We wish we could see the vibrant, sometimes shockingly intense colors of the sun every day. But some days it teases and taunts or refuses to shine. Those days are reminders to fully appreciate its brilliantly blazing hues of reds, oranges, yellows and even the occasional assertive pink. Rather than stealing one of nature's gifts, bringing the colors of the sun into our houses is a tribute to the colors' enormous influence on our moods and spirits, and on our physical well being. When clients express the concern that the colors are trendy, I point to more than 30 years of history that's been brightened by sun colors. Yellows, pinks and reds are always good. Orange stays as colors come and go but the shades of orange change. Recently it transitioned from a rust to truer orange," says Pennington. Kelli Milligan, owner of Renaissance Interiors, isn't surprised by the wild interest in colors of the sun, saying they never go out of style because people naturally want to be surrounded by them, just as they want to bask in the sun. "They're almost classic colors. Reds and yellows are the two number one colors I use for living rooms. Not fire engine red or lemon yellow, but more of a brown red and gold tones or wheat tones. They're inviting, warm and embracing," she says. "Reds and golds are never passé, unlike blues that go out of style like a revolving door. Maybe Louisvillians like reds so much because our weather can be quite gloomy. We need colors that warm up our environments and make us happy," says Kathy Snyder, designer with Drexel Heritage Louisville. Kathey Schickli, of Schickli Design Associates, has a different interpretation of the colors' appeal. "I think warm color schemes are popular because they enhance the tones in our skin. Reds and yellows are big now. Orange goes in and out of fashion, and it's now in fashion. It's usually used as an accent color. Yellow is a happy color that makes people feel good. They react more favorably to it than they do to cool colors. "The greens we're seeing are warm greens, such as lime, that have a lot of yellow. They're easy to pair with reds and yellows. Once you start with a warm color and want a consistent color scheme, keep all the colors in warm tones. They are beautiful with crisp white woodwork Warm tones look lovely with wood because wood is a natural product that exudes its own warmth" she adds. "We're combining coral and coral red colors with yellows and browns, sometimes even pale blues, to get a nice contrast," says Kevin Coleman, buyer and visual merchandiser at Tassels. Colors of the sun run the full color spectrum. Milligan uses a particular color, such as ruby red, then shades or tints it to achieve a pink that's used elsewhere in a space. In addition to using pink as part of the sun color palette, she enjoys using the yellow shades of the sun, and says peach colors are coming back into style because of their brown cast that enhance a variety of other colors. Check any paint chart and you'll find dozens of hues of shades of the sun's colors. But at Details, owner Lesa Buckler tends to use primary colors of the sun rather than hues, explaining that the primaries create a happy feel, lighten the mood and spark an energy. "Browns and gold can be striking with sun colors. We just completed a magnificent home in which the bedroom's main color is brown, being used in bedding and window treatments. We highlighted the room with orange, gold and yellow, and a touch of springy green. The colors of the sun made the room pop in a way other colors, such as beige or blue, wouldn't have done," says Buckler. Kelli Milligan, who teaches classes on the psychology of color, says colors of the sun represent an active color palette, meaning they're a stimulant, whereas greens and blues act as a depressant. She also stresses the physiological effect of the colors. "When surrounded by reds, the heart rate and body temperature, appetite and thirst increase. In fact, red is the only color that has been proven to raise blood pressure. It has to do with the fright or flight phenomenon. The power of colors is so strong that even nonsighted people are affected by them because colors are absorbed through the skin. If we were in a closet and never exposed to color, we'd become ill. It's impossible to perceive color when there's no color there. Humans need a full prism of color because it's a light source," she says. What's going in the world around us influences our color preferences. Milligan points to the increased popularity of earth tones following 9/11, observing that earth tones provide comfort and reduce stress and tension. Because colors can stimulate physical reactions, the selection of a color for a particular room might be based on the function of the room. For example, because red stimulates the appetite, it might not be a great kitchen color for someone wanting to lose weight. Neither is it generally considered a good choice for a bedroom since most bedrooms are designed to be soothing and peaceful. However, Lesa Buckler says that subtle hues of sun colors can be stunning in a bedroom. For children who are prone to hyperactivity, reds and yellows probably should be avoided as the main color in rooms where the children spend a great deal of time. Green stimulates articulation, making it a good color for rooms in which children learn and play. Interestingly, Milligan says that children are not able to perceive pastels during early infancy. "In a sea of color, the eye will always go to red. That's why stop signs are red. The next colors we see are orange, then yellow. McDonald's was very smart to design its signage of golden arches with red lettering. Wendy's is probably the second best logo in terms of its power of color," says Milligan. She doesn't believe sun colors should be used in a sunroom or a room that's naturally hot, but that they're ideal for rooms that tend to be cold because they'll lead to the perception that the room is warmer than the actual temperature that's registered. "I don't think there are any hard and fast rules about using reds, yellows and oranges in a room as long as they reflect the individual's taste and lifestyle. If they make the person happy, they're the right color. If you don't feel comfortable with bold sun colors throughout the house, try using one of the colors in a small space. Nothing makes a major statement like a bright red guest bathroom," says Kathy Snyder. "Several points should be taken into consideration when bringing the sun colors into a home. The style of furnishings partially influences how much color will work in a room. A relaxed, contemporary space can use more color than a traditional room," says Palazzina's Laura Pennington. Kelli Milligan encourages her clients to be brave with sun colors and deep, saturated colors, saying, "They often tell me a color I've chosen is "too much color" for them. But they adore it once it's on the wall. Don't be shy and use a sun color only on an accent wall. Do all the walls in the room in one of the vibrant colors, and don't be afraid to use the colors on the ceiling. It's surprising how the ceiling color will open up the space. If the ceiling is 8' or higher, gold or yellow would be wonderful. And I wouldn't hesitate to use red if the ceiling is 9' or taller." Kevin Coleman prefers to use colors of the sun as accents for neutral palettes, particularly if a client is unsure about a bold color or frequently likes to change the look of a room. "But if it's a monochromatic room, a pop of color can be easily changed out," he says. "Sun colors are great because they can add an unexpected touch. It's the unexpected touches that can really make an extraordinary room." If you'd just love to be surrounded by colors of the sun, is it possible to overdo it? And what do the pros say about mixing and matching them in one room or throughout the house? Lesa Buckler believes combining colors of the sun can be overpowering if the scale of the room, the furniture and the size of the windows aren't taken into consideration. I love these colors, but if not used judiciously, the room can look garish and gaudy. It's really important that all the materials and patterns in a room complement each other and don't clash with what's next to them," she says. "Everyone has a different level of tolerance for color. Balancing a strong color or relieving it with another color may help you enjoy the stronger color and not feel overwhelmed by it or tire of it," says Kathy Snyder. Pennington mixes pinks and oranges with neutrals such as black, white, cream and brown. "For a more sophisticated look, I'd use a palette of brown and black and add yellows, oranges and reds. If the space is casual, I'd lean toward neutral colors of cream or white and bring in the sun colors as accents, or perhaps on the wall." She cautions that integrating sun colors into a space can be challenging because of the color values (lightness and darkness) and color balance involved. "From room to room, it's possible to use one, two or three of the same colors. Wallpaper, rugs or draperies can bring in the colors you want in one room. Then use shades of those colors in another room. As long as the right undertone is present, varying shades, up three or down three on the color scale, can be introduced. Incandescent lighting can have a dramatic effect on colors, especially warm tones. An incandescent light has a lot of red and yellow, producing rich tones when a warm palette is paired with an incandescent light source. Pairing the new fluorescent lights with warm tones can be tricky because of the fluorescents' white. When choosing a paint color for a room that has fluorescent light, be sure to look at paint chips under that light to ensure that the white light is balanced with the color in the room. And it's always a good idea to paint a portion of the wall or a poster board with one or two colors you're considering. Live with them for a couple of days, checking the color in daylight as well as with the artificial light in the room.
"One of the things that impressed me at the spring High Point market was how prevalent the sun colors are in the new lines. Usually we've seen them in contemporary lines of furnishing and on the coasts, but at market we saw them brought into traditional furnishing with wonderful success, and they were appealing to designers from around the country. Oranges were paired with browns and blacks, yellows with caramel browns. Three of the main showrooms showcased only these colors, focusing on pinks, oranges and yellows," says Laura Pennington, owner of Palazzina Interiors. "They were being used in all rooms in rugs, upholstery fabrics, window treatments and accessories, including gorgeous hand blown glass lamps. 
