Well, here we are, just on the brink of another summer after a brilliant spring; I couldn’t be happier. There are a million and one reasons to love summer, but as you can guess, summer is one of my favorite times of year to embrace colors and reinvent outdoor areas of the homestead.
As a color specialist, I’m always taking cues from the world around me, particularly the natural world around me; and it’s hard to beat the spectacular displays that June and July colors provide us! As the summer solstice approaches, there’s tremendous opportunity to surround ourselves with colors that inspire energy or promote relaxation; I feel when summer happenings are at their best, it’s a fine balance between energy and relaxation. Let’s discover some June colors that embrace the best of both worlds!
There are three different birthstones for June, and each has an alluring charm reminiscent of sitting on a white sandy beach while the sunsets on the longest day of the year. Alexandrite is a gemstone that is one of the June birthstones, and I find it an incredibly fitting choice for the month. Alexandrite has a magical quality that makes it appear light emerald green in the sunlight and a soft glowing ruby-purple by moonlight. I can’t help but be reminded of the green-to-purple cast of a sunset, at twilight, on the beach. This stone is where June colors get their purple influence.
Pearl, a different precious gemstone that doesn’t arise from the earth but from the rich depths of the sea, is another birthstone for June. It represents the sea, serenity, patience, purity, and beauty. The purest of pearls can be stark white, but I particularly enjoy the creamy off-white that some pearls embody. It reminds me of sandy beaches and the perfection of imperfection that nature provides.
Moonstone completes the trifecta of June birthstones, and while moonstones can come in different shades, they’re primarily known for their light blue hues reminiscent of a moon’s glow on a soft summer night. Moonstones possess an optical effect known as adularescence, which creates the illusion of a glowing silver/milky-blue light emanating from the stone. It’s a very cool effect, and while trying to replicate it without using metallic paints would be hard, it’s nice to take soft-blue cues from the stone and use those blues as representations of June colors.
Picture this charmed and relaxed setting: you’ve invited friends and family over for a lovely summer solstice garden party that begins late in the afternoon. You have comfortable, white oak outdoor furniture draped with creamy pearl off-white pillows; above the head are summer patio string lights, which don’t get turned on until dusk. You prepare the dining table with warm oranges for the glassware and pale-blue table linens. Family and friends drink, laugh, and dine until the sun sets, and the same colors you curated your party with begin to dance across the night sky – I can’t imagine anything more wonderful than time spent with family and friends in this setting!
While the soft, warm June evenings are great for relaxing color combinations, we also want to embrace the livelier colors nature provides to bring energy to the beach and barbecue-filled June days. While not as hot and hazy as July, June and the beginning of summer are certainly an opportunity to use warm, sunny, and lively color combinations. I love curating energized colors for June days; here are just a few suggestions to keep your June days buzzing and fun-filled:
These colors play off each other beautifully and create a pleasant, lighthearted ora wherever they’re arranged. Here’s the scenario. You’re hosting a seaside or poolside luncheon/picnic. You have a creamy yellow blanket beneath your feet with some comfy orange pillows, highlighted by lime slices in each sparkling, tall glass of colorful drinks you and your guests sip on as the day’s heat hits just the right note.
These colors are reminiscent of the color theme in the Color911 app named Garden Party. Every theme of colors has its own personality; it’s so much fun to look through them all. Another color theme is Sunkissed, which shares the glow of the sunset and the warm colors of a June day at the beach! There are many more color themes to explore if you’re looking for colors to inspire you!
I love this combination; there’s something oceanic, fluid, and energizing about how this arrangement of colors plays off one another. If your patio feels flat and overrun by neutrals without a spark, this color combination will add some life to the setting without feeling forced, cheesy, or tasteless. Picture peach accent pillows on your sky blue chaise lounges; that will make anyone want to spend an afternoon enjoying the sun. Add a turquoise cabana with soft-white coffee tables, and you’re in business!
So tell me, what are your favorite memories of June and the beginning of summer? What are the colors that call to you this time of year? What do June colors represent to you? Do you picture a stunning sunset on the beach or a light afternoon breeze coming in through open windows, softly shifting white curtains against the backdrop of a blue sky?
I always love hearing from you, so please share your thoughts and stories with me!
