Las Vegas Review-Journal

Bring patriotic colors into home for July 4th

- By Katie Laughridge Tribune News Service

With summer quickly approachin­g, it is time to break out the Uncle Sam hats, fireworks and our finest patriotic decor. While I love a red, white and blue palette, the colors are especially meaningful when we fly our flags on Independen­ce Day.

The colors symbolize a great many things to Americans. Most directly, white signifies purity and innocence, red signifies hardiness and valor, and blue, perseveran­ce and justice. Between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, the use of red, white and blue is at an all-time high, and I love it.

While the color trio certainly pays homage to America, it is also a timeless color palette, and that’s something this design enthusiast can certainly appreciate (and celebrate). There are ways to incorporat­e the colors into your home, from a casual pop to full-on RWB mania as summer progresses.

Last year, I had the pleasure of visiting the home of one of our lovely customers in Kansas called the Wagon Wheel. Her home is the perfect example of taking the important colors and crafting a beautifull­y balanced display that takes farmhouse chic to the next level.

One lesson to take away when decorating with iconic color combinatio­ns is to choose a dominant color and spin it for your space. This customer’s focus on using many hues of blue — from navy to cerulean — allowed the space to welcome pops of red without turning it into a statement on patriotism.

Even without this being an existing color palette in your home, a few choice accessorie­s can turn your space into a summer-ready paradise. We set up a Memorial Day celebratio­n in a four-seasons room that has a festive flair, not one flag in sight. By using everyday items, you can create a nod to the flag’s colors in a subtle and beautiful way.

We started by switching out the winter table covering for a red, white and blue plaid and covering the buffalo check chairs with a nice white and blue ticking. We then set the table with our bright red plates — a favorite that plays into so many holidays — and accented the space with classic blue and white ginger jars. A few throw blankets and a whimsical star napkin ring brought the vision together and without a huge seasonal overhaul.

When all is said and done, as a lover of seasonal decor I like to showcase some USA flair during the summer months. As we get closer to Independen­ce Day, I turn up the volume on my RWB decor.

The traditiona­l beauty of a flag banner or swag cannot be underestim­ated. Mixing those traditiona­l items with touches of stars, stripes and Americana is a perfect way to celebrate the season. Whether you go all out or prefer a more relaxed approach, the most important part of seasonal decorating is to have fun and find what makes you happy.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States