoor plant, strips result in binding up your space and enhancing your summer decor.

The crisp, invigorating  Zig-Zag or Chevron is a pattern that blends flawlessly with both traditional and contemporary decors. When used in shades of pastels, Zig Zag adds an interesting zing , in addition to lending  energy, life and excitement to your summer decor. The classic herringbone patterns looks breathtaking when used in rugs, cushion covers, throws and wall murals too. After all, the staining draining outdoor environs need to be forgotten sometimes.

Gorgeous Diamonds

Pastels echoed as diamonds suggest subtle movement, revitalizing energy, and action, all much in demand during the searing hot summers. When used as indoor and outdoor rugs, bedspreads, upholstery and wall decor, diamonds tend to revitalize your space with vigor, motion and activity. Pastels expressed as diamonds tend to maintain the interest of an onlooker, in your summer decor.

Splendid Florals

What is more refreshing than fresh summer blooms! Bringing the flowers into the interiors of your home in the form of floral patterns bedecking your wallpapers, living room upholstery, bedroom linen, bed headboards, drapery etc can result in a space that is fresh, crisp and revitalizing.

Traditional Motifs

An interior decor is so incomplete without a dash of traditional motifs and motifs expressed in pastels enliven the decor in a very pleasing way. Motifs like Paisley pattern, Pointed star, Victorian symbols and African patterns expressed in soft tones of blues, greens, pinks and purples and add interest to your space and make your summer decor as pretty as a picture.

All these patterns, both simple and intricate are an interesting way to express the colors of summers. In addition to the refreshing, pleasing and soothing qualities of the pastels hues themselves, these patterns add the necessary qualities of vigor, movement and activity to pull you up from the energy draining summer heat. Go adorn your homes in pastels this summer. For more summer colors ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Pastel shades tend to add a light touch and freshness to any room in which they’re featured – and which, right at this moment in time, would be a perfect antidote to these early dark, gloomy evenings we’re stuck with until spring comes along.

The pastel colors achieve this light diffusing effect by literally reflecting daylight and making the room seem larger than it is – which is the reason pastel shades work so well in small spaces.

They’re also great with other color ranges such as dramatic and dark shades (think pastel blue against a feature wall of teal) as this can really add depth to a room’s color scheme.

Image via: Pawleys Island Posh

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Summer Days

Don’t know about you but pastel – mint green, strawberry pink, buttercup yellow – always makes me think about ice cream and the seaside. It brings with it a sense of freedom and long, happy, dreamy summer days. Just how summer-like does the following photo make you feel? The zebra striped cushions aren’t a pastel shade and co-ordinate well against the light blue upholstery.

Sheer curtains look great with a pastel colored room. It’s also good fun to bring in bits of the outdoors too such as driftwood or a collection of painted or varnished seashells (if I’m looking for that seaside theme).

Shabby Chic

Pastels and shabby chic are a perfect match – as you can see by both the previous and the following two photographs:

Image via: Dreamy Whites

Image via: Dreamy Whites

Bright pastels

It’s not necessary to stick to just one pastel shade and the same rather muted hue. Here’s a combination of very different and bright pastel shades which work well together well to lend a cheery atmosphere which isn’t too over-powered by color – despite the fact there’s plenty of it in this photograph:

Image via: Houzz

So how would you decorate with pastels?

For more home decor and color ideas on Stagetecture, click here.