Southern colors in the United States are not only magnificent outside, but the warm and bright tones and shades indoors as well. I have lived in the southern United States for almost fifteen years. I was amazed when I moved from Rochester, New York back in 1994, and the difference of colors used here in interior decorating. Of course decorating trends will change in any geographic location, but the warmth of yellows, red-orange, greens, and blues remain here in the south.

Don't get me wrong, I loved the different colors I used in Rochester as well as other areas of the country that Tom and I have lived. It was a different experience for me when we moved here as I immediately began experimenting with the different colors. To be honest, I have painted several rooms different colors over the past fifteen years.

It is not uncommon to walk into a home, apartment, condo, or beach house and find bright orange-red tone walls. Many of the floors are done in wood and in the kitchen you can find stark white cub boards.

Maple and Oak are also popular here. When we moved, I started using colors that I had painted up north. I began seeing a different trend around here and many people loved putting warm and bright colors in all rooms. One idea I like to do is to bring a few different colors throughout a living area. I wanted to share with you what some of the popular colors here in the south and give some simple ideas how to use these colors in different rooms.















The cayenne pepper color is very popular. Many people also like a little more red to the color. This color can be used as a main focal point in any room. The cayenne is used as the primary color, but there are other secondary colors that can be incorporated.

Yellow is also very popular here in the south. Yellow can be used as the primary color and also green creates an exciting look.

Here are a few ideas for you in planning a southern look in your living space. The descriptions will be using cayenne as the foundation color, yellow and green as secondary colors, and other colors to balance out the entire living area.

Pick out what you think is your focal point rooms or rooms. I am going to be describing for you my own home and what I did. I used cayenne as you enter the house in our living room and dining room. Our house is an open plan with cathedral ceilings. The cayenne pepper color definitely sets the tone of the home. The woodwork is done in all white.

The main hallway comes off several rooms and we painted it in a soothing yellow tone. The kitchen comes off the hallway and dining room and is done in a yellow, green and soft white wallpaper. I have included the cayenne pepper color in accessories such as dishes and candles.















As you go down the hallway the laundry room is off it, and I opted to relate a southern and tropical feel to the room. It is painted in a bright green tone. This color is also popular in the Caribbean.

The master bedroom comes off the yellow hallway and the warm colors of the south and also a beach flare. The rich teal tone sets the mood in the master bedroom but also brings me back to a couple of my main themes in the house, tropical and beach. The pictures and collectables are wonderful memories of previous trips to tropical and Caribbean vacations.

The powder room is also off the hallway and if you look at the top of the page, you will see a photo of flower wallpaper. This is in the powder room and notice how all the three colors are use in the paper. The cayenne, green with the yellow background. If you also notice some of the flowers are in a neutral color. Off the hallway and in view is the family room.

The family room is done in a neutral sponge with accents and accessories in the other three base colors I used throughout the downstairs.

The upstairs hallway is also done in the warm yellow tone. Each bedroom has its own unique theme. I wanted to have each of our daughter's bring out their own personalities in their rooms. Although they are both grown now, the rooms still have their personal tough to them. The other bedroom also has a unique theme and its own personality.

This is a little description of typical colors in a southern home. Beach houses in the south consists of blues, greens, whites, and neutrals. Each southern takes high pride in the warm and soothing colors that represent this area. Even if you don't live in the southern United States, go ahead and play around with these colors and see if you can get a feel of our south, tropical, Caribbean, or beach colors.