Color Blog

In this section, you will find articles about the use of color within various industries. Click on the RSS icon to the subscribe to our Color Articles feed in your newsreader.

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The color teal has long been valued for its uniqueness, versatility and ability to impact powerful color combinations. Ancient Persians believed it could ward off evil. Egyptian cultures appreciated this deepened shade of turquoise as an emblem of trust and faithfulness. It reminded Tibetan monks of the enormity of the sea and the sky. For Native Americans, teal was connected to water and fertility, and this lovely, mysterious color offered hope for a prosperous future.

Today, teal represents the perfect combination of blue and green and the equally excellent pairing of down-to-earth qualities and sophistication. Because both men and women appreciate this color, it has been welcomed into fashion, jewelry and interior design. While it has the individual strength to stand alone, teal also works willingly with a variety of other colors to produce customized results.

Valentine’s Day is known around the world as an opportunity to celebrate love. Red, pink or white roses and humorous or sentimental cards are the typical gifts exchanged. In America, jewelry has also become a popular love token. However, almost any present wrapped in Valentine colors is acceptable.

Red roses symbolize energy, passion and deep love. Traditionally, they are reserved for intimate, romantic relationships. From earliest times, a red rose has been valued for its fragrance and beauty. Giving this lovely crimson creation to a friend for Valentine’s Day could send the wrong message and create an awkward situation.

Pink roses might be a better choice for a friend or family member. This color speaks of affection, sweetness and understanding. Since pink is actually created by combining red and white, some consider pink to be the representation of innocence and virginity. Light pink can represent grace, gentility, admiration and friendship. Dark pink, on the other hand, leans more toward gratitude, appreciation and thankfulness.

No bedroom is more lovingly planned than the baby's nursery. Every parent wants the youngest member of the family to feel safe and happy in a bedroom that is colorful and interesting. Choosing the perfect color palette for your baby’s room depends on several factors. For some parents, continuity is important, and if the rest of the house is traditional, they want the nursery to echo that theme. On the other hand, other parents like incorporating variety into their decorating style and try to match individual rooms to the personality of the occupant. Additional considerations include the size of the room, the natural lighting available, the gender of the baby and special features such as murals or architecture.

Modern baby-room trends can echo color combinations that are also popular elsewhere in the house. Grey and yellow or black and white pairs are favorites for those who appreciate a modernist approach. Bold vibrant colors are also popular. Traditional parents tend to favor vintage white with pastel accents or green and violet pastel combinations. Eco-conscious parents will probably carry their earthy color theme from the rest of the house right into the nursery.

Today's parents often know the gender of their babies even before they are born. This advantage allows them to decorate in the right colors before baby comes home. Boys will be fine with any color on the color wheel except pink or purple. Baby girls can settle happily into any color as long as red or blue are not the dominant choices. For a gender-neutral room, simply avoid pink and purple completely and keep red and blue as secondary colors.

Although it seems impossible that more color shades and hues could exist on this planet, the Pantone Fashion Color Report has recently announced 175 new color codes and brought its official color chart labels to a total of 2,100. Increasing appreciation for global color influences may explain how these new shades have been discovered and identified. For 2012, the winner from among so many potential candidates is juicy Tangerine Tango. However, this vivacious orange is actually only one of twelve dominant themes for women's fashions for spring and summer of 2012.

Inevitably, spring makes us think of new life, new hope and renewed energy. With the lethargy and dullness of winter slipping away, women want to look re-energized and vibrant. According to Fashion Snoops Trend Report, Tangerine Tango is joined by a warm Poppy red, sensual Geranium rosy-red, cheery Canary yellow and spring Grass yellow-green. Both Tiffany blue and Sodalite marine blue are refreshing and cool choices. Bellflower, a deep ornamental purple; Hyacinth, a softer version; and Sweet Lilac, a light, romantic pink-lavender will be ideal companions from spring through the lovely long days and evenings of summer. Even the intriguing Inky dark blue reflects contemporary classic style.

Every season needs neutrals to balance the palette of favorite colors, and the choices this year are reminders of smooth Honey and clean Sandstone. A beige-grey combination known as Driftwood speaks of weathered cottages and sand-washed beaches. By mixing these softly muted tones with bright vivid colors and mischievously delicate pastels, women’s fashions for spring and summer are guaranteed to be fun-loving and playful with just a hint of classic finesse.

It would seem that jewelry has always been the perfect present for a loved one, and holidays, birthdays and anniversaries are the equally perfect occasions for such gift-giving. By choosing specific gemstone colors, you can further identify those qualities that you value in your significant other or in your special relationship.

Every woman loves to receive jewelry, and rings, pendants, bracelets necklaces and earrings are always considered appropriate personal gifts. Not only can these items be constant reminders of the affection of the giver, but they are also easy to show off to friends and associates. For natural health practitioners, the color and type of gemstone can represent a variety of healing properties. For others, there is the belief that good fortune and magical powers may accompany certain colors. Even the month in which you were born is associated with specific gemstones.

How do you choose the right jewelry for your loved one? While women may say they can’t wear one of the two most popular metals, gold and silver, they are probably really stating that they simply prefer one to the other. Keep those personal preferences in mind when shopping for your loved one. With all the shades of gold available today, you can choose a very bright yellow that would look great on anyone with darker skin tones, or you can purchase white gold, an ideal choice for those with white or gray hair or blue undertones in their skin.