LEMONS

By Cheryll Gillespie

How does that saying go? Oh Ya…When life gives you lemons, make great home decor, ………well that’s the way I remember it!

Lemons not only make great lemonade but they also make for great design inspiration and as spring stakes its claim and summer starts knocking on our doors, lemons can be a great inspiration for home fashion.

Of all the colours on the colour wheel, shades of lemon have the sunniest dispositions. It is hard not to have a smile on your face when in the company of such a jovial hue. Need to brighten your mood? Simply add yellow to your homes décor as the colour yellow is always thought of as joyful, open, and friendly. When light hits yellow, it creates a carefree, radiant and open feel perfect for spaces such as a kitchen, sunroom, hallway or foyer. Consider putting a fresh coat of yellow paint on the kitchen walls to cheer you as you pour that morning cup of coffee or consider using yellow in the foyer to greet you with an abundance of good will as you arrive home each day. Yellow is a natural choice for a front door of your house, as it is friendly and a yellow front door will certainly draw attention and give a home curb appeal. Yellow is also an excellent choice for window less spaces such as hallways. Using yellow in a dark and dingy hallway will give the space a sense of illumination and the suggestion of light cast, as it leads you down the hall. I prefer to use shades of yellow in rooms we do not spend great lengths of time in, as yellow is the first colour to ‘hit’ the human eye, this makes it difficult to look at for extended periods. Long exposure to yellow can leave us feeling unsettled and nervous although you can confidently add yellow accents in any room to uplift the spirit without fear of negative repercussions. Try a bouquet of yellow tulips, a hand painted yellow chest or bench, a bowl of lemons, yellow toss cushions, a yellow blanket throw, yellow matting on picture frames or a grouping of yellow vases on the fireplace mantel.

When we see yellow in advertising, it immediately commands our attention. Yellow will also trigger memory- in the home; we can use these colourful attributes to draw attention to a specific focal point or to draw the eye to important pieces of furniture or art placed in an art niche.

When working with yellow be careful not to make the palette to ‘Easter eggish ‘(yellow with pink, lavender or pale blue)…..for a refreshing contemporary combination try yellow with acid green or turquoise or yellow paired with black and white. For a country styled yellow-based palette try yellow with sun-baked red and accents of copper or yellow with an olive or sage green. A classic French country combo of blue and yellow is always charming.

Yellow is as much a visual colour as it is a scent- when we see yellow we expect to smell energizing citrus aromas such as lime, lemon or lemon grass. These scents, like the colour yellow will invigorate, refresh and lift our spirits. Lemon is also a natural antiseptic, perfect for using to clean countertops in kitchens and bathrooms. Lemon grass essential oil  increases visual concentration, try simmering some well studying for those end of  the year exams. Allow the aroma of yellow to surround and fill your life, your home, your workplace!

Now sit back and enjoy a refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade and a piece of lemon meringue pie in your favorite citrus inspired room!

Cheryll Gillespie is a nationally syndicated Design and Décor columnist and an eRenovate.com Expert.