Pretty Spring Palettes

Sweet and sassy, bubblegum pink and tangerine is a lively color combination with definite girly appeal for feminine domains. Technically speaking, the success of this sugar-and-spice duo lies in their proximity along the color spectrum. The emotional success, however, lies in the warmth and upbeat personality of both hues. When decorating with a vibrant pink and zesty orange, use white to take the potential heat, and black to give the color combo some weight. These fruity hues are ripe for a teen girl's room, a dressing room or a woman's study.

1. In addition to adding pop to a bedside table, these swatch journals have 180 pages on which to record your colorful life. Rock Scissor Paper, $13 each. 2) Geodesic in form and just gorgeous in hue, Bend's drum table triples as a side table, ottoman or stool. Pigment, $425. 3) Flirty and feminine, this original hand-blocked print, accented with black feathery motifs reminiscent of dramatically long lashes, has a Josephine Baker vibe. PatchNYC, $1,100. 4) Beaded curtain wallpaper dusted with glitter provides hippie-chic style without the tangled mess. Designed by Candice Olson. York, $50 per roll.

Decorating with a palette of greens is like bringing a verdant landscape indoors. Natural, lush and inherently healing, the spectrum of greens has an energizing, restful and likable vibe. When pairing a very dark opulent shade like emerald with a pale one like aqua, the result is as graphic as combining class opposites like black and white. Make the most of this jewel-like pair in a living or dining room, where you can luxe it up with a harmonious mix of fabrics and finishes. A hint of gold will enrich the scheme.

MORE: Spring Outdoor Accessories

1. Put a new spin on an old lamp by simply changing the finial. Malachite is our top choice. Hillary Thomas, $75. 2) Create instant elegance by tossing a silk bolster or two on a favorite piece of upholstery. Alternate sizes and 40 colors are readily available in the Alba collection. Wolf Home, $65. 3) For flowers, candles or wine, jewel-tone tea glasses detailed with gold add sparkle to a table. Moroccan Prestige, $42 for 6. 4) The Ada side chair, sveltely styled with slender legs and graceful curves, makes a lovely dining table companion. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, $800

Versatile teal plays well with most colors, and the bluer version of this complex blue-to-green shade is an exceptional complement to rustic tawny browns—a sort of water and clay dynamic. As compelling as turquoise, but mesmerizingly deep, teal is at once calm and dramatic. Teal is to rust what water is to earth. This color combination, derivative of color wheel opposites blue and orange, is a stylish option for a man cave, study or any room in which vintage leather seating is welcome.

1. This 3×5-foot Sean-Connery-as-Bond painting ensures suave style in any media room. Roger Moore and other celebrity icons are also available. Mod Shop, $595. 2) At 43 inches in diameter, the sizable Langely ottoman can accommodate a movie viewing's supply of drinks and popcorn. Schoolhouse Electric, $899. 3) Already "aged" for timeless comfort, leather upholstery is always a handsome choice for a man cave. Lee. 4) Over-dyed Turkish carpets reinterpreted with faded color flaunt an old-world bohemian vibe. Prices for 6×9-foot carpets start around $1188. Nomadic Trading.

Gray has swiftly become everyone's favorite neutral, but too much of the color can feel arctic. Pairing gray with yellow strikes a pleasing balance between warm and cool colors, creating an even temperature. Like a beloved old sweatshirt and an overcast sky, gray comforts, and—just like welcome sunshine—yellow brightens and cheers. To get the pop without the intensity, use a dirty yellow like citrine that has a hint of olive. Yellow and gray do design justice in casual dining spaces and open kitchens, wherever cool, hard materials such as stainless, mirror and tile can benefit from a little warmth.

MORE: How to Wear This Spring's Colors

1. Adventurous hosts will enjoy setting a casual table with a mix of printed cotton textiles in multiple yellow and taupe patterns. Pehr, $12. 2) Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola's molded plastic Comback Chair is a modern, ergonomic update of an 18th-century English archetype. YLighting, $540. 3) Whatever the meal, food presents well on organically shaped daffodil-colored dinnerware. Crate & Barrel, from $25. 4) Fashioned from pipe parts and blackened steel, Design Workshop's versatile made-in-the-USA dining table blends industry and hospitality. West Elm, from $1,299.

Since the combo is traditionally reserved for people in power, it's very atypical to decorate a utilitarian space with a royal combination of purple and red. These sumptuous hues often reserved for velvets and gems translate surprisingly well on hardworking appliances and durable plastics, even adding a bit of boho flair. Their unexpected appearance against a neutral backdrop of white, gray or driftwood makes these fearless colors all the more worthwhile.

1. You'll be chilling in the kitchen with Smeg's retro style fridge. First introduced in 1997, it's practically vintage! West Elm, $1,999. 2) Designer Benjamin Hubert's 13.5-inch diameter Spinning Light pendant, lusciously lacquered in plum, is an unexpected overhead delight. YLighting, $590. 3) An aluminum stool equipped with swivel power, height adjustment flexibility and super-cool styling is a kitchen essential. Grandin Road, $199. 4) Reversible Swedish mats, woven in scrubbable plastic, are ideal flooring solutions for hardworking kitchens. Pappelina, $115.