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Put the idea of dusty roses, ribboned ducks and stenciled hearts out of your head. There's nothing fussy or precious about country's new look. It's still about a casual, relaxed comfort, but instead of Grandma's kitchen, imagine a country cabin or a lakeside retreat complete with nature's vistas.
"The more urban country palette has soft, liveable colours," says Bev Bell, creative director for Beauti-Tone Paint and Home Products at Home Hardware. "[The palette has] colours that make you feel relaxed, colours that you want to live in, but that also bring an energy to a room."
"Green has become a neutral in decorating," adds Sharon Grech of Benjamin Moore. "It makes a lively, natural foundation for all other colours. In 2009, we'll continue to see beautiful variations of green, from cooler blue-greens to lively yellow-greens."
So, it's time to branch out from beige! Taking inspiration from the great Canadian outdoors, the modern country palette not only includes greens, but is rich with watery blues, the deep oranges and reds of fall leaves, and soothing golden yellows.
Use neutrals to balance these rich, saturated tones, but resist falling back on your trusted standards. "Neutrals are much more than the beiges and off-whites we're used to," points out Johanna McLellan of Para Paint. "Khakis, browns, greys, blacks are all considered neutrals, as well." Think nature's backdrop, like the browns of trees and a carpet of fallen leaves, and the greys of the skies and rocks.
Painting just one piece of furniture in a fun colour, like a mossy green, is also a great way to bring colour and just a bit of trendiness into your home, suggests Grech.
Don't be afraid of making a 'wrong' decision. "If you're still afraid of colour, start with a smaller space like a bathroom, laundry room, entryway or a feature wall," says McLellan.
Off the wall
Have a little fun with texture and pattern, too. Wallpaper in bold prints is making a comeback, but there are also some things you can do with paint to liven up plain walls.
A 'strie' glazing technique will give you a striped look, says Grech. It's created by dragging a dry brush through a glaze mixture applied over a base colour.
Borrow ideas from the fashion runways for your home. "Try some high-gloss striping on a matte base to create texture, especially on a feature wall," suggests McLellan. "If you tried a new neutral, like a dark khaki brown, a few stripes would look amazing. Try dark on dark, light on light or combine colours."
Above all, trust yourself. "Paint is an extension of your personality," says McLellan. "If it's what you like, put it on the walls!"
* Find inspiring 'new country' colour palettes on the next page.
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