Summer is the perfect time to add delightful aqua to your home.

The possibilities in color and finish are almost limitless.

What exactly is the color aqua? It’s hard to define because aqua is a combination of blue and green and maybe a little gray or beige. The amounts of each hue can vary.

That’s why aqua comes in so many different, beautiful shades, from the softest pale to quite bold, and why there are so many names for aqua, including aquamarine, teal, sea glass, cyan, turquoise and more.

When you add aqua to your decorating mix, the feeling you achieve depends on the shade of aqua you select and the colors that you choose to go with it.

Aqua can be casual or formal depending on the other finishes and colors in your rooms. For a beachy vibe, add items you’ve collected at the seashore such as driftwood, shells and natural grasses. For a more formal look, use aqua as you would any other accent color, with the classic, modern, or eclectic accessories you like best.

The color and design possibilities are varied for beautiful aqua accents:

• Pair aqua with soft brown and tan, then add rustic woods and sea glass.
• Combine aqua with soft sand-colored fabric and paint, and add whitewashed finishes and seashells.
• Put aqua together with crisp black and white, or with softer chocolate brown and white, or with tailored dark charcoal and white.
• Team aqua with sage green for a fern garden feel.
• Mingle aqua with bright tomato red for a lively and energized atmosphere.

This summer it’s all about aqua. Add some of this delightful color to your home this season for long-lasting beauty and enjoyment.

© Hunter Douglas