Going green can energize room

The color green in decoration will always be in fashion, especially in our homes. It's the shades and pairings that root this multifaceted hue in a particular decade or style. It's strange, but I always think to myself that I don't actually like green, and yet I use it in my interiors a lot. Green has a timeless versatility and organic spirit that is unique.

As with most colors, it's the mix that makes the most of a pattern or color theme. The most famous pairing, green and red, denotes a Christmas mood. This traditional duo is festive and nostalgic. Paper and fabrics in plaids, stripes, polka dots or side-by-side solids of green and red make a strong statement. But décor is not usually seasonal in our paint colors or our furnishings, so be wary when putting these two colors together -- they can be rather heavy. You can soften the look by choosing paler shades of these two colors without losing their charm. However, as pertinent as this style is in the winter months, it doesn't carry well throughout the year. I suggest you make red and green an accent combo that can be switched out when warmer weather arrives.

The old adage that blue and green should never be seen has been proven wrong time and again. In fact, this is a natural combination: Tree leaves and sky blues make the point pretty clear.

The large blue and green flowers in the bathroom wallpaper seen here are a bold and fun modern combination. Mixing textures is a popular trend this year, and combining wallpaper and tile makes this room special. Glossy lime-green subway tiles in the shower surround pick up the bright green in the wallpaper, and the white tiles and paper background make the colors pop. Green comes alive paired with white and takes away the clinical aspect of an all-white scenario.

Blue and green go well together in countrified family spaces and bedrooms, while taupe and beige mute the power of green. These are organic combinations, subtle and easy to live with. They can feel a bit muddy on their own, which is easily fixed by inserting either white or a clear, clean shade of orange or blue as accents. You don't require much to make the difference: Picture frames, vases, lamps and artwork are simple items that will liven up your room.

Stylish clothing and home fashions are never far apart. In fact, if you are having difficulty deciding on a paint color that you will love, check out your closet. We shop for colors that look good on us and make us feel special, and you won't go wrong following the same instincts for your décor.

One of the hottest pairings this year is chocolate brown trimmed with bright emerald green. You'll find it on the fashion racks, dark-brown suit jackets and dresses trimmed with emerald green piping or buttons, plaid sweaters with that vibrant green in the mix. If that works for you, then you'll love draperies and accent pillows with the same tailored appeal.

Too much green doesn't work. A few decades ago hunter green was all the rage. Entire rooms were painted in this shade, sofas covered in hunter green plaids, curtains, carpets -- it was overkill. So much so that it dropped out of sight; we needed a break. A room with green walls, even the lighter or brighter shades, reflects on our skin, and this hue literally makes us look sick. So choose your green carefully, and pair it up with one or two of the colors I have mentioned to give it character.

Debbie Travis is a columnist for King Features Syndicate. E-mail questions to her at house2home@debbietravis.com.