May Colors – Spring’s “Coming Out” Party!

May, just saying the word brings a smile to my face. May is the warm sun on your shoulders, green leaves popping on the trees, and the blue skies that reinvigorate your soul after the winter thaws. If you’re like me, you just love May. May colors are worth celebrating and incorporating into the color schemes of your home and even wardrobe! I often talk about spring colors, well, May is the month to pull out all the stops and embrace spring for all its worth. 

In this blog, I’m going to share some of my favorite colors and design choices of May so you can enjoy picnics, barbeques, or casual Sunday morning brunch while embracing the colors of the month. 

Are You Looking for Some Indoor Plant Ideas This Spring? Click the Link to Find New Inspiration!

May Colors – The Traditional Choices

Colors often synonymous with May include pinks, yellows, greens, and light blues. It’s not hard to close your eyes and envision where these colors originated from. Picture a beautiful day in early-to-mid-May, the cherry blossoms, magnolias, and lilacs are all just coming into full bloom, and the skies are a clear blue. The buds on the trees are energized, and their green color is light and vibrant. The “coming out” party for spring floral life really happens in May, so it’s of no surprise that nature’s cheerful and vibrant colors have been adopted into design and fashion for the season. 

The birthstone for May is emerald, which I find delightful and appropriate as May is the month when greenery returns to the earth in full force. Whether emerald or not, I recommend to clients and friends that working green into your May color choices is always ideal, even if not paired with the other traditional choices. 

• The Perfect Traditionalist-May Presentation

Let’s paint a picture of a gorgeous May-inspired design scheme on a beautiful day. I like using the scene of an outdoor brunch (because why not spend as much time outside as possible in May!?) You’ve painted your hardwood table a fresh coat of cloud-white; it’s adorned with a beautiful pastel-periwinkle table cloth. Glasses filled with lemonade and ice sit next to each white brunch plate, while a yellow wild-flower bouquet sits confidently in the center of the table. You’ve picked up the fallen cherry blossom petals to layer on top, and the pink and green colors pop to create a wonderful juxtaposition from the cooler-mellow tabletop arrangement—a perfect way to touch upon all the traditional May colors. 

Are Your Exterior Paint Colors Inspiring to Walk By This Spring?

May Colors – New & Alternative Choices

As a color expert, if there is one message, tone, or feeling I want my May design to instill in people, it’s “awakening.” There are times of the year when heavier, saturated, and, yes, even sleepy colors are appropriate, but May is not one of them; I firmly believe that regardless of the selection, May colors need to create energy and promote an eye-opening experience. 

Some of my favorite alternative color arrangements for May offer some variation on the traditionalist color by combining one or more with an unexpected color. What do I mean by this? For example, lavender is one of my favorite colors for spring and May, but instead of complimenting with a light grey or neutral white, lavender can be set next to black and a hazelnut cream color combination for some wonderful results! 

• Alternative May Colors for Interior Comfort

Not every day in May will have picture-perfect weather, so let’s bring some color inspiration into the lounge or living room. I love how color consultants can balance vibrant colors like oranges and pinks with the right pairing of whites and creams. A lounge or living room with white or cream-colored sofas and chairs looks stunning when outfitted with throw blankets or pillows, tangerine or peach-colored. There’s a playfulness that comes from the pop of the citrus-inspired colors, but it still creates an overwhelming sense of calm and warmth in the space reflective of May. 

Finding Inspiration

I sympathize that sometimes it can be hard to make a design or color decision when the moment actually arrives; the pressure can feel overwhelming when you’ve got the paint cans or new furniture at the checkout line. I created the Color911 app for this exact reason, to help you find inspiration and feel confident in your color choices and arrangements! What is better than having at your fingertips dozens of premade color themes (curated by me) to see what fits your tastes best, what inspires you, or even excites you! You can also capture colors from an image and create color swatches right within the app, so you don’t forget what colors excite you!! 

Color inspiration is something we all take for granted, but imagine that there is a source of color inspiration with you at all times; that’s what the Color911 app is all about!

As always, please share your color stories with me! What is the pure essence of May in your mind? What colors help you embrace the beauty of May throughout your home? Enjoy one of the best months of the year 🙂