Call me a traditionalist, but I have a true sense of old-fashioned enthusiasm for the 4th of July holiday. Without delving into the political divides that we hear about daily; I feel the 4th of July is a holiday that represents the “better angels of our nature,” and it’s a great holiday to spend with loved ones, friends, and even neighbors as the summer kicks into high gear! Of course, It wouldn’t be my blog without some inspired color arrangement suggestions for the holiday as well!
I wanted this opportunity to provide some color palettes that will appeal to both the 4th of July traditionalists and those who wish to celebrate the holiday with some creative new color options.
There are some cornerstones of the 4th of July holiday that just can’t be ignored. Whether it’s The Boss’s Born in the U.S.A album, burgers and dogs on the grill, town parades, smores by the fire, or fireworks in the evening, there are many nostalgic and classic elements to the holiday. For me, the red, white, and blue colors are right at the top of that list.
It doesn’t require great deduction to determine that the red, white, and blue colors everpresent on the 4th of July derive from the colors of the American flag, the image that is the symbol of our forebears and the country we still are today. To acknowledge that everyone’s got different tastes, I like to consider red, white, and blue the “traditionalist” color palette for the 4th of July.
Every personality will celebrate, decorate, and design differently. There are ways to incorporate red, white, and blue colors inside and outside your home without being too flashy or loud. For example, some cape cod exterior colors are traditionalist, understated with cloud-white siding, a red front door, and royal blue shutters. While that would be an example of semi-permanent exterior paint colors, there are quick ways to embrace the traditionalist colors in refined ways.
Picture this: You’re hosting a 4th of July party, and it’s an opportunity to use new dinnerware, tablecloths, lighting, flowers, and even furniture. You’ve got a pergola on the patio, and white and blue linen drapes are strung from each corner. The tablecloth is a pale greyish-white, and the dinner plates are a deep, crimson red. White and yellow daisies sit in a royal blue glass vase in the center of the table. As the afternoon turns into evening, each guest has a sparkler to hold against the sky as fireworks ignite in the distance; this is the stuff memories are made of!
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or unenthusiastic about paring red, white, and blue together in your arrangements, a simpler and even more minimalist approach is to take each of the primary colors (red, blue) and pair them with white on their own.
White paired with a primary color is a simple yet timelessly successful color partnership and something to consider when curating your 4th of July design schemes. Picture white trim surrounding a royale blue front door with a lighter blue as the base color to the building exterior. Or, even a cardinal red tablecloth placed on top of a white picnic table – sometimes less is more.
Red, white, and blue colors have stood the test of time; they have influenced a design style known as “Americana.” Americana celebrates all positive things associated with American culture, design, and artistic influence.
A great way to bring a little Americana design into your 4th of July arrangements is to pair red, white, and blue with rustic elements, such as old woods, tools, metals, and anything reminiscent of “farmhouse” design. It really makes your entire design scheme feel authentic and charmed!
For those who wish to do something a little different this 4th of July, color schemes stem from unique natural patterns are a great place to find new inspiration! You may have read my blog about Midsummer celebrations and that holiday’s fascinating and enchanting color schemes. I find that variations on the Midsummer colors work beautifully for a 4th of July celebration or even as a color arrangement for the entire summer.
As a quick recap, Midsummer is primarily a celebration of the summer solstice in Scandinavian countries, where the daylight can be present for almost 24hrs straight in some areas! It’s a celebration of the fertility and bounty that the earth shares with us at the height of the summer season. Some truly beautiful color arrangements are synonymous with the holiday, and I suggest they can easily be subbed in for the traditionalist 4th of July colors if preferred.
The summer is the perfect season to embrace all the shades of gold, colors that embody the sun! Rich shades of yellow, brown, orange, and white combine harmoniously to represent the sun’s fertility, warmth, and energy.
Whether it’s an interior space like a reading room or dining space, embracing all these shades will create a lively warmth that would keep anyone smiling, even on the coldest days. Picture a jar of honey shining/glowing in a mason jar on the counter in the afternoon summer sunlight, and it’s that exact feeling you can bring to a 4th of July celebration.
So, what do you anticipate for your 4th of July holiday? What colors will you be embracing? Are you thinking of sticking with the tried and true traditionalist colors? Or will you opt for a different arrangement this year, with something different to say? Please share your thoughts, stories, and anecdotes with me! As a color specialist, I always love hearing different design opinions!
