labaudiniere's ideas

Pink and green. Why does this perennially preppy combo strike such a chord? Well, think about nature: pink flowers atop green stems, blooming from shrubbery, surrounded by foliage. If you want to make pink and green look less Lilly Pulitzer, try layering two or three saturated, slightly dirty shades of each color, as in this bedroom.

4. Navy and white. A starched white button-down topped with a navy blazer never goes out of style, and neither does a navy and white room. With this pairing, it's easy to default to the nautical approach (stripes, sailboats, white linen). But this living space turns convention on its ear: navy walls set off by crisp white millwork and a painted coffee table, with an overscale rug that ties the scene together.

Find your signature paint color. Take an object in your signature color to a hardware store that does color matching and find the paint shade that matches your color. Paint a whole wall if you feel inspired to, but at least pick up a sample pot to take home and commit to painting something small — a flea market chair or set of picture frames. And don't forget to write down the name of the paint color for future reference!

Blue bloods. The ancient Egyptians used the lapis lazuli stone to dye the cloaks of royals and priests, indicating their status as gods. We still see these rich celestial hues as somehow exotic and regal, so they work beautifully on feature walls or in small spaces, such as this powder room.

Out of the blue. Blue is also known to suppress the appetite, possibly as an adaptation against eating rotten food, which can have a bluish tinge. Indeed, some weight-loss programs go so far as to advise eating off a blue plate.

A blue dining room could be great for those wanting to slim down, but it may not be the right choice for foodies.

Feng shui's take on blue. According to feng shui design principles, blue is a water element, excellent for use in the east (health and family) and southeast (wealth and abundance) sides of your home or office — water energy is said to nourish the wood element of these areas.

Peekaboo Clear Coffee Table - $279.00 »
This piece is perfection for a small space because it keeps the look light and airy.

Solid Ice' Vanity Accessories - $140.00 »
You can't forget that the bathroom is just as important style-wise as any other room in the house. These Lucite bathroom vanity accessories are gorgeous and allow for any color and pattern to be implemented.

And they go with any decor: modern, traditional, boho, eclectic. But are they here to stay? I'm not sure.

In 1990 no one would have put this in their home. Now everyone is. What about in 2025?

Host the perfect dinner party. Many Native Americans associate orange with kinship, and consumer research by the Pantone Institute says that red and orange stimulate the appetite.

This would seem to make orange perfect for a sociable dining area. It looks particularly lovely toned down with neutrals. A little orange goes a long way.

Use orange in small doses.

Stoke kitchen creativity. June McLeod, color expert with Colors of the Soul, says orange stokes health and creativity. People who like orange are often people pleasers and love to share. This combination would make an orange kitchen a great place for conjuring up a feast for friends.

However, McLeod has conducted research on how people behave in different colored kitchens, and warns to be careful with the color: "In orange kitchens people are more prone to be slapdash," she says, "so if you decide on an orange theme, you need to make an effort to be organized in order to prevent disaster."

Emphasize orange with blue. Azure blue is directly opposite orange on the color wheel and is its best complementary color. They are opposite in psychological terms too — blue tends to be calming and cool, and orange is energizing and warm.

I replaced boring sliding closet doors with long curtains, and I love the look. It's pretty, maybe even a little glamorous, but the best part is, I can sweep the curtains apart and see the entire closet at once.

A few things to think about when rearranging furniture:
Go for it. Move it around. If it doesn't work as you thought, move it again.
Make sure everything is not just pushed against the wall. This is the most common "mistake" in decorating.
Think about creating intimate spaces within a room rather than setting up a whole room.
What is the focal point? You can have more than one.
When you are standing at the entrance to the room, is it inviting you in?

Change Your Throw Pillows

Switching accent pillows can change the entire mood and look of a room. This mishmash of colors and textures adds playfulness to this otherwise formal room.