Snow is here…

It’s winter-time and most of the United States is experiencing low temperatures.  Some of us even have snow!  I love snow…  there is something pristine and irreplaceably beautiful in a fresh snow.  But the depiction of snow in art is usually limited to white, silver and sometimes–for the more daring–red.  Now, for all the rainbow colors that can be seen when looking closely at snow, I have never seen red!

But I would encourage designers to embrace other colors at winter-time for multiple reasons.  First, because the light is so very bright and wonderfully reflective, that certain bright colors become cheery and work only at this time of year.  Second, those who don’t live in snow may be under the impression that it is dark and we need extra light palettes, but, actually, when there is snow constantly on the ground, it never gets dark!  At night, the glow of snow can peak through the gaps in your curtains and keep you up at night.  And, third, because in a winter-white world, decorating with white leads to winter blahs, it is almost necessary to keep color around.  Help us keep from becoming S.A.D. and give us some cheery colors!  Even red (because, frankly, it works very well at this time of year).

If you are wondering what colors accent snow whites, I would suggest looking at what blooms or has kept its color during the snowy months.  Over winter, there are red, pink, and blue berries on bushes.  The early spring bulbs have yellows, violets and pale pinks with a spring green or dark, velvet green accent.