By now, most parts of the country have traded the sun-filled days of summer for a crisper fall clime but the warming presence of the sun is still evident in our selection of this month’s color. From the runway to the changing leaves outside your window, this happy hue is popping up everywhere. It’s such a natural choice that it won by a (nearly) unanimous vote. Wanna know what it is?
As you know, teal is our October Color of the Month. Many of you agreed it is the perfect color for fall, and I have to say, I happily agree. I was all about mustard-yellow going into October, but I think I’ve found a new favorite color. My nails are painted a glossy shade of teal. I recently picked up a deep teal dress. And now I think I can finally say goodbye to summer without too much separation anxiety, all thanks to my new best friend. The hue instantly struck a vintage chord in my mind. Retro teal electrics, hand-blown glass and mid-century modern kitchen wares. Check out some of my favorite vintage teal finds.
Entertaining with the Color of the Month: Let’s Talk Teal
All from ETSY: 1. Vintage Avon Fish Cologne Bottle :: FunVintageLiving 2. Vintage Swingline Stapler :: WiseApple 3. Vintage Boston Champion Pencil Sharpener :: swagJUICE 4. Large Samsonite Biscayne Luggage :: theoldgoat 5. Retro Motorola Electric Clock :: BeatriceinBlue 6. Cathrinehom White and Teal Lotus Cooking Pan :: MidModMomStore 7. Nelson McCoy Vase :: alamodern 8. Mid-Century Modern Chair :: SocietyInc 9. Vintage China Dish :: vintagebitsandpieces 10. Vintage Ceramic Plates :: thecupcakekid
In what form would you most likely use teal in your home? Slathered across your walls in a shade from your favorite paint collection? In bold accents? A dose of vintage fun?
Tell us in the comments below.
For October, our trend savvy HGTV.com editors chose teal as the Color of the Month. This lovely shade falls somewhere between blue and green. While researching ideas for using this rich color, I came across a wide spectrum of tones, many of which were called teal but seemed too blue. I think a true teal has more green in it. I compiled a few ideas on how you can use this color in your next event. First up, sweets like candy, cupcakes, sprinkles and candy apples that are eye-catching and easy to serve at a casual or elegant gathering.
teal sweets :: sprinkles, candy apples, candy corsage, chocolate bar, cupcakes
Paper is always an essential part of the party, at least for me. Use invitations, tags, thank you notes and paper decorations in teal to carry the color scheme throughout.
teal paper elements :: thank you cards, tags, pomettes, tissue flowers
I spotted some great decorative pieces in teal that can add the color and style to your gathering. I love this custom made initial, which could be placed on your food/dessert table or by the front door to greet guests. The gorgeous pattern is fabric, which could be used to make a table cloth or runner.
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HGTV.com editor Camille Smith summed it up beautifully: Our October Color of the Month is “saturated, intense and a real show-stopper.” A child of the ’80s, Camille is psyched to see the return of this bold hue. I think you’ll agree, its comeback feels nothing like that maligned decade. Today’s interpretations make fabulous design statements, like this 1940s McCoy vase or this ’60s Samsonite train case. Classic looks that are totally now. (And a color you probably never thought you’d love paired with regatta blue or grass green.)
Meet turquoise’s subdued but equally stunning big sister…a Pantone top fall color…
Did you catch Anna’s Color of the Month post for September? Your response to indigo was really positive. Readers called it calming, pretty, lovely, organic and many more flattering adjectives. Indigo falls somewhere between blue and violet and is named after a dye used in India and other countries around the world. When it comes to entertaining with indigo, finding inspiration gets quite a bit harder. I have personally never used this color for a party, but after my research, I think it would be beautiful for a dinner party or wedding.
sources :: plate, placemat, coasters, tea towel
What I did find, was that you often see gorgeous intricate patterns paired with items of this color, as seen above in the plate and tea towel.
While searching Etsy, I spotted a few handmade paper items including a heart garland, journal and gift tags. Aren’t they gorgeous?
When I was little, I loved to pick the magenta-hued poke berries from my parents’ yard and smash them up to dye rags, doll clothes and, usually, sections of whatever I happened to be wearing that day. But as a (mostly) grown-up girl, I haven’t experimented much with natural dyes. So in honor of September’s Color of the Month, I’m trying one of the world’s oldest, richest dyeing techniques: indigo. From growing the plant to making the dye, here’s how you can create your own vibrant indigo piece.
Clockwise from top-left: 1. Indigo-Dyed Kaya :: Sri Threads 2. DIY Shibori :: Honestly, WTF 3. Shibori-Dyed Japanese Cotton Scarves :: Sweet Georgian Yams 4. Shibori Print Close-Up :: nara blog
Indigo has a history as rich as its midnight hue: It’s mentioned in Indian manuscripts from as far back as the fourth century, and its vibrant hue was the impetus for the centuries-old textile trade in West Africa. And there’s a reason the natural version is still popular worldwide: It creates color that’s brighter than the synthetic stuff and doesn’t fade.
Growing and Harvesting Indigo
To really get to the, ahem, root of this tradition, do as the traditionalists do: plant and harvest your own indigo plants. The deep, dark hue actually starts as an unassuming green plant. There are nearly 300 varieties of indigo, but all are easy to grow and the nitrogen the plants release even makes it easier for edible crops like corn and wheat to grow nearby.
Clockwise from top-left: 1. Indigo plants :: Britt Browne 2. New indigo seedlings :: Britt Browne 3. Indigo powder: Britt Browne 4. Kenichi Utsuki stirring up one of three dye vats :: Sweet Georgia Yams 5. Moroccan indigo :: Britt Browne 6. Making indigo balls :: Henry Drewal
When the plants mature, the leaves can be dried or turned into long-lasting “indigo balls” — the harvested leaves are pounded into balls and left in the sun to dry. When you’re ready to make dye, draw the color out of the leaves by soaking them in alkaline water, draining and paddling to separate the indigo solids from the liquid. The sediment that’s left is pure indigo powder, which can be pressed into cakes for later use. Get the full indigo recipe and how-to at Hand/Eye Magazine.
Through the process of researching our September Color of the Month and compiling inspiring interiors and decor in this shade, I came across some pretty interesting online debates that verged on hostile. Apparently, defining this color can stir up some heat. Surprising for such a peaceful color. (You’d think we’d picked fire engine red.) Is it possible that a greater internal struggle surfaces not when asking “To be or not to be” but rather…
Last week, Anna blogged about decorating with chrome yellow, HGTV’s August Color of Month. So, as I prepared my post on entertaining with chrome yellow, it dawned on me that I must have a thing for color, because I seem to adore every hue that is picked as the Color of the Month. One of these days, the HGTV color team will select a tough one for entertaining, and I promise to confess if I hate it. For now, I’m all about this month’s bright shade of yellow.
credits :: lemon bars, frozen lemonade, lemon cupcakes
My favorite color trend right now is the yellow and gray combination. From home decorating to weddings, this pairing is simply gorgeous. These pretty paper details will add color and texture to your next soiree.
sources :: paper medallions, pinwheels, thank you cards, poms
Warning. Somewhere our feature blogger Brian Patrick Flynn is feeling the urge to “punch an angel.” That’s what he said in February when he ixnayed this color in favor of tangerine. Then in March, you, our Design Happens readers championed aqua over this hue in a runoff vote. But for those of you who described it as the color of happiness… for TaraLovesHGTV, Jolie, Leslie, @paintedroom, Amy PureHome, CplusE, Cynthia, time for a big smiley face. Kayla made a persuasive pitch to our color team, and HGTV.com’s August Color of the Month is…
Did you catch Anna’s July Color of the Month post last week? Lime is HGTV’s top trending hue for July, and I agree — it’s a perfect color for summer. Bright and refreshing! I shared my affection for June’s cerise in my last Color of the Month entertaining post, but I have to say that I love lime green even more. I hope you enjoy the entertaining ideas I’ve compiled to illustrate how to use this color at your next summer soiree.
lime centerpiece, lime cupcake
I love the idea of using actual lemons and limes to create centerpieces and floral arrangements. Simply fill glass vases with sliced or whole limes to add color and dimension to your arrangements. Cupcakes are always popular at celebrations, especially when they look as delicious as this key lime cupcake. And it brings new meaning to eating your greens!
Your guests will be green with envy when you welcome them to your soiree wearing one of these gorgeous green items. A simple green cocktail dress makes a bold statement. I love all the fabric flower hair accessories I’ve been seeing lately, and this lime one is perfection. Not into going green for your outfit? How about a little pop of color with this sparkly green bracelet?
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Nasturtium
With Spanish tiles, flat roof and custom door, this playhouse is a miniature version of the family home.
This kids' mini bungalow features scaled-down landscaping.
Mom built the ski chalet and Dad built the deck.
Gorgeous garden beds and a wee porch set off this playhouse.
This adorable cottage used to be a garden shed.
