Shades of Aqua Beauty - Freshen Your Outdoor Living Space

By Debbie Rodgers

If you've been reading any decorating magazines this winter, you will have read the annual color forecasts: the designers', editors' and paint professionals' picks as to what colors will be popular during 2003. Of course, everyone has their own opinion and no two forecasts are the same, but one thing everyone agrees on: cool aqua is HOT this year.

This is great news for those of you looking for a way to renew your outside space because aqua translates easily outdoor living.

Technically, aqua is defined as blue-green (that is green with a bluish tinge) and turquoise is defined as green-blue (that is, blue that leans toward green). In practice, however, the two colors tend to merge and the terms are often used interchangeably. Just pick the shade that YOU like and bring it on home this year.

To bring the blue-green sea of the tropics home in a Caribbean theme, try this:

* Paint wooden floors a restful shade of aqua to mimic the ocean underfoot or leave the floors a soft sandy color and paint wicker or wooden furniture aqua

* Use lots of white trim and accents – white shutters or louvered doors and white wooden rockers are traditional island items

* Use accents of soft coral pink or sun-washed clay

* Bring on as many potted palms as you can fit in the space

* If you can't bring yourself to paint a major element such as the floor or furniture, try using aqua on a trellis, on flowerpots, in throw cushions or artwork. Colorful mosaics have an island feel, so use aqua mosaic tile for coasters.

In the Navajo decor of the American south-west, turquoise is used as a beautiful accent color. To achieve this sun-bleached desert look:

* Use wooden furniture – mission style loveseats or chairs with 6" thick cushions covered in a natural muslin, or wooden framed sling chairs with off-white fabric slings

* Use clay colors – in bricks, fire pits or chimneys, adobe-type walls, and flowerpots

* Make wonderful drought-tolerant container gardens using cacti and succulents

* Bring out the color of turquoise stone in polished accents or throw pillows, wall-hangings or flowerpots

Whether you love the sea or the desert, take advantage of this year's fashion focus and freshen your outdoor space with aqua. It will be beautiful all around you!

Suggested Color Picks To imitate the color of the Caribbean Ocean, try colors such as:

* Benjamin Moore's Bahama Green #2045-40 or Poolside Blue #2048-40

* Pittsburgh Paint's Tropical Splash #156-5

* Home Hardware's Beautitone's Paradise #1088 – This is my FAVE!

* CIL/ Glidden's Bali Hai #56GG 64/258 or South Seas #87GG 51/291

To reflect the jeweled hues of turquoise, use:

* CIL/ Glidden's Peacock's Plume #16BG 24/357

* Home Hardware's Beautitone's Liam's Song #1080

* Benjamin Moore's Cool Aqua #2056-40

* Pratt & Lambert's Reverie #1361

Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web at www.paradiseporch.com (site no longer active) and get a free report on "Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space". Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com