Winning Color Combos for Fall

By Leah Hennen, special to HGTV.com

Suddenly, it seems, color is everywhere. After years of quiet neutrals and harmonious earth tones ruling the home front, bolder hues are taking center stage. And it's not just color we're thrilling over, but daring marriages of color. From the sophisticated aqua and chocolate to tart lime and lemon, strong color pairings are all the rage, and one of the easiest ways to freshen and lend drama to your decor. "People are taking more risks with color and combining colors in more unique ways," confirms Joann Eckstut, author of The Color Palette Primer: A Guide to Choosing Ideal Color Combinations for Your Home. "Once they see how well strong hues can work, they're willing to try them, and often love the result."

Read on to learn about the hottest pairings around, to pick up simple tips for using these delectable duos at home, and to see some of our favorite new products that sing with color.

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Pink and Brown

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Why it works: Pairing baby pink with mocha makes for a cheerful, retro, almost-edible combo. At the deeper end of the spectrum, intense raspberry creates a dramatic foil for rich, dark chocolate. Both are yummy—and deliciously playful. "The pink pops against that soft, warm background, and the brown brings out pink's own warmth," Eckstut says.

Variations: Lavender and brown is another candy-hued combo, while brown with rust or red are distinctly autumnal alternatives.

Easy idea: Edge a set of brown throw pillows with a band of pink ribbon, braided rope or fringe, or give them a graphic look with iron-on designs from a craft store, suggests Toronto color consultant Jane Lockhart, host of HGTV's Get Color! and the author of Room Recipes: Cooking Up Style With Color.

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