Neutral Palette Blooms With Color

Gone are the days when selling your house meant drowning it in a sea of beige to appease potential buyers. The neutral palette now blooms with color. Turquoise, purple and orange flash a bit of brilliance next to the creams and sandy tans.

"There is an entire world out there of colors that are not beige," says Stephanie Hoppen, author of the book Perfect Neutrals: Color You Can Live With (Watson-Guptill, $35). "If green is not neutral, gardens would always look ghastly; if blue is not neutral, nothing would go with the sea or sky."

Explaining color theory, Hoppen shows how to pair deep, rich hues with equally intense colors to create a soothing room. In the right combinations, even saturated colors can harmonize, not jar, she says. To aid the reader, Hoppen includes helpful reference charts for paint colors, carpets and upholstery fabrics. She also provides a source list for paint, wallpaper, carpet, flooring, fabric, leather, lighting and accessories. As Hoppen is British, a number of the specialty stores are in the United Kingdom, but most of her sources are international with products available in the US.

If you're getting ready to sell your house, consider using colorful new neutrals to attract buyers. Consult with veteran realtor John Day. An expert at staging homes for sale, John can let you know where best to spend your time and money to make your home attractive to buyers. Visit John Day's website for more seller tips. You'll find great tips for buyers too and hundreds of beautiful homes for sale in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. If you're selling or buying a home, John Day is your key to success.