Baby Room Decoratore

Baby Love Nursery

A cheerful apple green gingham fabric was the inspiration for this room -- a traditional but unexpected mix of pinks and greens. A coordinating fabric assortment of plaids, dots, checks, florals, and gingham mixes scales and colors to create a cozy room for baby.

-An upholstered chair and ottoman are dressed in multiple patterns with rick-rack.
-Pink toile wallpaper is a soft background pattern that can grow with a child.
-Wood floors are painted in a green gingham pattern, then covered with a textured pink rug.
-Two fabrics plus a ribbon border decorate the bed skirt with ultrafeminine flavor.

Once Upon a Dream Kids

The canopy above the crib adds a simple but dramatic touch to this nursery. The green-and-blue polka-dot fabric was the starting point for the room's design. The silk fabric creates a serene color scheme and a formal look that matches the home's traditional decor.

-An iron crib gives the room detail and character.
-A papier-mache mobile is suspended from the top peg of the canopy to hang directly

over the crib.
-A comfortable new glider is painted to complement the room's decor.
-Hand-tinted artwork adds to the room's vintage appeal.

The Life Aquatic

Paint plays a big role in this lively nursery. Bold horizontal stripes on the walls in a variety of cool blues and grassy greens give the room energy and create a pondlike backdrop for an under-the-sea theme, complete with frog and fish accessories.

-A comfortable chair is essential in a nursery.
-Suspend stuffed animals from the ceiling for a unique mobile.
-Paint a basic white dresser to match the room's color palette.
-Short curtains keep them out of a little one's reach.

Mellow Yellow Nursery

This soft yellow nursery creates a cheerful reminder of sunny afternoons out in the country. Quilts, soft fabrics, and a few vintage accessories accomplish this nicely.

-A rag rug on the floor shares the vintage feel.
-A wavy chenille fabric appears on the crib and window valance for a textural touch.
-The high shelf is a wonderful way to display toys and accessories out of baby's reach.
-A quilt-pattern wall mural sets the stage for this star-bright room.

Nursery with Sheer Style

Yards of dotted sheer netting were knotted and hung from the ceiling before being draped and puddled around the crib. Though it should be tied back or removed when baby begins reaching,

-the fabric can always be made into pretty curtains to hang at the window instead.
-Lime green and hot pink offer a contemporary look for a nursery.
-Enliven unfinished furniture by painting it to match fabric patterns.
-Narrow shelves offer display space over the window and near the crib.

Baby Blues Nursery

This baby nursery includes pops of cheerful color as a perfect contrast for a white crib. Every detail counts in a small room like this. The room design blends old and new for a charming, one-of-a-kind look.

-Periwinkle stripes on the upper portion of the wall add height to the room.
-The old green trunk is a family heirloom that adds interest and storage.
-Stripes are repeated in a smaller scale on the green crib bedding.
-Framed pages from an antique children's book create instant art.

Living Rooms Decorators

Traditional yet cozy, this living room pays homage to the golden age of Hollywood, when tastes ran to contemporary, boxy shapes. Clad in neutral textures, the furniture performs a supporting role to a collection of patriotic portraits and etchings.

A warm taupe wall color, espresso brown, and robin's-egg blue collaborate to create this cozy gathering spot, but the whole scheme would look washed out without the black accents. The dark color draws attention to the room's clean lines and provides definition for the browns, allowing them to step forward.

Anyone who loves books will sooner or later run out of shelf space. This small reading nook was one homeowner's answer to that problem. Filling one wall with bookshelf cubbies, an elegant daybed was nestled into the spot along with practical swing-arm lamps.

Muted neutral tones grace all the walls in this home, improving flow between rooms. Color is added through a collection of ethnic and modern art and accessories. Large-scale furniture and artwork fill the roomy space without creating a fussy or cluttered look.

The living room's use of materials including steel, wood, concrete, and slate, adds textural contrast. This is an important design element when creating living spaces that appeal to the senses.

Burnished finishes and muted colors give this brand-new living room a beautifully aged look. Overstuffed sofas and a roomy leather chair provide comfy seating while a stone fireplace adds warmth. Displays of family photos and collectibles are a personal finishing touch.

Chocolate brown walls and white accents set a sophisticated tone in the living room. The wall color was plucked from the ottoman fabric.

Full of shape, texture, and pattern, this living room has a rich, ethnic quality. The warm palette includes taupe and white on the painted walls and architectural trim, with upholstery in shades of brown and khaki. Layers of texture include bamboo blinds, a leather ottoman, and a large area rug.

Slipcovers reflect the easy-living attitude that is crucial to this living room's cottage style. Sewn from affordable canvas, these slipcovers easily slip off and into the wash. Vintage floral fabrics, used to make colorful accent pillows, add amazing design punch. The light-tone hardwood floors add warmth underfoot.

Blending stately architectural features with eclectic furnishing isn't always easy. The keys here were texture, clean lines, and proportion. Objects on the mantel wall are placed from low to high and back down, keeping the eye moving within the room.

It's a little bit Asian and a little bit retro, yet the contemporary clean lines of this style unite a variety of elements in this living room. Neutral walls and furnishings allow the patterned rug and artwork to breathe as they capture the eye's attention.

Decorating in Orange

The Warmth of Orange
Orange may be the year's hottest color. Whether your main wall color or simply an accent, it's always warm, vibrant, and cheerful. Perhaps its time to give your home a dash of this hue's fresh appeal.

Wow BedroomChoosing a wow paint color for your bedroom is a terrific way to spark up your life. Though any of the bedding colors might have been used (burgundy, moss green, gold, or kiwi green), it was the eye-popping orange that won out.

Orange EverywhereThis living room is small on space but long on style with orange sofas and orange walls. An unusual complementary color scheme of orange and blue serves to rev up each hue.

Cozy BeddingA simple combination of white sheets, a celadon comforter, and orange throw are inviting in this bedroom. Tan paint with decorative white stenciling adds visual interest to the walls, and a flower-studded lampshade is another feminine touch.

Toned DownThink orange is a bold choice? It can be, yet warm woods and muted colors like lavender are perfect for softening the punch. Pretty fabrics on the windows, window seat, and pillows keep the look stylish.

Side by SideNext to each other on the color wheel, orange and red make a naturally harmonious pair. A large piece of artwork adds brightness to the white walls and orange pillows and throws are a warm and cuddly touch. Both shades are present in the one-of-a-kind chandelier.

Pretty for a Party
Punch up a dining space with accents of orange and light pink. Fun glassware, pretty fabrics, and fresh floral arrangements transform the room quickly and inexpensively.

Colorful Modern
Tangerine and hot pink combine to give this bedroom an energetic vibe. Black and white are a neutral foundation for the bold color combo, and double mirrors multiply the light throughout the room.

Dining Room AccentLong, luxurious draperies bring the orange accent color to this dining space. White paneled walls are topped by a stripe of chocolate brown -- a pattern that is repeated on the ceiling and rug. A trio of chandeliers adds elegance and simple vases of roses pick up the orange hue.

Decorating in Red

Color Winner

This room uses nearly every hue imaginable, yet it is the red wall that commands the most attention. Red makes a terrific background color for the shelves and is enlivened by its pairing with the vibrant green walls of the sunroom space.

Quilted

Any single element can be the inspiration for a color scheme. The room's multitonal quilt is the reason for the purple and red pillowcases, and lets our eye connect the two elements.

Boring to Bright

Tired of a neutral kitchen? Give it an inexpensive makeover with paint! Mouthwatering red imparts a vibrant personality that reflects the homeowner's love of color.

Focal Point Wall

Make no mistake in this room: the focal point is definitely the fireplace and surrounding wall area. Though red does not appear anywhere in the furnishing, the warm wall hue keeps this space from being too beige and boring.

Crimson Accents

Rev up the look of a wall of bookshelves by painting the back wall in an accent color. This inexpensive decorator's trick makes all the difference and creates a focal point out of a typical room element.

Red, White, and Chinese Blue

This ho-hum bath takes on a grander look and feel through the liberal application of red paint. Lots of white keeps the look open, while traditional blue-and-white accessories add an Oriental theme.

Color IQ

Zip up a color palette with touches of cherry red. Notice how little red was used, yet this entry feels surrounded in perky shades of bright color.

Red in Bed

Focus all the color on your bed with a set of patterned sheets, blankets, and pillows. Bedding is a great way to experiment with a new color.

Child-Like Boldness

Kids' rooms are the perfect place to pair bright color with bold pattern. Try a playful wallpaper, such as the one in this room, or experiment on your own with paint and stencils.

Double Duty

If you have the chutzpah to purchase a show-stopping piece of contemporary furniture, why not go further and get it upholstered in fire-engine red? Your functional furniture will double as a work of art

Test the Red Waters

If you're not sure about committing a wall (or four) to bright red, try adding it bit by bit with accessories. Artwork, small furniture, or a pillow and throw can help you decide if you red is a color you can live with.

Gallery Instruction

An accent wall can solve many a decorating woe. Use it to add a burst of red to a room and showcase a large work of art. The whole wall acts as a pseudo-frame for the piece, which works especially well in long, narrow rooms.

Color Tactics

Cranberry red walls add rich formality to this living room. A wall this bold acts as an accessory, so use open bookcases and leaves lots of space for the wall to peep through.

No-Fail Focal Point

A sedate color scheme calls for an obvious place for the eye to rest. Enter bold red furniture, which provides a strong focal point and a spirit of youthfulness to the room.

Decorating in Pink

Garden Pinks

Soft pink and green prints bring the garden indoors. Curtains tied back on the sides of the bed create an interesting focal point. Feminine touches like pretty prints and lace details complete the room.

Lemonade Inspiration

Whether it's pink or yellow, lemonade is a favorite summertime drink. More than a sweet beverage, it is also an inspiring color palate. Here, yellow and pink create a space as refreshing as cold lemonade. Balancing light and vibrant shades of both colors keeps the space from being tart.

Porch Perfect

A bright shade of pink looks right at home with white wicker furniture. Green and pink fabrics give the space a garden feel that's perfect for a porch. Because the furniture is neutral white, it would be easy to add other colors when inspiration strikes. Introduce a color like golden yellow or a darker pink for an instant facelift.

Pink Dreams

The color combination of pink, white, and black can take on many personalities. In this room, the trio presents itself as whimsically traditional. Clouds of white bedding are accented by a pink bed skirt and walls. Touches of black, like on the wrought-iron bed and wardrobe, tie the soft-hued room together. Light-colored walls allow antique silhouette pictures to pop.

Pink Goes Country French

Neutral walls and window treatments set the stage for a color scheme of pink, yellow, and green. Pink becomes the standout color as it makes an appearance on furniture, rugs, and linens. The striped couch and toile chair personify Country French style. Accessories like old books and a graceful area rug add to the style of the room.

Country Charm

A linen paint finish in deep pink dresses down this quaint vessel sink. Touches of white, like on the mirror, baseboards, and accessories, tie the space together. A rag rug and fabric accents on the stool and sink cabinet give the bathroom a folksy flair.

Modern Chic

Pink in one of its richest and boldest forms, fuchsia, makes a statement against a black-and-white backdrop. Fuchsia table runners dress up a black cabinet. A bubblegum pink accent wall adds more pink flair. Graphic black-and-white wallpaper provides contrast and adds to the modern atmosphere.

With Room to Grow

This combination guest room and baby nursery was decorated with an eye to the future. Without just-for-the-moment baby motifs, the room exudes quiet sophistication in pale pink. The room can be modified to grow from toddler to teen years.

What's Cooking?

Warm up pink with golden tones and you have coral -- a color that brings on sophisticated fun. This soft combination of pink and orange is a far cry from cooler, blue-toned pinks that can have a chilly feel. The bright color wakes up this white kitchen. Because it has golden tones, pairing coral with yellow is a no-fail color combination.

Shabby Chic Retreat

A floral accent pillow's background color is brought to the forefront. The soft green is repeated on the walls and furniture. Pink is the accent color, appearing in the fabrics and bedding, along with lots of cool white.

A Balancing Act
Hot pink on the walls takes a leap of faith, yet the effect is dazzling. Traditional white bedding and furniture balance the bright magenta. Bright toile and plaid fabrics repeat the deep wall color on the bedding and curtains. Combining classical elements with a modern color like magenta creates a room with personality.